CH. 3: Guardian Mountains

[HorizonsDream]

"I'm doing this to get paid," Echo admits. "After that, with the few friends I made here, I was kind of hoping a couple of them would be willing to come with me to help me find my father," she says. "They might not, but still."

[JadedDM]

"Your father is missing?" Juban says, looking concerned. "For how long?"

[HorizonsDream]

"I'm not sure he is missing," Echo says. "I've never met him. Though, I've heard stories about him. He is suppose to be this great mage, and I would love to learn from him," she explains. "No one seems to know the name Daos Soulstaff though."

[JadedDM]

"Soulstaff?" asks Juban.

"Don't tell me you actually know him?" Issac probes.

"Uhhh...not sure. That does sound familiar. I think there was someone in Praven by that name. Maybe...I think the royal family's tutor had that name," Juban states.

"Huh. Maybe it was your destiny to be here after all," Issac says to Echo.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo's eyes widen as she looks between the two men. She hadn't expected them to know who he was, but this was a start. "I...I didn't have a place to look until just now. It looks like I might be journeying to Praven after this, well, after I stop by home to give some of the money I made to my mother," she says. "Thank you."

[JadedDM]

"Glad to help," Juban says, lifting his drink to her with a smile. "Although I can't promise he'd still be there, but even if he isn't, surely somewhere there would know of him."

[HorizonsDream]

"Like I said, it is a start," Echo says. "A tutor for the royal family?" she asks as she takes a drink of the wine she ordered a while back. "As in magic, or just simple basic studies?"

[JadedDM]

Juban shrugs. "Probably the latter. Although who can say for sure? The royal family keeps a lot of secrets. I'm not aware of any of the children having the talent, but it's entirely possible."

[HorizonsDream]

"It just seems like a waste of his talents if he is the great mage that I heard that he was," Echo admits. "But then again, working for the royal family probably is a big deal status wise."

[JadedDM]

"It's a very big deal," Juban states. "The royal family is, well, rather paranoid these days. Ever since the king died, it's gotten especially bad. For the queen to trust anyone, especially with her children, well...it's a high honor, indeed."

[HorizonsDream]

"I wonder what he did to earn that trust," Echo says thoughtfully.

[JadedDM]

"That, I couldn't tell you," Juban says. "Or even really guess at. Must have been something big, though."

[HorizonsDream]

"Hmm," Echo says. "Well, thanks for the drink," she adds as she stands. "And I'm..glad the two of you are doing okay after everything that has happened."

[JadedDM]

The two nod and say their good-byes and well wishes to Echo. The mage then departs the table and is free to go where she likes.

[HorizonsDream]

Echo takes her drink, and walks over to the paladin's table. "Mind if I join you?" she asks.