"Good morning you guys. Have you been up long?" She asked, getting up on her feet. Then quickly going through her magic bag, pulling out apples and muffins for them.

They both nodded a polite thank you and ate quickly. 

"We've only been up maybe twenty minutes, so not that long." The dragon responded. 

"Oh good. I think we should head out soon." The empress suggested. 

"We're not far now a days ride at the most." Vamier told her.

"Excellent, perhaps we'll get there by night fall." The empress replied.

"With a bit of luck, yes." Vamier told her.

     Once the gremlin and dragon had finished eating, the empress glared at them. 

"Are you tow ready to go? I have a sinking feeling about those mountains over there. We need to get past them." The empress told them. 

"I'm ready whenever you two are."  Soranto told them.

"Let's go." She responded climbing onto his back with the gremlin.

Soranto waited a few seconds to give them fair warning before he took off to the skies, keeping them at cloud level. 

     The empress leaned back letting out a sigh of relief. This quest was almost over. She hoped to get everything settled in a day or two and get back home. She missed her sanctuary. A few minutes later glancing to the ground below the empress could see they were passing over the exact mountains she'd warned them about. 

She knew Soranto was flying his hardest, most likely ready for the journey's end. She didn't blame him in the least bit. More than willing to help those in danger, but eager to get home to her favorite chair and pixie brew.