Our destination was set and our objective clear. We would leave for the Avium as soon as possible, which meant as soon as Crispin had prepared breakfast.

I woke up back in the wooden hut. The elegant floorboards were hard against my back and my axe lay resting beside me. I grabbed it and stepped outside.

The next day we arrived in the Scorched Grove. The place reeked of the unnatural. Where once there stood a mighty forest, all that was left was scattered tree trunks and layer upon layer of ash. Embers blew on the wind and even the air here remained uncomfortably hot.

We spent a full week recuperating in Alderheart and flaunting our new title around the city. We were enjoying a warm afternoon on the terrace of Eliza’s shop when we received a summons to a Birdfolk Council session.

Once we were settled back in Alderheart, Crispin decided it was finally time for him to do a bit of shopping for better armour. He was working at Alexander’s Soup Kitchen down in the Roots when he got into conversation with a hench Hedge called Millard.