<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> </head> <body>  I thought I had sent this but as it's not appearing on the list, or at least not to me, I'll put it in again. Kamau Kamau’s Part 21AUG23 Kate guided Talo through the less populated streets so as not to overwhelm the Kobold with all the sights and soundt of the Keep. As they turned another corner her red-scaled companion leaped into the air. Kate spun to face her charge and was stunned by the fact that she was looking upward as he descended. Landing lightly on his feet she noticed a small leather ball in his hand. “Talo good catch. Stop from hitting Kate.” From behind him a group of children came running up the street. “Did you see a ball go past here?” a taller lad asked. Before the woman could open her mouth Talo was moving toward the group. “Talo have ball. You lose?” “Yeah, Jordy was supposed to catch it but Will throw it way too hard.” “Did not,” a smaller boy said “He said he would be going long but he didn’t and…” The entire group as a whole slid to a stop, eyes fixed on the scaled creature holding out their ball. “What are you?” a girl from the side of the group asked. “Talo Kobold, new here. Lady take to library.” “I thought you were a baby dragon,” another said, “But where are your wings?” “No, no dragon,” Talo answered. “Kobald no wings have.” “He is very new in the valley and doesn’t speak common well,” Kate broke in. “Talo why don’t you give them the ball back and we move onto the library?” “Me give,” he told her, lightly tossing the ball and causing them to scramble to catch it. “Thanks mister Kobold,” the tall boy replied. “You could come and play with us.” “I’m afraid he can’t,” Kate told them. “He needs to find out from the library if there is a way back to his home.” “Talo lost, need find home,” he replied as he turned. “We go now.” The female scout noticed a growl coming from her small charge and recognized it as a stomach needing some food. “When was the last time you ate today?” she asked. “No eat, we had night meal but met mage early to be sent home.” “So, you haven’t eaten for the whole day?” He nodded. “No have supplies, no see place on road. Talo can pay if find cook.” He placed his hand in a pouch on his belt that had been returned to him minus weapons and held out several shiny gemstones. “If I’m not mistaken you could pay for a week worth of food with one of those,” she exclaimed “Best put them back before someone sees them.” When they turned the next corner Kate spotted a street vendor selling meat and bread. She and the Kobold stopped and picked up some food to eat on the rest of the way. By this time the streets had grown dark except for an occasional torch or lamp near a business. Thankfully she could see a tall structure a short distance brightly lit and knew their journey was near its end. The expression on Talo’s face showed that this was a very unique sight that fascinated him. “If I’m not mistaken Mael-Murie will be on duty now. She will be a great help to you, I’m sure.” He nodded, still in awe at what they were entering. When an owl glided from an upper floor and stood directly before them Kate’s assumption was confirmed. “Good evening Kate,” the owl said softly, shifting to her most human form “Who is your companion?” “Good evening Mael, This is Talo, I’ll let him give you his full formal name later as it is rather long.” “Hmm, seems to be the day for such names. Merlia had another red fellow, near a giant size, who also had a sentence for a name. But how can I help you?” “Talo was dropped in the valley by accident from a magic portal and he has no idea where he is and how far his home might be. We hoped you could help him find that out.” “We do have books referring to Kobolds so we can start there,” she replied gesturing a direction with her wing. “You recognized him as a Kobold?” the female warrior said in surprise. “He had to tell us what he was as none of us knew.” “I’m not surprised,” the owl commented “there are not many places where they are commonly found up here in the north. Most of the information we have is more legend than fact. Still, I’ll do what I can to help.” Soon the feathered librarian had several books on the table and began working with them on finding a reference to the land Talo came from. End Kamau’s part 21AUG23 </body> </html>