The night was cold, and the air made the prisoners froze in the wagon as they made their way to the prison. The only sounds they heard since they left the city was the horses running forward, their legs hitting the ground in a steady rhythm. There was no fear among the prisoners, even though they knew exactly where they were headed. There was only accepting of their fate, which will probably be death. After all, they were on the way for more than three weeks, which gave them a lot of time to think and adjust to the situation. There was not a word that anyone could say that will make things even slightly better. Each prisoner for himself, they thought about what they had and now was gone, all the way up to what that they are about to face, every prisoner and his own crime.

For Thirlond Earthsmash the young looking Dwarf, it all happened out of the blue, when those guards came to the tavern and accused him in treason, yet they did not explained it or gave further information. They just took the Thirlond and another Dwarf, put heavy chains on them and pushed them into the wagon. From there it was a long way until they gathered few other prisoners from different races and genders, which were accused in many different crimes. Even that that look on some of they face was as close to guilty as possible, there was still a feeling that the guards put prisoners in the wagon just for fun, and made their accusation on the spot.

As the sun rose up and the prisoners who could not sleep in the wagon could look at each other, Thirlond's thought turned to his home and family, and to that very day he left them, leaving only a note behind him to explain his actions. It was the day he turned eighty five, and he decided it was the time to go out and see the world, or at least tha part of it that was under the dwarves' territory. Leaving in the mountain was making him strong, and capable to deal with the dangers that were in there, as well as with the cold weather. And so he took his bag, put his hammer in the belt, and stepped out of the house with no idea where he's going to. 

From Hearthstone to Firebreather and away, above the ground and below it, Thirlond was making his way, learning more about his own world, making friends and acquiring new skills in a very long journey that his end was not clear. He even managed to catch up few magic tricks, thought he found no real use for them. It was one of the best experiences he have ever had in his life, and even thought Thirlond was young and his adventures spirit kept push him forward, there was also the small voice in his head once in a while the reminded him that someone is waiting for him back home. That voice was silenced many times by strong dwarven ale.

But as the wagon slowed down and the gates of the castle were open to let them pass, there was no ale to be found, and Thirlond wished that back home no one will wait for him, because he's probably not coming back.