Part 15: Departure

As spring wore on and the Festival ended, Krisr knew that the time for his departure was nigh. He tried to spend time with Ramona and make the most of his last weeks while Raina Lynn helped gather supplies. By now, his bondmate was large, strong, and well magicked. She could harness fire and ice to her will. Krisr, for his part, had not been idle. He now hosted a map of the entire region in his head, as well as knowledge of plants and creatures in the area. He had become more and more skilled with his daggers, and he now carried many on his person, some concealed. He also carried several potions with which to coat them, some he had make from native plants and others given to him by the apothecary of the Realm. His coin pouch had not gotten much fatter during the winter, but he was confident he could support himself and Raina Lynn for some time, especially during the good weather. Eventually, the day before his departure came. Raina Lynn was ready to be off, and Ramona was putting on a brave front. Soon, he would be traveling far from the Realm.

As Krisr sat by the fire that night, sharpening his daggers, Ramona came over to crouch by him.

"I won't be here in time to see you off in the morning," she said, telling him something he already knew. She worked on the other side of the Refuge, hours away from the Realm. He remained quiet, for once lacking a fantastic remark.

"I will miss you," she admitted. He broke into a charming grin.

"I will miss you a thousand times that," he vowed, gazing upon her face. Her bright red hair barely registered with him anymore. All he saw was the affection in her greenish eyes, and the way she would smile when he amused her. She leaned closer and brushed his cheek with her lips.

"Windspeed," she said quietly, then rose up to leave.

As she moved away, Krisr cleared his throat nervously. "I love you, you know," he told her retreating form. "More than all the fortune and treasure I will find elsewhere." She paused and turned back to give him a smile.

"Go, have your adventures and fortunes. I'll be here when you get back." she said simply, then left the cabin. Even after she had closed the door, Krisr sat staring in that direction, almost wishing he did not have to leave but knowing that he must. He started as the door opened again and revealed Raina Lynn and the small Portal wyrm she had lately befriended. The wyrm really did not like him much, but he tried to tolerate it on Raina Lynn's insistence.

*Hello, Krisr. Said goodbye to Ramona?* she asked. She must have seen the girl leaving.

"Yes, m'lady. She is loathe to see me go, I'm afraid... put up a fuss, with tears and hysterics!" He replied, giving her a false shocked look.

*I'll bet,* the dragon said sarcastically but moved over to nuzzle his elbow. She knew Krisr would miss Ramona while they were gone from the Realm. She tried to think of a casual way to broach the subject she had come to discuss. *Krisr, do you ever think we should add a bit more muscle to our traveling party?*

"But, m'lady, you have quite enough magic to take out an army of wild lupines," he returned, wiping one of his daggers before dipping it into a phial of nocent green liquid.

*Still... perhaps we could add some strength to the group... become a band rather than a duo.*

"Perhaps... who did you have in mind?"

*Our Portal friend here,* she said, motioning to the gray wyrm, who was giving Krisr a dark look.

"What, him? Raina, he hates me!"

*He doesn't hate you, Krisr... just doesn't trust humans much.*

"Oh, that's a comfort..."

*Krisr, he's coming with us.*

Krisr looked up to stare at his bondmate. She had a determined look on her face. She had obviously set an ultimatum. He looked at the wyrm. The wyrm just glared back at him. Krisr sighed.

"Very well, m'lady," he said, "although I know not why you do this."

*He wants to come. Besides, once he grows, he'll be quite an asset to our group.*

"Yes... but we're going to have to discuss his obvious attitude problem. I mean, honestly, we cannot be a tight band of fearless brigands if we hate each other."

*Brigands.* Raina Lynn snorted. *You haven't got a bit of brigand in you.*

"Oh, but 'brigands' sounds so much more song- worthy than 'do- gooders', don't you think?" He smiled at Raina Lynn.

Raina Lynn just rolled her eyes and smirked. *Good night, Krisr. Rest up for tomorrow.*

"You as well, my queen. Do not go galavanting about until the wee hours." He smiled as his bondmate and the grumpy wyrm went back outside, then sealed up his phials of potions as his daggers dried by the fire.

Once outside, the wyrm looked up at Raina Lynn.

*I did not expect him to agree so quickly,* he said to her.

*I told you he would not mind. You are as welcome as anyone else. You should have asked him yourself.*

*I will not reveal myself to the human yet.*

*His name is Krisr, and he isn't the fool you make him out to be... or the fool he makes himself out to be, for that matter. He knows wyrms can use telepathy. He knows you could talk to him if you wanted; and therefore, he knows you are simply choosing not to talk to him.*

The wyrm stayed silent at this, turning his gaze up to the stars. He wondered if these were the same stars his mother could see. Raina Lynn also looked up, enjoying the pinpoints of crystalline light in the black sky.

*Perhaps I will speak with this Krisr tomorrow,* the wyrm said.

*Well, you will have to eventually. Now that you are going to travel with us, you will be exposed to the full scope of his tendency to ramble, and I will not be the only dragon telling him to be quiet.*

At this, Raina Lynn thought she saw a bit of amusement in the wyrm's eyes, even though his expression did not change.

Still hope yet, she thought with satisfaction.