Tristan glanced around the campsite, "Now that we're out of there, what were you three doing traveling this far off the road?"

The Foxkin looked over at him with eyes that looked on the verge of tears. "We…we were traveling to a new town. Our business…" She squatted down and crossed her arms over her knees, burying her face into her arms.

The Sheepkin woman nodded and put a hand on the Foxkin's back, "Our business in Jewel's Point sadly collapsed. Earthquake. We lost everything. I adopted Meeshka, here, and…well, I adopted him, as well."

Tristan felt a pang of sympathy in his chest, "My condolences. I'm sorry for your loss."

"I knew the risks of going into a Delve," the Sheepkin replied. "My brother was a Pathfinder and told me about them. I thought maybe we could find something to then sell and get a new start, a fresh start. That was his equipment, that…" she trailed off and shook her head, "There will be time to remember later."

Tristan nodded, "Again, my condolences. Well, you seem like good folk, and I think I can help you out. May I ask your professions?"

The Sheepkin smiled, "I am a tailor, using my own wool. Meeshka ran the storefront – great mind for numbers and she is suave."

"I am a lord. The ruler of the Fey Realm. If you like, I can provide accommodations."

The Sheepkin regarded him with a suspicious gaze, "Then you lied to us in the Delve."

"No, I told half-truths, but never a lie," Tristan replied as he crossed his arms. "If you give me an hour, I will take you to the Fey Realm, where you can rest, recuperate, and if you desire, work for me. I could use a tailor, and a merchant. I plan on traveling to Jewel's Point, making a lot of coin, and then have to meet the Pathfinders to find someone. You are welcome to reside in the Fey Realm, for as long or as short a duration as you desire, and when I arrive in Jewel's Point, if you help me sell my wares, I will split the profits with you."

The Sheepkin nodded, "That seems more than fair. This Fey Realm – is it far to travel to it?"

"No. I just need an hour." Tristan looked around and saw no sign of his horses, "And I need to track down my horses." Cupping his hands around his lips, he shouted as loud as he could. "Onyx! Midnight!"

The Foxkin looked up at him, "I…I saw some big, black horses."

"Those were mine," Tristan replied. He heard the sound of hoofbeats, and waited patiently with his arms crossed, spinning his essence crucible and pouring the power into his ring. The two horses came into sight a few seconds later, and Tristan walked over to them, putting his palms on their heads and scratching just along the jawline, "You two have a good time out here?"

Both of them snorted and chopped into the dirt with their hooves. To Tristan it seemed like an affirmation. The Sheepkin woman walked up behind him, "You can talk to beasts?"

Tristan looked back to her, "Elves have a way with animals. My type of Elf more than others. Oh, I never caught your name."

"Dorothy," she replied. "You said it will take an hour to travel to your Fey Realm?"

Tristan nodded and held up his gauntlet, "I have a ring on under this that enables us to travel between Realms. Let us move away from this Delve and head towards the road." He walked back to the still-in-shock Foxkin woman, gently picked her up – without protestation from her – and carried her over to Midnight, putting her up in the saddle. He gestured to Onyx, "You can ride him, Dorothy. I don't mind walking."

She smiled gently, "You are a kind man. Thank you."

Tristan smiled, "Of course. Come on, you two," he said, speaking to the horses. "Let's head a bit of a distance off."

He took the lead, walking away, and Felicity, who had been silent and invisible up to this point, spoke. "You're really going out of your way to help these people. More minions to serve your whims?"

"Why not? Being nice costs me nothing. And this gets me not only a tailor, but a shopkeeper. Both of whom know how Jewel's Point works which I do not know."

"Fair," Felicity replied. "I can't wait to get to a big city! Imagine all the hijinks I can get up to!"

Tristan chuckled, "Just nothing that hurts people. But it sounds like this merchant council has a lot of money and valuables they would probably not miss too much. You can indulge in your roguish nature."

She made little happy taps on his head, "Yes. Finally, a chance for me to get something valuable. I want more artifice items. I steal the good stuff, you make them artifice, we both get shiny gear!"

"Excuse me, Tristan," Dorothy said from atop Onyx. "Who are you talking to?"

"Ah. Felicity, do you mind?" Tristan asked. She turned visible, and Dorothy gasped a bit before Tristan smiled and put her at ease, "This is Felicity. She is my companion."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

"You're going to see a lot of my kind when we get to the Fey Realm!" Felicity said proudly. "The cutest, most adorable, and most pretty creatures to ever grace any Realm."

The hour passed rapidly and in silence and staying to the side of the road – within sight of it, but far enough away as to not catch attention upon his return, Tristan activated the ring, and the group were transported to the Fey Realm. Both Dorothy and Meeshka gasped in wonder, and Tristan saw new colors floating through the skies above – shimmering, glittering flecks of silver.

The Matriarch was nearby in her Elfanoid form and walked over. "Lord Tristan, the Lost Realm has been grafted. And already we have seen some excellent new developments. Your jeweler, Beatrice, has created a lovely necklace that is wholly unique. I doubt there is another one like it in the whole world."

Tristan glanced back at the market and crafting area outside the Queen's Wood and spotted the half-breed Broxtar working feverishly on some type of project. "Excellent. Just make sure she gets some rest."

The Matriarch nodded and glanced at the two new arrivals, "More refugees?" she asked.

"Just people down on their luck. They are my guests but may choose to stay if they desire."

The Matriarch waved her hand, and a few fairy dragons flew over. She instructed them rapidly in Elvish, and they led the two new arrivals away. Dorothy bowed slightly before leaving, but Meeshka still looked numb. "Well, your rescued Pathfinder is recuperating well. Archon Grimtome is well – up on the top boughs using the Astrologer's Glass."

Tristan nodded, "I'm heading to bed. Going to get an early start tomorrow," he replied as he handed off Onyx and Midnight to their fairy dragon attendants. "Goodnight, Matriarch." Heading into the Queen's Wood, he stripped his armor, bathed, then laid down. Felicity stayed in her fairy dragon form and curled up on a pillow near his head.

The next morning came swiftly, and Tristan was up bright and early. Getting his gear equipped, he went outside. "Felicity, mind grabbing our Pathfinder friend?"

She nodded and flew over to the houses shaped from the trees. Obadai walked over from the opposite side of the clearing, "Well, ready to travel?"

"Actually," Tristan replied. "I want you to stay here. I'll go with William. From what Dorothy – a new arrival – told me yesterday, it's less than a day to Jewel's Point. We only have the two horses, and I plan to make it there by midday. The Pathfinder will be able to vouch for me, and I can make a good first impression."

Obadai nodded, "Makes sense. Well, enjoy your traveling." He turned towards the Queen's Wood and headed inside.

Felicity flew over with a very sleepy William in tow. The man was well-rested and looked to be in great health. "Lord Tristan? I guess you're a lord," he said softly.

Tristan nodded, "Yes. You and I are heading to Jewel's Point today. We'll go right for the Pathfinder Lodge, and you can introduce me to the local leadership."

"On foot? It will be a few days," he replied.

Tristan gestured to the now-approaching Onyx and Midnight, thanking their handlers as he got astride Onyx, "Well, good thing we have mounts."

Returning to the Mortal Realm, the duo rode over to the road and began traveling towards Jewel's Point. As they went, Tristan spun his essence crucible in both directions, controlling his venting essence by sucking it back in as he slowly exercised his crucible. But traveling whilst doing that was quite a bore, and he needed to know some information before they arrived. Pushing some of the essence into his family crest hidden under his armored chest plate, he activated Disguise Self and took on the swarthy-skinned, black-haired appearance of a traveler from Bhant.

"What is Jewel's Point like when it comes to structure?" Tristan asked. "How is the city laid out?"

William pointed to the faint line of the ocean far off in the distance, "I grew up there my whole life, but don't know how it got started. I know the docks were the main feature, and some of the oldest buildings are along the quays. There's a shipyard, too, circled by jetties to keep the tides from capsizing vessels. You've got the docks district, a nearby warehouse district, a few marketplaces, and then some housing on the outskirts. A few farms further out, and livestock herders – but we eat a lot of fish and seaweed."

"Yuck!" Felicity said, invisible and thus only hearable by Elves. "That's gross! The slimy, green stuff tastes h-o-r-r-i-b-l-e! I've had it one time in some fancy person's house when I stole their soup."

Tristan chuckled, "Right. So, you have a weird diet. Okay, tell me about this merchant council."

"They are the six wealthiest people, and their leader is the one with the most money. It's basically just the most rich folks around, pooling their resources to cement control over trade networks. The leader is called the Queen of Sapphires. But she's not a queen."

Tristan detected a hint of disgust as William spoke, "And the Pathfinders pay rent on their lodge, I presume?"

"No clue how that all. I just know that I had to get out of my future as a fisherman, and I was able to join up during a recruitment drive." William frowned, "I'm not a great fighter, but you don't have to be good at fighting to join them. I'm a good swimmer, and pretty quiet when I want to be."

"Are the markets set up for different levels of income?" Tristan asked. "In the kingdom of Bhant, there were areas depending on how rich you were."

"Yeah. Fishmongers and seaweed farmers are down near the docks, you get more common trade goods in the other marketplaces, and the rich folks shop near the Sapphire Citadel – where the Queen lives."

"Right. Well, where is the Pathfinder lodge?"

"Near the docks. A lot of jobs for us doing merchant-marine work. It pays well and is pretty safe. Few pirates until you get way far off in the world. Around the Tri-Point shallows? It's calm."

Tristan recognized that name and thought back to looking at a map. "Between Gvand, Klaktol, and Maladonia, right?"

"Yeah," William replied. "It's that shallower water. Lots of shipwrecks from ancient kingdoms fighting. Lots of spelunking into the depths, if you could hold your breath for long enough. A few Sharkkin make their living off of that, and they live in a small coral reef off the coast of Jewel's Point."

Interesting, Tristan thought. But ultimately it does not matter that much right now. I need to get to the Pathfinder lodge, get information about Bertram, and then make my way toward him.

They crested a small hill, and both Tristan and Felicity gasped as they saw the enormous ocean spread out before them. It was the first time Tristan had seen the ocean in his life. All of that…is water? He thought as he just took it all in.

The roads below them, around the edges of town, were busy with travelers going to and from the farms. Merchant caravans were parked and circled up with their wagons outside the city proper, and ships were coming in to dock in the small bay formed by a pair of enormous, stone jetties that jutted out. Large, towering fortifications stood on either side, and as the last of the ships came in as the sun set, a large chain was extended between the two from unseen mechanisms – protecting the harbor.

"Jewel's Point," William said. "Come on, we can get into town before nightfall."

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