My name is Drakyn, and I am preparing to leave the only home I have ever known. When I woke up this morning, my foster father told me to equip myself for travel and shoved a purse full of gold into my hands. As with most information related to me and my past, Gorion was tight-lipped and refused to answer my questions, other than to say we had to leave and he did not know when we might return.

I made my way to the Candlekeep Inn after breakfast. Winthrop, the innkeeper, also keeps a variety of adventuring gear for sale. I hesitated outside the doors, and decided that if Gorion was not going to share the where and the why of this trip then I was going to dictate the when. And I was not ready to abandon my life just yet.

My mornings normally were filled with chores, so I walked about Candlekeep’s outer yards, greeting the monks I passed by, many of whom had served as my tutors over the last 20 years. I rid the warehouse of some rats, picked up a bottle of tonic for the stablemaster, and delivered some weapons to the Watcher’s barracks. At last, I stood before the inn once more, my excuses for delay exhausted.

Upon my entry, Winthrop greeted me with his same, old, tired jokes. I gave him my standard courtesy chuckle and then told him I needed to buy some equipment for a journey. As Winthrop retrieved the items I needed, I looked out across the inn’s lobby and noticed an old elf whose face was unfamiliar to me. When Winthrop returned, I asked him about the man.

“Who? Old Firebead? He’s got some business with Tethtoril, if I’m not mistaken.”

I thanked Winthrop for his help, scooped up my things, and went upstairs to change in an empty room. As I came back down, I watched the elf. He must have felt my stare because he turned from the fire toward me and our eyes met.

“Well met, adventurer,” he called out. “Is there something this old man can do for you?”

I felt the heat rising to my face. “I’m not an adventurer. My father, Gorion, told me to prepare for a journey.”

“Ah, so you are Gorion’s ward. Then you probably know Tethtoril.”

I nodded as I walked toward him.

“Excellent. Would you mind doing me a favor? That old sage was supposed to bring me a scroll, but he’s probably forgotten and is out wandering aimlessly in the gardens again. Might I burden you with finding him and fetching that scroll for me?”

“Certainly,” I said.

“Wonderful. It’s hard to find decent folk, nowadays, but you’ve certainly restored my faith that they still exist.”

I smiled at the compliment and told Firebead I would be back with his scroll shortly.

I did, indeed, find Tethtoril walking in the gardens, but he had the scroll on him and was on his way to the inn to deliver it. He was glad to give the task over to me so he could return to his studies.

“Be quick about it, child,” he called out as I left. “Gorion is anxious to be off. He wants you to meet him on the steps of the keep.” I lifted my hand in acknowledgment and hurried back to the inn. Firebead thanked me for my help and offered to cast a ward over me that might protect me on my journey. I shrugged and stood tensely as he waved his hands over me and chanted. A flash of light appeared and the spell was complete. I felt no different, but said goodbye.

Editor’s note: Firebead’s dialogue mentions the spell will protect me against any dangers I might face later that night, but the spell’s duration expires during the time it takes me to walk straight from the inn to Gorion.

As I approached the fountains in front of the keep, I heard a girlish voice call out my name. I cringed in anticipation, and tried to walk on like I didn’t hear, but Imoen bounded into my path, intent on inflicting herself on me.

“Heya, whatchya doin’?”

“I’m not supposed to say, little one,” I sighed. “Besides, don’t you have some chores to do? Winthrop will be mad if you haven’t turned down the beds yet.”

“Hey, who you callin’ ‘little one’. I’m only a couple years younger than you. And I know where you’re going,” she teased.

“What? How do you know when Gorion hasn’t even told me?”

“Oops. Did I say that? Well, gotta run. Chores and all that. Bye-bye.”

I fumed, and considered chasing after her, but saw Gorion standing on the steps from the corner of my eye. I walked over to him.

“Oh, child, are you ready to go?”

“Father, please, can’t you tell me where we’re going, at least?”

“I have not fully decided on that yet? When I have, I will let you know. Now, let us go.” We walked out of the inner courtyard toward the citadel’s main gate. There, we paused and Gorion turned toward me. “Should something happen to me during our travels, I want you to promise me something.” The gravity of his voice told me to nod and listen, even though I wanted to protest that nothing would happen. “Go to the Friendly Arm Inn. There you will meet Khalid and Jaheira. They are friends of mine and will know what to do.” His instructions complete, he cast a spell over me, which filled me with invigorating energy. Then we left Candlekeep.