Lissette's homecoming

Lissette stepped out of the pass and breathed in the faintly sweet scented springtime air. The familiar aromas washed over her and brought a mistiness to her eyes. It was hard to believe that she was back in her beloved homeland once again. A year she had been gone, wandering, searching for she knew not what, driven on by the hurt and disappointment that hounded her trail.

Shifting her sword more securely across her back, she started off across the countryside, picking out landmarks as if she had never left. The twilight sky darkened and she looked up with affection at the two moons she had always thought of as The lord and lady of the sky.

She came over the ridge and started to drop into the valley where Roewich once stood. Stopping dead she stared, a sense of the unreal flooded through her. A walled city stood in the spot where the open township once stood.

For the first time a true sense of the passage of time hit her, causing her to pause in uncertainty. What else will have changed so drastically? she thought. A sense of foreboding settled on her and frowning she started down the hill toward the town.

She quickly found the tavern and settled down to eat, drink and most of all listen to the chatter around her. Maybe this way she could learn a little of the changes since she had been gone. The food quickly finished she settled back and nursing an ale tried to pick up some useful information.

A slightly raised voice quickly caught her attention. "But it never used to be this way. You have all gotten used to the beasts coming closer and you don't remember how it once was. I am telling you that before long we won't be able to step foot out our doors without hideous monsters breathing down our necks or worse."

Turning slightly on the bench Lissette casually glanced around towards the voice. The man was definitely an old timer she thought. He bore plenty of scars and the large axe slung across his back bore testament to his skills. Swinging a tankard of ale to punctuate his words, Lissette thought he looked familiar but time and her own advancing age liked to play tricks with her memory.

"You can scoff if you like, but I see a pattern forming that cannot lead to any good. Mark my words you had better wake up and open your eyes before it is too late." With a final brandish of the tankard, he slammed it down on the table and turned to go, hesitated then reached for the ale and quickly drained it. With a last growl at his companions he stomped to the door, pausing for one last comment. "You can laugh and call me an old fool, convince yourself that I have just been overdoing it on the ale again, but you will see. I just hope you do before it is too late."

Lissette thoughtfully watched him leave, then turned her attention back to table where his mates were. "Brogin should really leave the ale alone." said a man with an amused shake of his head. "I am not so sure it was the ale talking." mused another. "I think he has a point, though I am not sure what if anything can be done. If the beasts are coming closer to the towns..." He paused then continued with a grimace. "I think we have to consider the thought that they are being pushed this way by something or some things greater than they are, and if whatever it is turns it's notice on us, we could be facing the battle of our lives."

Several voices chimed in arguing back and forth and Lissette lost the thread of the conversation, but she had heard enough. That would explain the wall around the city, someone apparently thought the same way and was taking no chances.

A frown forming she abruptly stood up, it was time to return to her monarch's hall, maybe there she would get some answers to the questions that were forming rapidly.