"Thank you." Amber called as he left, before she went over to the trunk. How are you supposed to open this thing? She thought to herself. She was used to just pushing a button and having when she needed, but she discovered after a couple of seconds that she had to turn a latch before she open it. After rummaging through it for a bit, she finally found something close to her size and put it on.

Kain waited for her to find something of his to wear, and once she had, he led her out of the barracks and across the castle courtyard to the bridge that led to the castle, which hung suspended over the deep ocean. It was a long walk, but the gate guards didn't even blink when Kain passed.
He then led Amber not to the main castle entrance, but to a tower built into its walls where a heavy wooden door led to its interior. Immediadtely, there was a spiral staircase that led up to the room of which he spoke. He hadn't been lying about its size or decor--rather, lack thereof. It was only as large as the circumfrence of the tower itself, with nothing but a cot, a dresser, and a shallow fireplace, probably more for the purposes of cooking than for heat. There would be room enough for a small desk, though the space would certainly be more cramped.

"This is where you'll be staying. You can find the bathhouse in the courtyard." He explained. "I'll have a desk brought up for you shortly."

And so I was locked in the tower. . . Amber thought, remembering basically every fairytale ever. Then suddenly that's when she realized what the creature on the man's shoulder was. A dragon. She hadn't realized it at first, because parents these days. . . Those days. . . Whatever tense you want to use, didn't tell their children stories anymore, which she thought was a pity, and fairytale were all but forgotten. At any rate, she was a bit surprised that a supposedly mythical creature was now right in front of her, but she decided to ask questions later. "Thank you." She replied yet again. The small space might take a little getting used to, but she certainly wasn't going to complain.

It was then that Kain walked over to the dresser and opened a drawer, from which he took a small pouch and handed it to her.
"This is your first week's pay. Try not to spend it all, because it's all you get for now. I'll leave Inoth here with you in case you need anything else." He told her. At the mention of his name, Inoth gracefully lept onto the cot from Kain's shoulder and curled up. Then, he left the building.



Inoth grumbled unhappily. Yeah, sure, now he got to stay with the fascinating traveler he'd dreamt about, but that also meant he was stuck in the small room, and it wasn't like he could actually talk to her, aside from trying to show her what he wanted to say. It was times like these that the little dragon wished he could write.

She sighed and sat down on the bed next to the small dragon. Hearing his obviously unhappy noises she looked over at him. "Yeah, I'm not happy either, little fella. But look on the bright side, you at least belong here." Amber said, before looking around the room. It was very small, and though she was tired she knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. Plus, her clothes weren't exactly comfortable. Fifteenth century clothes certainly weren't designed with comfort in mind, at least not the clothes she was wearing. "How about we go exploring a bit?" She suggested as she stood up. She had no idea if the creature, Inoth she believed his name was, could understand her, but he seemed very intelligent, so she assumed so. Amber counted how much money she had in the small pouch, and left the room.

Well, I can't argue with that... Ahhhh--hey! Wait for me! The small dragon leapt off the cot and flew after Amber, though he knew she wouldn't be able to hear his thoughts like Kain could. It was times like these when he wished he could really speak, or at least be able to write.
Do you even know where you're going, lady--hey wait, not that way!!! He grabbed her sleeve with his jaws and started tugging her arm in the opposite direction of where she was headed.
Ugh lady, you really don't know your way around a castle, do you?

Amber looked down at the little dragon in surprise as he pulled her sleeve, and decided to just go with it. "I suppose you know where you're going better then I do." She commented as she followed him. "I'm not positive you understand me, pardon me if that's offensive, I've just never met anything like you. At any rate, if you do understand, would you happen to know somewhere I could get some different clothes? These aren't exactly comfortable."

Well it's not like those clothes were made for women, I mean, they do belong to Kain. Hey, no wonder he's so stuffy! It's probably because his clothes are uncomfortable! But it was the clothier she wanted to see, so that's where little Inoth would lead her. He let go of her sleeve and flew off, landing somewhere to wait if she fell behind. He led her out into the courtyard, past the gate, across the bridge again, and into the city. It wasn't that busy right now, which was good for them. He led her right to the first clothier he could find, and chittered noisily to get the shopowner's attention.

Okay, so he understands. That's cool. Amber thought to herself as she walked into the shop with the small dragon.
The shop owner looked up as he heard the small dragon, and appeared to be a man in his late fourties of early fifties. He greeted them with a warm smile. "Ah, welcome! What can I help you with?" He asked us. He looked Amber up and down, and seemed to silently judge the fact that she was wearing men's clothes. "Hm. . . Never mind. I think I know. The dresses are this way, come on and I'll help you find something in your size." He said.
She looked at the shop owner, glad that he seemed friendly enough. "Um. . . Thank you." She replied as she followed him over to the dresses.
After searching for several minutes, they finally found one that was her size that actually looked decent on her. After she changed, she came out and looked at Inoth. "Well, what do you think?" She asked.

Well, I mean, clothes are clothes. If you like it, isn't that what matters? The little dragon tilted his head at her. It was then that a familiar voice caught his attention.
"He thinks that it only matters if you like it yourself." The voice belonged to Kain, who had come in when he'd seen the two of them in the shop. He absently stroked the dragon's scaly neck. Inoth wriggled happily.

"Ah, I see. In that case, I think I'll get it. Hello by the way." She greeted Kain, before turning to the shop owner to pay. It was simple enough to figure out the monetary system to figure out how much to pay, and thankfully the dress was fairly cheap.

Kain nodded by way of reply to her greeting. "I was on my way to find a desk for you to use. Perhaps you'll join me and pick one out for yourself." He suggested.

Amber nodded. "I think I will." She replied. The longer she was out of the castle, the more she would be able to familiarize herself with her surroundings and be able to find everything without having to rely on Kain or Inoth.

"Very good then." He replied. "This way."
He strode off down the street, though not before the little dragon leapt onto his shoulder and sat himself down facing the opposite direction so he could see Amber.
"He was expecting you." Kain commented to her.

"He was?" Amber asked, a bit confused. "How could he be expecting me?" Amber herself didn't know that she'd end up here. How could this little dragon possibly be expecting her?

"Dragons are very powerful creatures. Their mastery over magics are second to none, and they are among the wisest of all. Even a young dragonlet such as Inoth here has an understanding of magic that many could only hope to attain--perhaps you'll use my existence as an example. Inoth has made me what I am. No other creature is capable of using magic to permanently change a man's nature. Because of Inoth, I now share his power, in a small way. All dragons are born with the gift of Foresight. Knowledge of the future. Many sorcerers, witches, and wizards can summon visions of the future, or induce themselves to prophesying, but all methods are cryptic and unclear, and interpreting such, is even more unclear. Dragons' Foresight is unquestionable. What they see will come to pass, without question. They can tell what will happen, but they cannot tell you how it will happen, or when. This morning, Inoth told me that a 'traveler' would come. He could not tell me who the traveler was, or when. And then you appear, out of nowhere, from another time. A time-traveler, as it were, but you are a traveler, all the same. Though Foresight does not act at random, miss Varges. Inoth did not predict your arrival for no reason. You are important, somehow. Otherwise I should see no reason to help you--if for naught but to see you safely back to wherever, or whenever you come from."
He ducked into a little furniture shop.
"I will wait." He told her.



Inoth leapt from his companion's shoulder to the floor.
I do not like being down here, Kain. I am meant for the sky. He complained.
You were the one that decided to leave my shoulder. Came the reply.
Inoth grumbled and flicked his tail dismissively, in a manner not unlike an irritated cat. He looked around at Amber.

"Dragons and magic and witches and wizards. . . Perhaps it is because of the difference between the times we were born in, but I can't believe this is my world in the future. . . And I highly doubt I'm important, but believe what you will. I won't be long." The brown haired girl replied before she began looking around the shop.