I turned toward the voice to see Imoen approaching, her auburn hair bouncing just above her purple-clad shoulders.

“Drakyn…I-I saw…I am SO sorry.”

“Imoen? What are you doing here?”

“I…accidentally read a letter on Gorion’s desk the other day. I never get out of Candlekeep and the monks are such a bore. Anyway, I’m not gonna let you wander around out here all alone. Never let a friend down, no sir. Stick with you until you say otherwise, I will.”

I stared at her, my mind numb, not even noticing the bow she held in her hand.

“So, where we goin’ anyway?” Imoen asked, rocking on her heels. Her words were just noise to my ears as I looked around without seeing.

“Uh, you okay?”

“No, I’m not,” I shouted, something in me snapping. “I just saw my father killed because he wouldn’t let some armored fiend take me, and all you can do is act like we’re on a big adventure.” Imoen winced at my tirade and I immediately regretted the outburst. “I’m sorry, Imoen. It’s not your fault.”

“That’s okay. I know you’re just upset. Would it make you feel better if…if you went to go see him?”

“No. I don’t…just, no.”

“I’m sure Gorion wouldn’t want you to just stand here all day on the road. Did he tell you where you were going?”

“No, he didn’t….” I paused, remembering Gorion’s words just before we left Candlekeep. “Wait, he did say he had a couple friends staying at the Friendly Arm Inn that would help me, but I don’t have any idea where that is.”

“Well, maybe if we keep following this road,” Imoen said, “we’ll come across a sign or somebody who could give us directions.” It was a stretch, but I had no better ideas, so we started walking. The road wound its way north as the day wore on, and as we rounded a bend, we spotted a man and a boy standing in the middle of the road up ahead. I signaled for Imoen to wait and approached them, my sword drawn.

“Hello there, kid,” the boy said, the hard edge in his voice unexpected for one his size. I halted a few feet away from him. At that distance, I realized he was actually a halfling. He wore leather armor and carried a short sword at his side. “Rather strange place to be wandering, ain’t it?” he asked.

“Montaron, you are so aggravating,” the tall, lanky one admonished. “It is disturbing to my demeanor.” He spoke with a strange accent, and my eyes were drawn to his wild hair, and equally wild eyes. “You do have a point, though.” The accent was gone. “A child wandering in the wilderness? Surely you must be none to bright to be traveling these roads.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but Montaron chimed right in. “And ye look a bit scuffed, too. A fine pair of troubles all your own.”

“Indeed,” the tall man nodded. “I can offer you healing potions, if you wish, as a token of good will.”

The pair made me uneasy, but I could not turn down their generosity. “I’d be grateful for the assistance.”

“Nothing to fear from these simple potions,” the tall one said as he held out two blue bottles, “and I’ll not even hold you in debt, though your conscience knows otherwise.” I eyed him warily as I took the potions from him.

“Just like all good people,” Montaron added.

“Perhaps as payment you would go with us to Nashkel,” the other continued. “It is a troubled area and we mean to investigate some disturbing rumors surrounding the local mine. Some acquaintances of ours are very concerned about the iron shortage, specifically, where to lay blame in the matter. You would be useful, though I’ll not hold you to it. We are to meet the mayor of the town, a man named Berrun Ghastkill, I believe.”

“Your conscience be your guide,” Montaron finished.

“I would join you,” I said, the words drawn out with caution, “but I must meet someone first. Perhaps you will go with me?”

“We have precious little time, but it’s best to travel accompanied,” the lanky man said.

“Aye, we’ll go wit ye. Ye owe us fer our time, though,” Montaron concluded.

“I don’t know about this,” Imoen whispered to my back as we formed up, Montaron taking the lead beside me while his partner trailed behind us. I looked back at her and shrugged.

The road continued to weave its way north, and as we rounded yet another bend, a flash of light in the crook of a tree up ahead caught my attention. When we neared the tree, I noticed a hollowed-out knot at eye-level in the trunk. I reached in and my hand closed around something hard. I drew it out and discovered a diamond. Montaron let out an appreciative whistle as I showed what I found.

Editor’s Note: There are several hidey holes in the early areas that contain must-have treasures: the diamond in this tree, a ring of protection +1 in a rock in the middle of the area south of the Friendly Arm Inn, a ring of wizardry in the ground at the base of a pine tree just south of the Inn itself, a suit of Ankheg Armor at the edge of a tilled field in Nashkel, and a wand of frost in a dead tree east of the Nashkel Mine entrance.

“Not every day ye find gems growing in trees,” the halfling proclaimed. I had to agree. I looked into the wild country beyond the road and could just make out the field of stone circles. I felt this was a sign, that Gorion was still looking out for me, somehow, from wherever he now resided. With that thought, I knew I could go no further without seeing him one more time.

I took off across the countryside. Imoen’s startled gasp and Montaron’s curse preceded their soft footsteps padding after me. I slowed as I approached the place where Gorion fell, until I stood over his dead body. I stared quietly, the sounds of Montaron sorting through the belongings of the dead ogres blending in with the chirp of birds. I knelt beside my foster father, and folded his hands over his chest.

That’s when I noticed the letter sticking out of his belt pouch. I pulled it free and read over it. Most of the contents made little sense, though the last paragraph reminded me of the two friends Gorion instructed me to seek out at the Friendly Arm Inn: Jaheira and Khalid. The letter was signed with an “E.”

I pocketed the parchment and stood. I considered digging a grave for Gorion, but I did not know how far the Friendly Arm was, and I did not want to get caught outdoors at night again. I said my goodbye and we returned to the road.