"Alright Ketara nice and easy" Rowan said as they made their descent.

Ketara landed gently in clearing. The Aviary was nothing more than an old farm. There were two barns made of wood and stone, one large enough to shelter the dragon and the other held a small flock of sheep, some cows, and two horses. A small house Where Rowan and his sister lived stood near the edge of the forest. A small garden lay along the south of the house.

"How fare you lady?" Rowan asked as he helped the lady down from Ketara's back.

"That was quiet thrilling. Thank you for the lift, kind dragon!" she replied stroking her fingers agaist Ketara's neck.

"Quite welcome lady," Ketara purred.

"Alright Ketara lets find you some food" Rowan said walking toward the smaller of the two barns

"You read my mind Rowan," Ketara said as she nestled down into the grass.

Rowan returned a minute later with a wheelbarrow and two freshly slaughter sheep

"Here you are you growing girl. Two fresh sheep."

Ketara picked up the sheep with her talons and took them to her roost in the larger barn.

"Dear lady have you eaten? I will gladly accompany you to the tavern to find some food and a room for the night." Rowan asked as his stomach growled.

"I have not. If you can spare the time it would be appreciated," the young woman replied trying to hide the fact that she had not had a warm meal for some time.

"As you wish lady please come this way" Rowan turned and began walk toward the village.

"Thank you." She said and began to follow Rowan.

"Tell me a bit more about yourself."

"Well my name is Katrina and I have been wandering most my life" she began.

"Why have you been wandering? Where are you from?" Rowan inquired.

"I am the last heir of my family who once resided in the Glacier Kingdom. I have been journeying over many seas and through forbidden woods since I was ten." Katrina continued.

"You seem well traveled then. How did you survive on your own for so long?"

"Ah. My father was a royal solider and taught me how to survive before he went to fight." A hint of sadness marred her otherwise pretty eyes.

"Where is he now?" Rowan asked.

"I don't know... He was lost in the war, never to return." Katrina looked away to hide the tears forming in her eyes.

"I'm so sorry," Rowan, said regretting that he had asked.

"It is alright kind knight. If he still has breath in his lungs, I know he is searching for me. If he no longer does then I know he is safe above with his beautiful wife." She said the stony mask returning to her.

"My lady I am no knight. I have never even been to the castle before. I'm sure you will reunite with him one day." Rowan reassured her.

"Ah. Forgive me then," She said. "Maybe one day, but for now I shall wander"

"Well we have arrived lets grab a bite and get you settled." Rowan opened the door for Katrina

"Thank you" she said with a nod and walked into the tavern.

The tavern was well lit and inviting the warmth of the fire, the smells of roasting meat and fresh ales filled the room.

"There's a table over there," Rowan said pointing out a table near the wall.

"Yes, looks perfect!" They walked through the maze of tables to the small one in the corner

"Barmaid Two ales, two bowls of stew, and a loaf of bread please," Rowan said placing five coppers on table.

"Ah yes! So, tell me about yourself," Katrina said.

"There is not much to tell. I come from a family of farmers. One day my Grandfather came home with this shiny black "rock". Well that "rock" turned out to be a dragon egg. I found some books about dragons in a local store and read them as often as I could. We cared for the egg and in approximately two years, it hatched. I was eleven at the time. I have been raising and trying to train Ketara ever since," Rowan said proudly.

"She seems like a nice dragon. I would say you did well" Katrina mused.

"Thanks. She is a bit of a handful at times, but I love her. Name's Rowan by the way."

"Thank you Rowan, you have helped me quite a bit."

"Just happy to be of assistance," Rowan smiled. "Looks like our food has arrived."

"Food looks great!" Katrina said as the smell of the stew enticed her.

"It's not bad. At least it is warm." Rowan said breaking off a chunk of bread.

"At least I didn't have to hunt and cook it," Katrina laughed.

"True. So you said you have been out there in the woods for a while?" Rowan carried on the conversation and the two enjoyed the meal.

A young woman entered the tavern and began looking for a spot to sit.

"Yes, I set my camp thither many moons ago," Katrina said sipping her ale. Katrina had seen the newcomer trying to find a table and stood to grab her attention. "Come hither! We have a seat for thou," Katrina said inviting the young woman to join them.

"Thank you m'lady, you're very kind." She intoned walking over and taking a seat.

"Nay, don't thank me. I am Katrina, welcome. Dost thou have a name?"

"The name's Siobhan, m'lady"

"A beautiful name. This hither is my new friend, Rowan," Katrina indicated by slightly swinging her head in Rowan's direction. "From whither dost thou come?"

Rowan quickly tried to swallow the bread in his mouth, "mmnice mto mmmeet you."

"I come from the no-man's-land to the north. Siobhan said. Smirking at the embarrassed man she chuckled, "Nice to meet you as well, sir."

"Excuse my poor manners miss." Rowan said looking down at the table.

"Nice. I have only heard stories of those lands. I have yet to witness them." Katrina mused with a sense of wonder.

"Consider yourself excused, sir." She said chuckling again. To Katrina she said, "Nothing worth witnessing up there, m'lady. Just devastation. I was one of the only ones to make it out alive."

Katrina looked back and forth between Siobhan and Rowan, "Mmm" she muttered becoming lost in thought.

"Something wrong lady?" Rowan asked seeing the far off look in Katrina's eyes.

Snapping back from her thoughts Katrina rejoined the discourse, "Ah yes, I heard thither was destruction. I didn't know how much though. So whither dost thou reside now?"

"I reside wherever I can find a place to rest, m'lady" Siobhan said.

"Thou art a wanderer?" Katrina pressed

"Yes m'lady. I have no home anymore, but I earn enough to live by fighting and delivering things for a fee." Siobhan asserted.

"Nice to meet a fellow wanderer. However, I have found a home within the woods." Katrina declared.

"Barmaid another round of ales please." Rowan shouted getting her attention.

"The woods don't welcome someone who's caused as much bloodshed as I, m'lady. But I'm glad you, at least, have a home" Siobhan whispered hoping not to be heard.

"Well, I have found if thou art nice to the spirits, they wilt forgive thou of all the bloodshed." Katrina said trying to reassure the girl. "I should know. How many people said their last words to me? How much blood hath stained my skin? Too much, yet still not enough." She trailed off.

"Those woods give me the creeps," Rowan shuddered think back to his encounter with the spirit earlier that day.

"I've been a warrior since I was a child, m'lady. I've had to kill, sometimes for no purpose, for much too long. Nothing to be done about it now." Siobhan said.

"Those woods art a place the fallen go. The only place that knows who I am and helps me change." Katrina confessed looking down at the floor.

"The woods are no place for me, m'lady." Siobhan replied

The barmaid arrived with the drinks "Ah thank you much." Rowan said handing over two more coppers.

Siobhan grabbed one of the drinks, "Perfect," she exclaimed as she took a long sip.

"Seems you two have a bit in common," Rowan observed looking between the two women.

Katrina looked up at Siobhan. "I have killed many for no reason. That is what happens when the kingdom thou resides is corrupted. That little girl is lost forever now, but within the woods, her new self can be properly punished for her crimes." To Rowan she said, "It seems we dost"

"Seems like it" Siobhan agreed.

"I can't begin to imagine how difficult things have been for you both," Rowan noted.

"I learned to survive. It's not much different here than it was there. A bit less devastation, but that's about it." Siobhan stated

"I can't say that I have seen things the way you describe. Our village has always been quiet," Rowan said defensively.

"This place doesn't seem so bad, you're right, but humans are humans." She shrugged "There are horrible places everywhere."

"I take your word for it. I have never ventured past the woods."

"Hmm, yes." Siobhan mouthed to herself. "The woods surround the village. Possibly providing some sort of shelter from sorts of creatures and such..."

"Indeed humans art the issue in every land." Looking at Siobhan and nodding in agreement. "The woods protect them from many things, from foreign lands and born within the wood."

"Good to know, m'lady" Siobhan said thankful for the new bit of information.

"It was a pleasure to meet both of you good ladies. I must take my leave of you. Chores call before I must rest. Come find me at the Aviary anytime." Rowan said standing to go.

"Goodbye, sir," Siobhan said.

"Of course, Siobhan." Turning to Rowan, she thanked him. "Thank thou, Rowan for thy help."

"T'was my please Katrina." He responded and walked out of the tavern heading home.

"If thou'll excuse me. I must find a place for the night. Goodbye, my new friends. If thou need me, just yell," and with that Katrina walked to the door.

"Goodbye m'lady" Siobhan said.

Katrina turned to wave. Then disappears into the village

Siobahn waved back, and downed the rest of her drink before getting up and attempting to find some place to sleep.