He has arrived...

"He's Coming!  He's Coming!" shouted Meen, the little Pkysee, as she hopped in front of the Village's Council members who were meeting in the Village Council Chamber.  "He is coming up the road and should be arriving soon Queen Ffion," Meen said as she stuck her head back out the door to keep watching as she had been told to do.  Of course this announcement started all the members talking all at once and staring at each other.

"What are we to do now?"  replied one member followed by "What do you think he will look like?" from another council member.

In the middle of all this chaotic noise, Fiddlefaddle leaned over towards the Baron.  Being the Baron's all around handy man and procurator of travel arrangements he quietly asked, "Do you know where he will be staying since we don't have what the Outies call a hotel here in our small village?"

With that small question, the noise stopped instantly in the council chamber that one could have heard a pin drop if one was listening for that pin.  Finally, Nemmer was the one who broke the silence.   "There is a room over at the Rusty Nail Pub.  I was just there this past week with my fellow archers and I am sure I heard the owner mention he had a spare room available."  Which of course set up another flow of highly opinionated views on that suggestion.  

"Well there is the Blue Bird Breakfast & Bed place outside of the Village,"​  suggested Effem.  "It's not too far to walk and I hear the rooms are fairly clean."  Granny Flare, upon hearing the comment about how clean the place was just smirked and shook her head.

"No, I don't think that is a good idea," replied Awena.  "I walked by there on my way to the council meeting and heard that the little old lady that owns the place just picked up a set of Peerrots (in the Outie world would be known as parrots)  that squeal 'Rise & Shine and Git Out' every morning now.  I don't think we want our guest to think we don't want him here," continued Awena.​

At that moment a golden coach pulled up in front of the Village Council's building. All the members stood in anticipation for the Herald to exit the coach.  As he did he simple stepped down, gave everyone a cold look, paid the coach driver, and then turned towards the center of the Village as if looking for something.  He then proceeded to walk off and left without a word of acknowledgement or greeting as the coach departed in the opposite direction.

So, just like the Pied Piper in tales of old, the Herald continued walking down the center of the small village neither looking left nor right with the Council members (now with a few curious villagers who were wondering where the parade was going and what was it for) all following behind him.  Little did they know that Aralt was focusing on the ley lines of the area.  He could feel them and though it had been many many years since being here, especially without the Dragons to feed them, the lines were still here, though very faint.

It was taking all of his concentration and with the slight glow appearing in his locket, he soon could feel the pull where the ley lines crossed and where he needed to go from there.  For he now knew where he was and the location of the place he was looking for.  As he continued walking, soon it became evident to those following as to where he was going. Walking behind him Queen Ffion indignantly muttered, "Well I never!"  

​"If he thinks he is staying at my castle without an invitation or greeting, I don't think so!" Ffion growled to herself as the crowd all turned towards the Shadows' Queen castle.

They all continued walking down the road like a gaggle of geese following the Herald's lead as he walked into the courtyard of the Shadows' Queen's castle and proceeded to the back upper garden where several of those following soon realized it was the same garden where the young Wish Dragon had transformed into a Moon Dragon.  Aralt then went past the waterfalls (that covered the entrance to the secret cave that held the Dragon tablet recently taken by a Borrower) towards a wall covered with bramble vines that grow only in a darker corner of the garden.  With his arms raised and the stone in the locket glowing that he always carried with him, Aralt spoke.  " Rise to the left.  Shift to the right.  Reveal these doors to my Sight."

Magically the brambles began to pull to the left with some shifting to the right, soon a massive stone door appeared that slowly opened for him.  Apparently, by everyone's stunned reaction, Aralt realized that most of these simple people didn't know about the Dragons' Cave below.  He finally decided to address the crowd of followers and turned to face them.  "Excuse me.  This is where I'll be staying.  It has been a long day.  I will meet with you tomorrow," and with that walked through the now open doorway with them shutting behind him.  All the villagers stood there stunned with their mouths hanging open, wondering just what had happen.