The dragon rose slowly from the ground and stretched, looking to see his empress sitting a few feet away. He cleared his throat, making a loud fake cough sound to get her attention. It had worked. She turned around and quickly rose to her feet to greet him. 

"I didn't know you were awake." She told him.

"I figured that out." He responded and winked at her. 

"We haven't that much further to go this time." She stated.

"I'm ready whenever you are." He replied.

That was good enough for her as she climbed onto his back and waited the ten seconds and the dragon took off. They headed east from Orwin Valley and straight to the Nucandu forest , home of the brethren. It had taken the dragon just over fifteen minutes to fly there. The empress was impressed when he landed them three feet from the town square. Slowly climbing down she looked at her friend for a minute.

"Thank you" She told him.

"Anything for you. I think I'll just wait right here." He told her. 

The empress nodded before turning away from him and heading into the center of town. Walking past several villagers, she nodded to them. Then swiftly walking past a few of the local shops and around the corner to the pub.  Standing outside of the welcoming door of the pub she waited a moment before going inside. She stood off to one side and scanned the pub until her eye caught Stergis and a woman she'd never met before waving to her. She waved back and then made her way through the crowded tavern.  When she made it to the back booth where they had been sitting, they welcomed her like family. 

"Ralvania so glad you were able to make it out here. This young woman here is my soul's twin, my love Ravenessa." He introduced them and handed her a frosty pint. 

"Drink up. Daniel and Richard are on the way. Jim's at the bar getting more drinks for all of us."  He informed her.

"Thanks. It's nice to be called away for fun instead of working." She told them both. 

"I couldn't agree more." Ravenessa told her.

"It's been calm here." Stergis told her.

"Goblin's hollow as well. No real threats." 

"It never stays that way for long." He joked.

"I'll drink to that." The empress replied.

                         Fifteen minutes later Daniel showed up with his wife Zeta. Two minutes later Richard and Veronia showed up as well. They took the table next to the booth as Daniel had introduced Ralvania to the other two women. 

The whole group of them laughed, drank and talked. The other women wanted to know more about Ralvania. She'd really enjoyed getting to know them. She had never had a large group of friends before. She felt Lily was more like family, the only other friends she knew were Pandora and Salem. That was all the friends she'd really known. 

She'd offered potion advice to Zeta, spell casting tips for Ravenessa, a kind hearted dark soul. She'd even offered to help Veronia with her studies as well. Stergis got up bringing a round of drinks for them. 

"Please come out more often." Veronia told her.

"Yes please do." Ravenessa added to the conversation. 

"I would like to see you more often a well." Jim responded, trying not to look too foolish.

"I'll see if I can arrange more visits, I really like it here."  The empress told them, taking in a mouthful of the pint.

"We have all been the new girl to the group, don't be shy." Zeta told her.

"Thanks I've not got many friends. I'm usually running all over the place fixing problems." She informed them. 

The warlocks nodded to her in full agreement.