The plot thickens...

The tiny house appeared larger on the inside, and Penny was amazed as she walked slowly through it. On wall was completely dominated by ceiling to floor shelves which were filled with hundreds of books and scrolls, with a huge stuffed owl in the center. A battered oaken table was in the center of the room, surrounded by several mismatched chairs. On the table was a lantern, a small book, and a tattered scroll covered with runes that Penny didn't recognize. She picked up the scroll and the book, and stuffed them in her backpack, and was about to look closer at the items on the shelves when she heard the screech of Troop. She almost tripped running outside to see what has caused her beloved dog to scream.

As she exited the small cottage, she saw Aerylon galloping towards the west side of the village, wild-eyes and whinnying. This frightened her a bit, as the huge battle stallion was usually calm, even in battle, and she ran after the rushing horse in a panic. Nearing the lean-to, she slowed somewhat, puzzled, because she heard the little terrier barking and what appeared to be a boy's laughter.

Entering what was obviously intended to be a barn, she saw a small boy, apparently no more than 8 or 10 summers old, laughing at the disconcerted hound. In the back was a roan horse, a mare, sturdy with a shaggy mane and tail.

"I'm Penny, and that's Troop, and this", she said while pointing to her horse, "is Aerylon. And who, pray tell, might you be?"

The boy looked at her for a brief moment, and she saw that he had the most unusual turquoise eyes, and that she had misjudged his age a bit, for he was obviously at least 12 or 13 summers old, and most likely a half-elf. His shaggy blond hair hung down to his shoulders, and his ragged pants and tunic were almost too large for him. He eyed her without answering her, and then reached down to pet the dog.

"Can you at least tell me what has happened here?" Penny asked, wondering if he even understood her. He looked at her again with his amazing eyes, and finally spoke. "Did you see my mother? Is she ok?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, you're the only person we've found alive so far." Penny reluctantly replied. "What does your mother look like?"

Instead of answering, the boy rushed out of the barn, with Troop right behind him. Penny followed as far as the entrance to the crude barn, and watched as the boy went directly to the front of the cottage, and pulled back Penny's cloak from the dead woman's face.

Penny heard his sobs, and went to try to comfort him. At first, the boy jerked away, but eventually he pulled her close as he cried against her chest. She led him inside the cottage, and sat with him at the table.

"At least, please tell me your name, son", Penny told him, concerned that she wouldn't be able to console him

"My mother called me Flick", the boy said sofly, still crying, but calmer now.

"What happened here, Flick?" Penny asked again, and sadly, with tears running down his cheeks, Flick began to tell Penny his story.