Dear Risa,

  I’m sorry, my friend, but no amount of begging and pleading and bargaining and logic was able to convince my brother that heading back to Goldvale was the correct choice for us.

  So I don’t know when I’ll see you next! Alas, woe is me!

  Ohhh welllll.

  Anyhow, we’re back on the road, and should hit Dragon’s Pass tomorrow just in time for lunch. From what I hear, Dragon’s Pass started as one of the larger kobold towns, and it traded so much with the nearest neko town that it grew and grew until the two towns became one city. They probably kept the kobold name because the neko name was dumb.

  So tomorrow I think I’ll insist on trying legitimate kobold cuisine. I hear they eat a lot of mushrooms.

  But for tonight, we’re staying just outside a town called Pure. As in, right next to the sign that says “Welcome to Pure!”. We wanted to park our wagon in the inn’s stable, but the liondrakes were looking just a liiiiittle too intently at the horses that were there, and Cali said maybe staying elsewhere was a good idea.

  Although for the price of just one room, the inkeeper man said we could have a key to take showers and use the bathroom, so that was nice of him. He said he figures with pocket dimensions being portable, his job is probably going to change a lot, so he’s preparing by making closets where the portals can be kept, and deciding on a price for bathroom usage instead of full room usage. A very future-thinking man. I approve.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  In more important news, Maki still has a very broken heart. He misses Echo so very much, and my plan is currently to strangle her with her own crown until she apologizes to him. Regicide is frowned upon, so I shall abstain from flat-out murdering her.

  Oh, before we left Fish, we got news that Mas was coming for a visit. I left a letter for him explaining what’s going on with Meriel, and asking him to help. I don’t know what he’ll do, but I listed a few options.

  What else… Luke is making a few earrings for the liondrakes. When we get to cities, some guards might freak out and try to paralyze them or cast Sleep on them before we can explain they’re our pets, so they need protection against those things. He’s not going overboard, but the basics won’t hurt. Cali told them that to be stylish, they need earrings in their ears. Putting them in will hurt, but then they’ll have magic gemstone earrings. They weren’t hard to convince that these were things they absolutely must have.

  Oh, as creatures to pull the wagon, they do a surprisingly good job. I wasn’t quite sure if they’d actually stay on the road or not, but they do. They don’t stop unless they’re tired, and Cali already has them trained for what order to go in and how to get in and out of the harness.

  Luke was slightly suspicious of them for the first day, but when we weren’t even slightly mauled by this morning, he decided Cali has them in line. Or something.

  I can’t wait to roll up to the city tomorrow with them all over the wagon. You know I love being the center of attention.

  I’ll let you know how it goes.

  Regards,

  Maeve Zee