The old man led Joe McsShoots and Skellian out of the Inn, and along a winding dirt road. The sky overhead was dark, and littered with sparkling stars. A light rain was covering them, and wet mud squelched under their feet as they walked.
“Not too far down this here road, lads,” the old man said.
“Where are we going, man?” McShoots asked. “To your house or sumin’?”
“No. I don’t have a house. I live in a tree.”
McShoots looked up at Skell. “Great. We’ve gotten involved with some crazy tree man, Skell.”
The old man laughed. “Listen. It ain’t important. What is important is that I take you to Magdalen. She’ll know what to do.”
“So,” Skellian said. “You ain’t really helpin’ us. You’re just takin’ us to someone more knowladgebale.”
The old man rubbed the back of his head. “Err … something like that, yes. This way.”
They walked for just over an hour, through a forest full of tall, dark trees and bushes. Eventually they came to an opening, which led down to a small cave. A warm orange glow emanated from its entrance. “Here we are, lads.”
“This place?” McShoots said. “A bloody cave? How we meant to take you seriously, man?”
“Worry yourself not, Joe. The person you seek is inside. Magdalen of the Aranethi. If you’re to travel between realms, you’ll require the use of her. Now, get in.”
“Don’t worry, lad,” Skellian said. “Let’s go in.”
The pair wondered into the cave mouth. The floor was soaked with water, and at the back of the cave they could see a dark figure sitting behind a wooden table.
A raspy voice spoke up. “Who’s this then?”
“A couple of right blinding good blokes who need your assistance, Magdalen,” the old man shouted.
She laughed. “Need my help, eh? Typical. Step forward, men.”
Skellian and Joe McShoots took a few steps toward the table, and gave Magdalen a good looking over. She wore a black cloak with the hood pulled up, and all that could be seen in the soft light was the bottom of her nose and her mouth. Joe McShoots gulped. “Hello … my … highness?”
She spat. “Highness? Ha! I think not. Lady will do. I’m no royalty.”
Joe shook. “Sure thing … your … lady … ship, sir.”
“Lad,” Skellian said, hand on McShoots’ shoulder. “No need to be nervous, now.”
Magdalen drummed her fingers on the hard wood of the table. “Will you two spit it out already. I haven’t got all bloody night, you know. What do you want?”
Joe looked up at Skellian and thought for a while, then turned back to her. “We need to find the Red Dragon, and apparently you can help us do that.”
Magdalen flicked a glare at the old man still stood at the cave mouth, then back to Joe McShoots. She gestured at a chair off to the side. “Sit. Down.”
statistic0n's writing 