A letter to Doctor D'Rael

[Isobella]

From the doors of the Rememdium Edificium would go a messanger sent off on the search to find the good Doctor D'Rael who had returned to his homelands. The poor lad would do his best to make it to the distant location in as little time as possible, being well paid by those who had sent him. The letter would be hastily sealed, the handwriting gentle and elegant.

"Dear Doctor D'Rael,

I trust that you are assured that being as how I am writing we are in the middle of a most troublesome situation. I do hope that the needs of your family and your homeland are able to be placed in wait for a short time as we are in great need of your services.

I regret to inform you that the Bloody Flux has returned. Fortunately the Council has provided us with all of the supplies that we need and I have found your notes on the matter and we've been able to provide treatments for those who have been afflicted. Those that the treatments have not helped, Bryce has been able to heal.

While things seem to be going well, we are short handed and losing much sleep and energy in our efforts and could certainly benefit from your guidance and experience. If you are able please return to the Rememdium and help us through this ordeal.

With much Gratitude,
Janessa"

It would seem then that the letter was finished, though below it in a shakey hand would be a post script.

"Doctor, please hurry if you can. I have just now been stung by one of the wasps carrying this plague and it won't be much longer before I am unable to continue with my work. We will be in desperate need of your help."

[Rattrap]

It's a long, long way to the land David D'Rael calls home - that war-torn territoy called Bolgardia, sitting amidst the icy peaks of the great Bréltus Mountains, miles and miles of land and sea away from the arguably worse-off Myrken Wood.

Most would head north, to Foggy Bottom and take the North Passage Down into New Dauntless, where they would be faced with two choices (one of which may not be a choice, depending on the current state of affairs in New Dauntless): either pass through New Dauntless and cross the sea along the channel, or take to the sea immediately from the bay that reached into the Amasynian Peninsula between New Dauntless and Amasynia proper.

Either way, it a long travel, and less than half the way to Bolgardia. One shouldn't even hoped to have arrived in that territory until one has already landed across the Sea of Amasynia, trekked through miles of civilized lands and the perrilous uncivilized in-betweens, spotted the majestic, icy caps of the Bréltus Mountains, and finally stepped foot among their base - it wasn't farther after that, between the huge glacier cliffs, that a poor traveler would spot the high-reaching towers, some long since destroyed, the large gates, and beautiful creatures in flight around the capital city of Bolgardia - unimaginitively named the same.

Somewhere in that city, among the great, war-beaten palaces of age, was the good Doctor. Fortunately, the poor lad who was sent this far would not find any more difficulty when he reached the city, and would likely be paid fairly handsomely on this side.

It was equally, if not more fortunate, that the return trip would not be so brutal. Now it was just a simple matter of time for the lad to find David D'Rael.

[Rattrap]

The poor lad had done his duty, finally finding Doctor David D'Rael and handing off the message - and in good time, too. There was no hesitation in the short preperations that followed for a speedy return to Myrken Wood. There were objections, of course, but though David had many obligations in many places, he was indentured to no one - by contrast, there were many men and women who would not have their lives without him.

So he left, leaving his advice and instructions to the men in political positions who were looking to him for a diplomatic face. David had at least started things in his short time back home; but now there were more pressing matters in the other home.

* * *

Far more than the Humans, Elves and Dwarves that call Bolgardia their home habit the Bréltus Mountains. The more majestic of these are the White Dragons, fearsome creatures that travel the skies often. It is unfortunate that in their nature, they are destructive beings, often leaning toward the destruction of man rather than his aid; Bolgardia has spent much of his history correcting that, taming all but the eldest White Dragons on the mountains.

They patrol the capital and the mountains in a limited freedom, like a horse in an open pasture until it's time to ride. And now was the time to ride.

David D'Rael wasn't a Dragon Flyer, but there were many in the war of his youth. Dwarves and Humans, mostly, often bordering on insanity - nonetheless, they always created a bond with their dragon, and the two often lived or died together. Now, it was a practice simply for practice' sake, and to keep the natural tendancies of the dragons at bay.

It didn't take the Doctor long to find a willing Dragon Flyer, at Bolgardia's expense. A crazy old Dwarf, he was, eccentric in his attire and speech - but capable, probably. David didn't have time to really check. He and the boy - certainly grateful not to have to make the long trek back to Myrken Wood - climbed onto the great white beast and it was would only be hours later - instead of days - that they came over Myrken Wood's green wooded lands.