Dresden awoke with sheep bleating near his cheek. He’d curled up to sleep on top of the cliff, far from the edge. When he opened his eyes, the coastal breezes blew hard against his face, ruffling the long grass around him.

Sunset over craggy stones, deafening waves crashing furiously against them. This soothed Dresden’s soul. He could hardly believe he had stayed away from the ocean for so long. Something about the rage of the breaking water, the stillness of a silky beach, the wide, deep ocean laid out before him.

“Hello lady. Will you talk with me awhile?”
Dresden sat at the bar in his comfortable tunic and breeches and allowed himself to go barefoot for a change.

He found a modest alcove underneath an overhanging rock ledge to wedge himself into for the night. The rain picked up into a thunderous summer storm, drenching the landscape and muddying his path.

Kijzin Kol sang quietly on Dresden’s lap as he ran a sharpening stone across the ancient blade. The sound, Dresden mused, reminded him of purring kittens. His thoughts drifted back to Lazarus and how he would laugh at the idea that Dresden would compare the two vastly different things.

“I’m glad you decided to join me today, Dresden.” Vlad clapped Dresden on the arm as they made their way carefully through the crowd, all dressed in their best. The castle gate, where nuns had distributed carts of food at the dawn of the day, now bore the symbols of the kingdom in glorious banners.

Vlad noticed the distance between Dresden and Jukie and was respectful enough not to inquire about it. Whenever he and Dresden were in situations together, now with Freida joining them at meals and sometimes walking to the marketplace, Vlad noticed Dresden’s withdrawal.

After three weeks, Dresden was practically a local feature in the smaller province the townsfolk referred to as West Sveldin. West Sveldin housed very hospitable people and he found that he liked them greatly.

Back at the bar, Vlad went into the kitchen while he left Dresden with his date. Late afternoon sun danced through the bar room windows. Freida was very friendly and enjoyed talking, like most women Dresden had met.

Dresden enjoyed the mellow weather, but could see storm clouds billowing in the distance, in the direction he was heading. Wind blew over his scruffy face this afternoon. The coastline seemed angry about something, but that would come later with some summer rain.