He never used to stop in Whitebrim. No one with half a brain used to stop there. But then the place had been burned with cleansing fire, and things had changed.
Now--
He still didn't go to Whitebrim. Too many generations of bad blood, and no one left there who could use the services of a courier or small trader.
But he was curious enough to send his companion to scout it from the air when he passed by it. It didn't hurt to keep an eye on the place, in case the old rot returned.
Or something else happened, to change the world once more.
The dogs were lean from the long run, all their winter fat long since burned away, but they were sure-footed and in high spirits and the sun gleamed like a benediction from the snow in the last of the season's relative warmth. They barked and pulled excitedly at the harness as Tal guided them towards home, but he pulled the sled up short when he got to the gates of the Citadel, and both the dragon and the lead dog kept them ordered as he took a deep breath and called up to the guards manning the wall - and anyone else close enough to hear.
"'Nother Warden's dead." He scowled and reached up to rub the back of his neck uncomfortably through the thick layers that protected him from the pervading cold. "Where d'you want the body?"
The 'this time' went without saying.
Now--
He still didn't go to Whitebrim. Too many generations of bad blood, and no one left there who could use the services of a courier or small trader.
But he was curious enough to send his companion to scout it from the air when he passed by it. It didn't hurt to keep an eye on the place, in case the old rot returned.
Or something else happened, to change the world once more.
The dogs were lean from the long run, all their winter fat long since burned away, but they were sure-footed and in high spirits and the sun gleamed like a benediction from the snow in the last of the season's relative warmth. They barked and pulled excitedly at the harness as Tal guided them towards home, but he pulled the sled up short when he got to the gates of the Citadel, and both the dragon and the lead dog kept them ordered as he took a deep breath and called up to the guards manning the wall - and anyone else close enough to hear.
"'Nother Warden's dead." He scowled and reached up to rub the back of his neck uncomfortably through the thick layers that protected him from the pervading cold. "Where d'you want the body?"
The 'this time' went without saying.
