<html><head></head><body><div class="ydp67279a17yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:arial;font-size:16px;"><div></div> <div> </div></div><div id="ydpbbf9b950yahoo_quoted_6416519892" class="ydpbbf9b950yahoo_quoted"><div class="ydpbbf9b950yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:arial;font-size:16px;"><div style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;color:#26282a;border-left: 1px solid #ccc;padding-left: 8px;margin: 0px 0px 0px 8px" class="ydpbbf9b950inline_reply_quote_container" data-split-quote-node="true"><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">Here is my next part! Sorry for the delay!</div></div><div class="inline_reply_node" style="padding: 12px 0px;"><div style="font-family: arial;font-size: 16px;"> </div><div style="font-family: arial;font-size: 16px;" dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><div> The invitation arrived in an unusual way. The town of Crowley was a quiet place this time of year. It was tucked into the lower slopes of the Sylvan mountains in southern Marigund. In summer it played host to many people trying to escape the summer heat of the city. But this was October and it was cold and the summer residents were all gone till next spring. This left the town fairly quiet. Just outside of town and up the mountain slope was a tall, stone tower. The edifice was surrounded by a low wall that was there more to keep out strangers than to help defeat an attack. Only a few servants and workers moved about on the usual mundane tasks of maintaining the place. The dining room was several stories up in the tower and allowed for a beautiful view down the mountainside and over the land below. Amelia and Fred Montague were enjoying lunch when a large bat flew thru the window and into the dining room. It circled around their heads for a moment. Then it dropped something and flew back out thru the window. "I thought window was closed,” Fred said calmly. "It is! And warded as well,” Amelia answered. “We need to improve the defenses.” She picked up the tightly bound scroll the bat had delivered and opened it. "It's good news! My cousin Misha is getting married!" "We have to go," he said. "Where is it being held?" "Metamor Keep!" "Oh! The place with the fascinating curses?" "And that magnificent library! I rather think that's the most important feature!" "Indeed! How far is it?" "Only 500 miles or so. A short trip.” "Walking is too boring and we cannot teleport. The magic there prevents it." "We could fly there. I could make a carpet fly. It'd have protection against wind and the elements and we could store our luggage on it." “Carpet is too exposed,” she said. “We could take the mortar and pestle. We haven’t tried that before.” "I like that idea. Been too long since we've been flying together." "It'd be a nice, scenic view as well." "We can stop at the restaurant you like in Giftum." "And buy goodies at that one shop you love there too!" He smiled and laughed. "It’s been far too long since we've been there." </div><div><div style="margin-bottom:0in;line-height:normal"> ****</div> The sun was just peaking over the horizon heralding the dawn of a new day. The courtyard of their small castle was already busy. The few servants were awake and starting their daily tasks. Sitting in the center of the small courtyard was a large wooden carriage. It was a fine thing of fine-grained wood, polished and decorated. Gilt decorations were everywhere. The interior had seats that were comfortably padded. “This is beautiful,” she said excitedly. “Where did you get it?” He smiled and turned red faced. “I rented it from the Guild for a month.” She slowly walked around the coach examining it from all sides. “What do you think of our new vehicle?” he said cheerfully. “It’s wonderful!” She exclaimed. “We can travel in comfort.” Their luggage was safely stowed away and they both took seats. Inside there was a trio of nice seats and a dashboard at the front. On that were a half dozen buttons and levers. He pressed three buttons and a low hum filled the air. The couch slowly lifted clear of the pavement, “And away we go!” He said cheerfully. With that their transport slowly lifted clear of the pavement. The ground dropped away quickly and soon they were moving above the clouds. ************** It was bright and sunny at first with the sun shining down. The clouds rolled in and soon the carriage was surrounded by gray black clouds. The scenery was lost. A light rain started to fall. Fred touched the controls and the carriage quickly ascended and soon broke out of the clouds and back into the sunshine. It was several hours later when Amelia peered out the window and down at the clouds still roiling below them. “Ah Dear,” she asked. “Where are we?” “Still on course to Metamor Keep.” Fred responded confidently. “How can you be so confident?” She asked. He pointed to the console in front of him. “I’m following the compass.” “That’s good,” she said slowly. “But where exactly are we?” The confident look on his face vanished. “I’m not exactly sure. I didn’t get the locator option,” he said. “It was another thousand gold.” “Well, lets go down and see where we are,” She responded. The carriage slowly descended into the clouds and the view outside their windows was obscured by the dark “What if we hit something?” She asked. “Like a dragon?” “If we run into a dragon the least of our worries is the collision,” he responded but then he slowed down. “But it’s best to be careful.” Rain pattered on the windows at a steady pace while it lightly drummed on the roof over their heads. After a long time they broke out of the clouds and the world beneath them came into view. Below them was a land of low, rolling hills interspersed with groves of trees and the occasional cluster of buildings. “Farm land,” she said slowly. “Well developed. I see crops of corn and wheat.” She pointed to a cluster of buildings. “There is a small town. Let’s stop and look around.” “Why?” He countered. “We’re on course.” “Then where are we?” She asked. “Exactly.” He was silent for a long moment. “I guess we can go down for a look.” ******************</div> </div></div><div style="font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;color:#26282a;border-left: 1px solid #ccc;padding-left: 8px;margin: 0px 0px 0px 8px" class="ydpbbf9b950inline_reply_quote_container" data-split-quote-node="true"> </div> </div></div></body></html>