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Laurenthsa Dusk sat deep in thought in her rented room at the pompously-named dump known as Salkirks Oasis in the desert town of Letort. In each hand she held a jeweled pendant hung from a fine silver chain. Each pendant was also silver, shaped like a stylized letter L, and had a small green gemstone inset at the corner and both edges of the letter. There was one subtle difference between the two pendants: the gemstones in the one in her left hand were emeraldsLaurenthsas birthstone; the one in her right was inlaid with peridotsthe birthstone of her younger sister Lila.

Buying back Lilas pendant from the woman who had lately possessed it had cost Laurie a pretty pennylikely more than the pieces actual valueyet she had to have it. The necklace represented proof that her sister had been in Letort. Laurenthsa had grilled the pawnbroker whod sold the piece to the woman in whose possession shed found it, and his description of the girl whod originally sold it to him fit Lila perfectly.

To Lauries clever mercantile mind, this meant that Lila had needed quick coin for some reason. The merchant-priestess sincerely doubted that the reason had been to start a new life in Letort; the place was hot, ugly, barbaric, and rather backwards in its treatment of women. No, Laurie decided, it was more likely that Lila had sold off the pendant given her by their father to fund the next stage of her flightand there was only one worthwhile destination north of the Nyrobi Desert: Meccoban, the Pearl of the West. That city was big enough and cultured enough that perhaps a performer like her younger sister could make a new start and decent living for herself.

Another thought concerning Lilas pendant bothered Laurie: by selling it, was Lila renouncing her ties to her family or had it just been the last pawn-worthy item her sister had left in her possession? Laurie couldnt be sure. And Laurie wasnt sure what shed do with Lila if and when she found her prodigal sister.

It was true that Lila had disgraced the whole Dusk family by violently and rather publicly spurning an arranged marriage with the wealthy vintner, Richard Hoggarthyet in a way Laurenthsa understood Lilas feelings. Richard was both a bore and a boor, and being married to him would be akin to being the mans prized charger: youd be housed, fed, groomed, paraded around for showand ridden occasionally.

In fact, Laurienot Lilahad originally been chosen as the bride for Master Hoggarth, but as soon as shed gotten wind of the proposed match Laurie had gotten serious in both her worship of the Golden Lady and her pursuit of a merchants life on the road. Thus she had escaped becoming Richard Hoggarths trophy wife and that fate had fallen to Lila.

She and Lila had been reasonably close as children, but had drifted apart as they grew older. Laurie was a realist who had become aware of the world around her and what it offered to those bold enough to reach out and take what they desired, while Lila continued to dwell in the make-believe realm of singing, dancing, and acting onstage at the White Palisades. It had always bothered Laurie that her sister had chosen such a frivolous existence and yet her father still rained gifts and praise upon the prancing slacker.

Yes, the only place Lila could hope to find a life like her old one in Embry was in Meccoban, so Laurie, Aedan, and some of her most trusted guards had visited the taverns and inns in the northern part of Letort to ask around if anyone had seen the girl. They hit paydirt at a dump called The Iron Horse.

As soon as Laurenthsa walked through the front door, one mans eyes flew to her and locked onto her face. It was as if the man had seen her beforeor perhaps had seen her younger sister. The man, Zazul, was a mute (thatll happen when you have your tongue cut out), but with the right incentive (threatening to put the Golden Ladys curse on his establishment and bad-mouthing it to all her merchant friends), Laurie got the information shed been seeking for years from the establishments hefty owner, Azuh. Lila had indeed been at the Iron Horse about two years earlier and had left town heading north in the company of a group of ruffians led by a local guide named Laranis Nailo. Laurie had visited the parents of this Nailo character, confronted them with questions about her sister, and come away with the distinct impression that Laranis parents were hiding something from her. A little more poking around revealed that young Laranis was now a full-fledged guide like his parents, and that he worked out of Meccoban.

The cold trail now showed signs of fresher spoor, and in her heart Laurenthsa knew that Lila could be found in Meccoban. The question was: did she want to chase her wayward sister north and drag her kicking and screaming all the way home to Embry? Not just yet, Laurie decided. She had duties and caravanning obligations south of the desert that could not be abandoned at a moments notice.

Instead, she summoned Aedan and told him all that shed discovered and suspected. She quested him with finding Lila and suggested starting the process by questioning her guide friend, Laranis. To accompany her brother on the long, dangerous journey north, she chose two of her most capable warrior-guards.

Two weeks later, Aedan and his bodyguards had arrived in Meccoban and discovered that the guide Laranis lived in a small house a little ways north of the city walls. Thus, one morning after his sister Lila had visited that house to ask Laranis aid in combating the RDK scourge in Meccoban, another Dusk sibling knocked on the half-elfs door and asked to see him.

Laranis Nailo? Aedan inquired, extending his hand. My names Aedan Dusk, and Im searching for my younger sister, Lila. I understand you traveled north with her a year or so back. Do you know where I can find her?

Aedan stood there expectantly, hope shining in the big blue eyes that looked out from beneath his glossy black bangs. These physical similarities between Aedan and the bard left little doubt that he was indeed Lilas brother.