Here is my next part! Sorry for the delay!
The invitationarrived in an unusual way. The town of Crowley was a quiet place thistime of year. It was tucked into the lower slopes of the Sylvan mountains insouthern Marigund. In summer it played host to many people trying to escape thesummer heat of the city. But this was October and it was cold and the summerresidents were all gone till next spring. This left the town fairly quiet. Just outside of town and up the mountainslope was a tall, stone tower. The edifice was surrounded by a low wall thatwas there more to keep out strangers than to help defeat an attack. Only a fewservants and workers moved about on the usual mundane tasks of maintaining theplace. The dining room was several stories up inthe tower and allowed for a beautiful view down the mountainside and over theland below. Amelia and Fred Montague were enjoying lunchwhen a large bat flew thru the window and into the dining room. It circledaround their heads for a moment. Then it dropped something and flew back outthru the window. "I thought window was closed,” Fredsaid calmly. "It is! And warded as well,” Ameliaanswered. “We need to improve the defenses.” Shepicked up the tightly bound scroll the bat had delivered and opened it."It's good news! My cousin Misha is getting married!" "We have to go," he said."Where is it being held?" "Metamor Keep!" "Oh! The place with the fascinatingcurses?" "And that magnificent library! I ratherthink that's the most important feature!" "Indeed! How far is it?" "Only 500 miles or so. A short trip.” "Walking is too boring and we cannotteleport. The magic there prevents it." "We could fly there. I could make acarpet fly. It'd have protection against wind and the elements and we couldstore our luggage on it." “Carpet is too exposed,” she said. “We could take the mortar and pestle. Wehaven’t tried that before.” "I like that idea. Been too long sincewe've been flying together." "It'd be a nice, scenic view aswell." "We can stop at the restaurant you likein Giftum." "And buy goodies at that one shop youlove there too!" He smiled and laughed. "It’s been fartoo long since we've been there." **** The sun was just peaking over the horizonheralding the dawn of a new day. The courtyard of their small castle wasalready busy. The few servants were awake and starting their daily tasks. Sitting in the center of the small courtyardwas a large wooden carriage. It was a fine thing of fine-grained wood, polishedand decorated. Gilt decorations were everywhere. The interior had seats thatwere comfortably padded. “This is beautiful,” she said excitedly.“Where did you get it?” He smiled and turned red faced. “I rented itfrom the Guild for a month.” She slowly walked around the coach examiningit from all sides. “What do you think of our new vehicle?” hesaid cheerfully. “It’s wonderful!” She exclaimed. “We cantravel in comfort.” Their luggage was safely stowed away andthey both took seats. Inside there was a trio of nice seats and adashboard at the front. On that were a half dozen buttons and levers. He pressed three buttons and a low humfilled the air. The couch slowly lifted clear of the pavement, “And away we go!” He said cheerfully. Withthat their transport slowly lifted clear of the pavement. The ground droppedaway quickly and soon they were moving above the clouds. ************** It was bright andsunny at first with the sun shining down. The clouds rolled in and soon thecarriage was surrounded by gray black clouds. The scenery was lost. A lightrain started to fall. Fred touched the controls and the carriagequickly ascended and soon broke out of the clouds and back into the sunshine. It was several hours later when Ameliapeered out the window and down at the clouds still roiling below them. “AhDear,” she asked. “Where are we?” “Still on course to Metamor Keep.” Fredresponded confidently. “How can you be so confident?” She asked. He pointed to the console in front of him.“I’m following the compass.” “That’s good,” she said slowly. “But whereexactly are we?” The confident look on his face vanished.“I’m not exactly sure. I didn’t get the locator option,” he said. “It wasanother thousand gold.” “Well, lets go down and see where we are,”She responded. The carriage slowly descended into theclouds and the view outside their windows was obscured by the dark “What if we hit something?” She asked. “Likea dragon?” “If we run into a dragon the least of ourworries is the collision,” he responded but then he slowed down. “But it’s bestto be careful.” Rain pattered on the windows at a steadypace while it lightly drummed on the roof over their heads. After a long timethey broke out of the clouds and the world beneath them came into view. Below them was a land of low, rolling hillsinterspersed with groves of trees and the occasional cluster of buildings. “Farm land,” she said slowly. “Welldeveloped. I see crops of corn and wheat.” She pointed to a cluster of buildings.“There is a small town. Let’s stop and look around.” “Why?” He countered. “We’re on course.” “Then where are we?” She asked. “Exactly.” He was silent for a long moment. “I guess wecan go down for a look.” ******************
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