The next morning the empress woke first listening to the local birds chirping and small creatures scurrying around in the surrounding forest. Meditating for over a half hour the empress simply waited for her companions to stir. She preferred not to wake others but let them return from the dream reality on their own. 

A few minutes had passed by when Soranto's eyes began to flutter open. He stretched slowly and looked over, nodding good morning to her.

Scooting a little closer to the dragon she softly whispered to him.

"Good morning. Did you sleep well?" 

"Yes I feel I'm well rested. How about you?" The dragon asked.

"Better than usual I must admit." The empress replied.

              The gremlin sat up in slow motion and rubbed his eyes for a long moment, then peered around. Once he had regained focus, he added to the conversation.

"I had nightmares but I usually do." Vamier told them.

"I could find a potion to fix it." The empress offered to him.

"No thank you miss, I've grown used to it." The gremlin politely declined her help. 

   The empress then bent down digging in one of the bags until she'd pulled out bread and apples for the three of them. 

"i thought we could use a bite to eat before we continue the journey." The empress offered. 

They nodded in agreement, eating quickly, eager to get moving again.

             Two seconds later they heard thick footsteps heading from Kahale, to their very direction. The gremlin looked frightened, the dragon looked annoyed;and as always the empress was intrigued to find out who or what was coming. 

The noise grew closer and the three of them stood there waiting until they saw shorter older woman, a forest wench. Her blue-white stingy hair flopping in the breeze. As the wench got closer, she glared at them. Those brown hazel eyes staring them down. 

         At first glance the elder forest wench didn't look friendly, but Ralvania as always tried to be nice first. The empress had quickly read her soul. Mostly good but deep within there was a hidden evil, only a small hint of it. Not enough to scare her off. 

"Hello there miss." The empress greeted and bowed to show respect.

"Why are you here?" She spat back.

"We're on a long journey." 

"You a witch?" The wench asked.

"Ralvania, empress of sorcery." She answered her.

"Tika, a forest wench. I could sense magic from you." 

"We mean no harm, just a long quest nothing more." The empress explained to her.

"I know you are speaking truth, i'm gifted. I can sense lies." 

"I read souls." Ralvania admitted to her.

"I bet that's an interesting power." Tika commented.

"Trust me yes it is." 

"I hate to interrupt you but we need to get moving." Soranto told her.

"Right, of course." Ralvania responded.

"It was good to meet you." The wench told her, then went on her own way.

The empress and the gremlin climbed back onto the dragon and waited a few seconds and soranto took off quickly, bolting through the open skies.