Being only ten or fifteen yards from the main road, Ridley wasn't too worried about his carlessness. His belongings were all intact and, of course, he was much more well rested now. A good night's sleep had destroyed the previous evening's thoughts and doubts, leaving him feeling refreshed and a bit optimistic. The sun shone in the cloudless sky and, as was a rarity during a journey as long as this one, Shenu was still smooth and clean.

There was still about five miles to cover until he returned to Two River, however. Still, a conversation partner would have been welcome, as Ridley did not want to again succumb to his own torturing thoughts, the ponderings which he had conditioned unto himself. Perhaps he should have invited Desmond along for this journey after all...

Pushing on through the night without any sleep I contuined to travel down the wagon worn road.

I had just reached the peak of a very steep hill when i saw the sun slowly rise above the horizion.

Slowly, I stretched my arms above my head, yawned deeply, and rubbed my eyes till they ajusted to the sun's warm light.

Judging from how long I had been travling I caculated that I was only an hours walk from Two River.

With a bright smile on my face I started a slow jog down the hill to freshen up. Just as I reached the bottom of the hill I passed by a large oak tree with a shadowy figure standing under it.

The figure stood tall and straight. I stood there is wonderment as the figure started to walk towards me.

I slowly placed my hand on my blade when the figure became clear. It was my father Ridley. Suddenly I was struck with a wave of emotions.

I was pounded with fear, overwhelmed with joy, and flooded with tension. All I could do is stand there at my tightest attention and stare into his dark eyes...

...he looked deep in thought, as if half-remembering me. He smiled somewhat- the same commanding smile I remember from childhood- and said, "Ah, my son Boris, I have been wondering whether or not you received my letter."

With a dry taste in my mouth I was able to quietly say "...yes sir I did...." I placed my hand over my new medal and pulled it off and quickly placed it into my pocket...

"Have there been any updates on the Highland problem?"

My father cocked his head to one side and squinted. He must have just recently awoken. Still, I should have not been so naive as to think I could get away with hiding my medal under my father's eye. "You needn't concern yourself with such things right now, Boris. What are you hiding there, in your pocket?"

I sighed deeply and removed the purple bone from my pocket and modestly held it up in the air in front of him.

"I recieved this for my valor during the Moravia battle."

He eyed the medal with intense scrutiny, cleared his throat, and replied, "I heard you had fought in that battle on Jowston's behalf. But that was over three years ago- why are they just now recognizing your bravery?"

"Well father, sir, I frankly know. For some reason after a day of training they called me into a great hall where there were other old kobolds, and they gave me this medal. They also later gave me Patrick's things too."

I looked up into the sky without saying a word....

"Patrick... a comrade of yours?"

".....Yes father.... He was with me during my first session of training... He fought alongside of me during the Moravia battle..."

I made a fist with my hand that had the embeded Flowing Rune on it and breathed in deeply.

I could feel him reading me, feeling my every word. He knew exactly what I was thinking. "Fought alongside you, but did not survive the battle, is that right?"

"...Yes, he also gave me this rune, so he could protect me and others....forever..."

I opened my fist and revealed the rune to my father.

That may have been in err, now that I think about it, and one of many. Stand straight, shoulders back, hand on hilt; that's the way it was with Father. Trust not in magic, trust only in steel... and here was I with Patrick's rune. I could imagine what he'd say next, something about how I would be unable to protect anything with a dainty rune, something about how I came to Two River without being officially summoned, something about...

"To protect others is the nobelest trait of man, my son," he said. I thought I had dreamed it- kind words where criticism should have been?

Looking up at the sun again I could see it slowly creep above our heads. I cleared my throat loudly. "Sir I believe that we should be headed home, or we'll never make it before dusk if we contuine like this."

".....but father....why are you here?...did you have business elsewhere?"

He barely chuckled under his breath. "Come then, Boris, and I'll brief you on the events of the war since my writing to you."

I nodded and followed closely behind him at his heels.

"It would be best to allow my advisor Desmond to give you the details about the war, but suffice it to say that things aren't looking good for Jowston."

I shook my head "I think the talk of the war and Jowston can wait for later....that is if you dont mind....I'd more like to know how Mother has been; it's been such a long time since I've seen you both in a long time."

"I have missed you both greatly."

Father peered at the ground as he summoned a reply, "I regret not seeing you while you were in Two River a while ago. But I can't help but wonder why you didn't seek me out for a short visit. I have my responsibilities, but am never too busy for a short conversation with my son.

"I myself have not spent time with your mother for a while. Bogged down with military jargon, you know. Desmond warns me sometimes to charish the moments I have been letting slip by me. I didn't even say good-bye to her when I left for Greenhill." He laughed, perhaps to mask his disappointment in himself. "You know, the last words I said to her were, 'This is excellent corn hash, Emily.'"

I deeply sighed and thought back into the inner recesses of my mind. "I believe I never told her goodbye when I left for the unmaned continent either sir. I dont know how that could have happened. Oh! Now I can't wait to get home and see her shining face again."

I looked over to my father as gleefully said "Father we should be able to see Two River in a couple of minutes."

We finally reached the gates of tworiver. I could feel my heart pound aganist my chest with such power I could barely contain my emotions. I was so excited to be home at last.