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AN ARCANE QUEST

CHAPTER 1 - Mystic Meetings

It was a chilly evening in mid autumn. Leaves were carried by the wind through the streets of the

little town, swirling around in a slow rhythmless dance to land softly in the mud of the street

without a single sound. The air was a constant haze from the heavy fog and rain, barely lit up by

lanterns and the occasional still open window to a house. There was almost no other sound. Just the

rain, the occasional snort of a horse and distant thunder somewhere behind the horizon. And her

footsteps.

Val's paws made wet splashy sounds as she stepped through the mud. The streets were well used,

and not even her large claws dug deep enough to give her proper footing. She found herself slipping

more than once and cursed under her breath. The rain hammered against her cloak and a small

waterfall fell from the hood onto her snout, causing her to snort through the water every other

breath. This was getting unbearable. She proceeded up the street with hasted, determined steps and

as she gained a little higher ground the wet mud was replaced by pebbles. Her walk turned into a

half-run as she spotted the sign she was looking for... an inn. Warmth, some food in her belly and a

hearty jug of wine was just what she needed right now. As she ran up the street, the wind caught the

hood of her cloak and pulled it backwards, exposing her to the rain. She shuddered from the sudden

cold streaks of water and lifted her hands to ajust the hood that had gotten hooked on her horns and

now tangled in the wind, wet and heavy from the rain. She reached the inn before she could get the

hood free, pulled the door open as fast as she could and stepped inside.

It was like walking into a wall. The air was dry and warm, with a hint of smoke from the fireplace.

The nearest tables looked up at her. Some faces were curious, other annoyed or even angry. Some

suspicious, and some seemingly not caring at all. She looked at them for a while, blinking the water

out of her eyes. Her long, silver hair hung slick around her horns, face and snout, water dripping

from her and forming a small puddle on the floor. The music slowly stopped and she found -

somewhat unnerved - that the entire inn was looking at her. She swallowed, then gave a nod to the

room as a whole.

"Go on..."

She swung her tail behind her, found the door and pulled it shut. One by one, all the faces turned

away from her and returning to their own business. The music started playing again, chatter

returned and the clicking of cutlery mixed with the clacking of rolling dice. She stood there for a

while, just breathing and letting the water drop off of her, some of it already turning to steam in the

warm air.

She was just about to take a step into the tavern, one paw in the air when the door was hastily

pushed open. Val barely had the time to look over her shoulder before someone pummeled into her.

Val let out a yelp, her paw wiggling in the air for a desperate moment before she found herself

falling. Whoever had tackled her were dressed in a cloak as well, but beige white instead of Val's

dark grey. Who was this? The town guards wore a light red colour and as far as she knew, she had

not upset them, rather the opposite. Lonely guards on cold nights very much appreciated the warmth

• and silver - of a lady. She was also pretty sure she had not upset any religious groups, at least not

in this town. Could one of them had followed her?

Val cursed and tried to untangle herself from her cloak that had wrapped around her like a blanket

when she tumbled over the floor. Cloaks were great to shield against weather and she loved them,

but they were cumbersome lumps to be loathed in any indoor occasion; and this one was rainsoaked

and so heavy she had to struggle to lift it. But as she was struggling, a shy little voice came and she

felt someone helped to tug at her cloak.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"

Val blinked. This was not quite what she had expected to hear. Normally people who tackled her

tended to let out triumphant roars or cuss at her. Whoever it was, managed to unfold the cloak and

pull it free from her head. Val blinked as she looked up at another dragoness. She was young,

clearly. Much younger than Val herself. But her face was very fair, and lean features mixed with a

rather muscly and toned body. Pearl white scales instead of Val's ebony black. Two green eyes

stared right back into Val's blue ones. Then a pearly white hand was held out to her. Val took it, and

the other dragoness helped pull her up. Val brushed herself off real quick, but most of the dust were

stuck to the moist fabric. Good thing hers was grey, at least.

"I'm so sorry, I just needed to get out of the rain. I'm freezing." the other dragoness exclaimed and

lifted her hands, grabbing her hood and pulling it back. A beautiful plume of bronze brown feathers

decorated her head and Val gave her a curious look. Her two main horns were similar in shape to

Val's own, but brown instead of bone white; and instead of Val's cheek frills, she had another set of

curved horns. Val, who was a water dragoness, had not seen someone like that before and therefore

cocked her head curiously at the dragoness, who cocked hers back at Val. Val wondered what she

was thinking. Was she evaluating Val the same way Val was evaluating her? Friend or foe? Curious

other dragon? What lead them here at the same time?

Slowly, the green eyes of the other dragoness shifted to look over Val's shoulder and then back at her.

"So, uh... are you going to let me in? I'm still freezing."

Val felt herself blush hard and instantly felt embarrassed. She had completely forgotten she stood in

the way of the other dragoness. She had not been evaluating Val, but kindly waited for Val to step

out of the way all this time.

"I... I'm... sorry."

Val quickly gathered her robes and shuffled to the side as fast as she could, nearly bumping her

rump into the beer jug of a dwarf who grunted offendedly as he leaned back just in time. The other

dragoness leaned back, closed the door behind her and with a shy but kind smile walked past Val

and up to the bar. Val looked at her for a moment before shaking the last of the raindrops off of her

and followed her up to the bar. The white dragoness was leaning a bit into the bar, looking at the

barkeep who was busy tapping up a beer jug from a barrel for a rowdy-looking human male. Val

carefully came up to her side and leaned in over the bar as well, using it for support. The other

dragoness looked over at her, smiled and gave her tail a little flick. Even the tip of her tail had a

little plume of bronze feathers. The colouration was remarkably beautiful and Val couldn't help but

sheepishly stare at it for a while. She only realized what she had done when the white dragoness

chuckled and turned to face her.

"Can I help you?"

Val blushed and closed her eyes before shaking her head.

"N-no, sorry, I'm just... I've never seen a dragon with bronze feathers before. They're quite

beautiful, especially in combination with your scales."

"Why thank you...~"

The white dragoness seemed to blush a little bit and looked back over at Val.

"Just as I have never seen a dragoness with a silver mane before. It looks really good on you."

"Why thank you! I-"

Val cut herself off as the barkeep suddenly came up to them.

"Wine. Fruity, big glass."

Both dragonesses spoke at the same time, as if they were a choir. They then both stopped, looked at

each other and burst into a fit of giggles. Then the white one lifted a finger.

"Actually, make that-"

"- a jug."

Val filled in. The white dragoness giggled and gave Val a more intense look.

"Seems like you and I are looking for the same thing."

"Are you hungry as well?"

The white dragoness nodded and Val smiled. As the barkeep came back over with 2 jugs of sweet,

fruity white wine, Val tossed a silver coin on the counter.

"Meal for two as well. Fresh off the spit, please."

The barkeep grunted in confirmation and took the coin as the dragonesses took their jugs. Val

nodded over her shoulder towards and empty table further back, next to the wall.

"Come. Let us keep company for dinner. It's on me tonight."

The white dragoness smiled and gently placed another silver coin on the counter.

"Make it a really nice meal."

The barkeep smiled at them before they both stood up and headed over to the table, sitting down

and slumping their tails down over the bench they were sitting on. It felt really good to relax them

for a while after an entire day of walking. Both slumped down, looked at the candle on the table and

let out a deep sigh. Then looked back up at each other, as they once more had done something

perfectly in sync. Val smiled to the other dragoness and pulled her cloak back to reach her hand out

across the table.

"The name is Val. Actually Valcyrie, but everyone always calls me Val."

The white dragoness smiled back at her and folded her cloak back as well before taking Val's hand

in hers.

"My name is Serratia, but my friends call me Serr, for short."

They shook hands, and Serr cocked her head at Val before speaking.

"So... what brought you here this night? I thought I was alone."

"So did I. I never saw you on the road, I'm pretty sure I was alone too."

"Wait... the north or the south road?"

"North... oh."

Both 'nesses fell silent and stared down into their wine jugs, realizing their moment of

brainlessness. Serr was the first to break that silence again.

"So... south road, travelling north. What made you do that? The north is a cold, uncaring and

unforgiving place."

Val looked up at her, a curiosity in her gaze.

"You seem to have been around... I'm honestly just travelling. I go where I'm needed, so to speak."

"I have been around, and..."

Serr fell silent and squinted at Val.

"You... don't seem to be a hired blade, though. At least I saw no weaponry of remarkable size on

you."

"I thought that size didn't matter."

Serr blinked at Val. Val tried to stifle a pompous smile by biting her lip, making her face look

inflated. Serr burst out laughing so hard she almost spat her wine, and Val soon followed suit, both

'nesses giggling furiously and leaning closer to each other. After breathing deeply a few times they

looked up at each other, their eyes met and they both smiled.

"And you? Why is a dragoness like you out travelling in this hour and weather? It does not seem to

suit you."

Val looked curiously at Serr, waiting for a reply. Serr looked back at her, smiled, took a sip of her

cup and then spoke.

"I am also a traveller. I also go where I am needed."

Serr saw Val's gaze immediately drop to her belt and pulled her cloak closed with a smirk.

"Nuh uh, little Val! No lookie-lookie!"

Val grinned back at her and shook her head slowly.

"I'm not sure if you're a hired blade. You sure pack the muscle, but I don't see a blade on you, nor

do you sit down like you carry one. Nothing lifts your cloak. No, your trade is different."

Serr nodded and bit her lip, giving Val a "not bad" look.

"You're right Val! A hired blade I am not! But I do sell services to qualified employers."

Val took a sip of her wine and chuckled, then shook her head with a grin.

"Now, that sounds more like a scoundrel than anything else."

Serr put on a fake shocked expression and held her hand over her chest as if to clutch her heart.

"A scoundrel? Me? Preposterous!"

She then smiled and spread her cloak more open for Val to look. A belt with lots of pouches sat

around her waist, the top of several bottles sticking out of a few of them. Val nodded, looking

thoughtful.

"Uhuh. An alchemist in the making?"

"Alchemist by trade." Serr remarked. Val smirked, nodding while shifting her fingers to hold the

jug so she could point with one at Serr.

"If it is your trade, where is your shop, and why are you wandering about?"

"Oh Val..." Serr smiled and shook her head. "How do you think we learn the recipes?"

Val gave a shrug.

"From books and scrolls I would assume. That's how I-"

She cut herself short, and Serr's eyes narrowed at her.

"That's how... you learned? Hmmh?"

Val sat quiet for a moment, just looking at Serr before slowly shaking her head.

"I'm not an alchemist."

Serr observed Val more closely, her eyes staring through the opening of Val's cloak. She then

nodded towards Val's tunic.

"Dark blue. Brass buttons. High quality, yet simple, yet efficient. Comfortable to wear, but surely

not made for a life on the road nor field."

She looked up, her eyes meeting Val's again, Serr's own eyes widening a little.

"You're a scholar!"

Val gave a small shrug.

"I am educated, yes."

Serr gave Val a long, evaluating look.

"What topics? If you're travelling for trade, surely a teacher of some kind? Or math for

bookkeeping?"

Val snorted with laughter at the mentioning of maths, causing Serr to grin victoriously.

"Not into finance and business? A teacher then. What do you teach?"

Val smiled.

"History and social sciences, heraldry and art."

"Fancy!"

Serr nodded and took another sip of her wine. The barkeep came over with a large plate for each of

them. There was slices of pork, fresh off of the spit roast. There was also bread, cheese, porridge,

mushrooms, berries and honey. They had paid good for their meal, and such a meal they had

received. Both 'nesses started to purr at the sight, and soon dug in, the conversation dying out

momentarily.

As they finished up, both leaned back and looked at each other. Serr was the first to break the

silence with a nod.

"So... considering the people you meet... you don't happen to know anyone who needs the service

of a travelling alchemist? My money is running a bit low if I intend to stay at inns every night, and

judging by the weather, that seems preferable."

Val finished several large gulps of wine and wiped her lips with the back of her hand and was just

about to reply, when a large shadow turned up right next to them. Both 'nesses turned their heads

and looked up at what at first seemed to be a dwarf from his body shape and massive braided beard,

but he was way too tall to be a dwarf. They blinked up at him, and Serr was the first to speak.

"Yes..? C-can we help you?"

"Aye, maybe ye can." The dwarf answered.

He was a large, rowdy man who even in the tavern was clad in armour, and not just any armour, but

plate and chain. A large bastardsword hung from his side among several daggers, throwing axes and

utility pouches.

"Ye see, sorreh if I overherd ye by the way... name's Ian. But aye, I'm a mercenary. Hired blade, if

ye will. But dun be 'fraid now, little nessies. I swear to ye, I am loyal to contract, not money."

Both Val and Serr just stared up at him, and Ian narrowed his eyes, squinting at them.

"What are ye lookin' at? Never seen a dwarf with giantism before?"

Both 'nesses just shook their heads. Ian sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Alrigh'. But, to the point. I took a contract last night to investigate some nearby ruins of a temple. I

would do it meself, but I know better. Last time I did I got stuck under ground for nine days! Nine

bloody days I tell ye! All because I couldn't solve a damn riddle on the wall! But... ye said ye were

a teacher?"

He looked at Val, who nodded.

"Good! Tha' means yer smart!" The dwarf poked the side of his head with a finger.

"And ye!" He pointed at Serr. "Ye'r surely familiar with healin', are ye not? Both traditional and

magical, perhaps?"

Serr looked at Val, then back up at Ian and nodded.

"Good! Now, I'm lookin' to head out tomorrow morn! I was promised a good fifty gold coins for

this. So how about this. Ye tag along and help me if I need, and in turn I give ye five gold coins

each for yer trouble. Sounds good?"

Val and Serr blinked, looked at each other and then up at Ian. Five gold coins was worth a good fifty

silver, and only 2 silver had paid for this majestic feast. They looked at each other again, then Val

reached out her hand.

"I'm interested."

"Excellent!" Ian took her hand and shook it.

Serr looked at Val before reaching out her hand too.

"Alright, I'm interested. But we need to clear a few things up."

"Surely!"

Ian grabbed a nearby stool and pulled it up to the table, sitting down with a loud huff. He took a

small piece of Val's bread, dipped it in her wine and used it as a brush to draw on the table.

"Alright, here we are. Little town of Abbotsbooth. Now here... here are the mountains. And here's

the large western forest, now that's where we're headin'."

Val and Serr watched in silence as he drew.

"Now... here's the temple. Should be no danger. And if there's any fightin', it's fer me. Ye girls stay

in the background and wait. Should I return harmed, I will require yer aid."

He nodded towards Serr.

"But... if I find something... inscriptions, pictures... I might need ye to come look at 'em."

He nodded towards Val.

"That's how simple it is. And the terms too. We travel together, camp together, investigate together.

Mostly me, and I'll call on ye if ye'r needed. Once I've done me job, which is to explore, map and

document, we'll come back 'ere. I'll turn in me findings, and once I get me reward of fifty gold

coins, I'll give ye five each. If ye run off before that, no pay. If ye'r of no help to me, no pay but I'll

still provide ye with food for the journey. How does that sound?"

He dropped the wine-soaked breadpiece back onto Val's place and smiled at them. Val and Serr

looked at each other, then at him and nodded. Both reached out their hands to shake his.

"Deal."

"Alright, I'll meet ye lovely ladies for breakfast here tomorrow morn'."

Ian shook their hands and got up, waddling over to his own table. Val and Serr looked at each other,

Val speaking first.

"Well... that sure was something."

"Yeah... but, easy money that we're in need of."

Val nodded and both of them hunkered down over the table a bit, sipping the last of their wine. Serr

gave Val a long look before speaking again.

"So... do you have a room yet?"

Val let out a humming no as she sipped some wine and shook her head. Serr gave a careful shrug.

"Want to... split a room? Less expensive that way, and no males around."

Val slowly rocked her head back and forth, thinking before she nodded in approval.

"Sounds good to me."

Serr gave her a mischievous smile. Val jerked back a bit, suddenly feeling unsure of that was a wise

decision. But before she could intervene, Serr was already up and on her way to talk to the barkeep.

Val sat back with a soft sigh, tapping her claws against the table. If they were going to travel

together, it was a good idea to get to know her companion before they headed out on the trail. But

there was something about the glint in the eyes of the pearl white dragoness that made Val suspect

she had more intentions than she let on. Perhaps she was a scoundrel after all.

When Serr came walking back spinning a key around her finger with a triumphant smile, Val made

the decision to roll with this, and just tie her backpack around her paw while she slept. She slowly

got up and followed Serr up the stairs to the upper floor where the rooms were. Serr unlocked a

door for them and they both stepped in. The room was small and simple with two beds crammed in

tight, a bench and a table. In short, only room for baggage and clothes while they themselves stayed

in the beds. A small lantern stood on the table, making the shadows of the room dance as the air

from the open door made the wick flick. Serr stepped in first and Val followed her, already

unbuttoning her cloak and throwing it over the bench while Serr closed the door behind them. Soon

both of them undressed until they wore nothing but simple linen tunics that hung halfway down

their thighs. Serr turned the wick of the lantern a little higher up to spread some more light. The rain

drummed against the roof over them as both 'nesses sat down on their beds, facing each other. They

both looked at each other for a long while in silence. Eventually Val leaned back a bit in her bed,

supported herself on her arms and let out a tired sigh.

"I'm actually quite sore. I think I will sleep well tonight. I have wandered far."

Serr sighed too and leaned in a little, supporting herself with her elbows on her knees.

"Same, but I think I can help."

"Oh?"

Val gave Serr a curious look as she got up, walked over to her backpack and rummaged around in it.

"Aha!"

Serr lifted up a small jar with some white goop in it and came over to Val. She sat down next to her

and nodded towards the bed.

"Lay down, back against the pillows, and give me your paws."

Val shuffled over, laid back against the pillows and placed her paws in Serr's lap. Serr smiled at her

and opened the jar. A strong smell of mint and herbs reached Val's nostrils immediately and she

cocked her head.

"What is that?"

Serr smiled.

"It's an ointment, really good for sore muscles. Here, let me show you."

She dipped her fingers into the salve, then suddenly grabbed one of Val's paws and started to

massage it.

"Hey, what are you- ... oh. Oooh...~"

Serr smiled mischievously as Val leaned back against the pillows and closed her eyes.

"God, that feels amazing."

"I know...~"

Serr chuckled at her and kept massaging. Her fingers moved in circular motions, rubbing Val's three

digits and claws and down under the paw itself, following every curve and every joint with dextrous

skill. Val couldn't help but purr, quite loudly at that, and blushed when she heard Serr chuckle.

"Mmh, someone's enjoying this..?"

"I... mmmh~"

Val's voice trailed off as she relaxed and purred, feeling how Serr's fingers worked their way

around her ankles and started working up her calves. Her legs were indeed very sore, and the gentle

massages felt absolutely amazing. Perhaps, if she landed a job with good enough pay, she could hire

Serratia to do this every evening. But as Val relaxed against the pillows with closed eyes, she did

not see how Serr's curious eyes travelled up those lean yet strong legs and up under the hem of her

tunic. Nor did she notice that the breath of the pearl white 'ness had gotten heavier and her gaze

more intense. Val had been more than happy to isolate herself from the rest of the rowdy crowd, and

had never considered that the pearl white 'ness before her might be more into girls than guys...