Part 2
She looked down.
"Oh."
As though suddenly remembering it existed, she reached inside the satchel before carefully lifting out...
A very annoyed chicken.
The bird blinked twice before looking around the office with the weary expression of someone who had accepted that this was simply their life now.
Adrian stared.
"...Is that the same chicken?"
Lyra hugged it proudly.
"Of course."
"I was hoping it wasn't."
"Gerald remembers you."
"I met Gerald for approximately twelve seconds."
"He says you made an excellent first impression."
Adrian looked at the chicken.
The chicken looked back.
Neither of them spoke.
Finally...
Gerald let out a single, unimpressed cluck.
"I think he disagrees," Adrian said.
Lyra gasped dramatically.
"He would never."
Elena quietly sipped her coffee, making no attempt whatsoever to intervene.
She had learned long ago that Lyra's energy couldn't be stopped.
Only survived.
Lyra carefully placed Gerald on the floor.
The chicken immediately wandered away from her without hesitation, stopping beside a potted plant where it began inspecting the leaves with scholarly determination.
"There," Lyra said proudly.
"He's happier."
"He escaped."
"He chose freedom."
"He walked six steps."
"Freedom comes in many forms."
Adrian rubbed his forehead.
"I haven't even started working."
"You are working."
"No."
"I've become part of your morning."
"...That concerns me."
"It should."
Before Adrian could continue, another knock sounded from the entrance.
Unlike Lyra's arrival...
This one was calm.
Measured.
Professional.
"Come in," Adrian called.
The door opened just enough for Kael Thornclaw to step inside.
The captain of Stonehollow's guards removed his gloves as he entered, giving the room a respectful nod before his eyes instinctively surveyed the surroundings.
Adrian.
Elena.
Lyra.
Coffee.
Chicken.
Potted plant.
The captain remained silent for several moments.
"...Morning."
"Morning," Adrian replied.
Kael looked toward Gerald.
"...Is that official business?"
Lyra answered before Adrian could.
"Absolutely."
Kael looked back at Adrian.
"...Is it?"
Adrian considered the question.
"...I'm honestly undecided."
Kael accepted that answer with surprising ease.
"I'll write 'pending investigation' in today's report."
Lyra smiled brightly.
"I like him."
"I know," Adrian sighed.
"That's what worries me."
Kael approached the desk and carefully placed a leather folder beside Adrian's untouched paperwork.
"The overnight patrol reports."
"No incidents?"
"Nothing serious."
He opened the folder, scanning the neatly written notes inside.
"A broken wagon axle near the southern road."
"A pair of hunters reported wolf tracks approximately six miles east."
"Three merchants requested additional guards for next week's caravan."
He turned another page.
"And Old Mister Harlan insists someone keeps stealing pumpkins from his field."
Lyra raised a finger.
"...Hypothetically..."
Adrian immediately looked at her.
"Lyra."
"I'm simply asking."
"No."
"I haven't even finished."
"I don't need you to."
Kael slowly closed the report.
"I did question the neighbours."
"And?"
"They believe deer are responsible."
Lyra looked genuinely disappointed.
"...That's much less exciting."
Adrian smiled.
"I was expecting ghosts."
"So was I."
The captain's expression remained perfectly serious.
"I checked."
"You checked for ghosts?"
"I wanted to eliminate the possibility."
Elena looked at him over the rim of her mug.
"...Did you find any?"
"No."
Lyra folded her arms confidently.
"That's exactly what a ghost would want you to think."
Kael paused.
"...I'll add that to the report."
Adrian couldn't stop himself from laughing.
Stonehollow had changed.
Not just its buildings.
Its people.
Only months ago everyone had spoken with the quiet caution of survivors.
Now...
They joked again.
Argued over pumpkins.
Complained about noisy chickens.
Laughed before breakfast.
Perhaps...
That was the greatest victory they had earned.
Before Adrian had a chance to open the first patrol report, another familiar voice echoed from outside.
"Lad!"
The deep dwarven accent carried through the hallway long before its owner appeared.
A heartbeat later, Borin Ironroot ducked beneath the doorway carrying a bundle of rolled construction plans nearly as tall as himself.
His thick beard had somehow collected fresh sawdust despite the day barely having begun.
He stopped the moment he entered.
His eyes swept across the room.
"...Morning."
"Morning," Adrian replied.
Borin looked at Gerald.
"...Still got the chicken, eh?"
Lyra proudly nodded.
"He assists."
The dwarf scratched his beard thoughtfully.
"Doin' what?"
There was a long silence.
Lyra frowned.
"...Moral support."
Gerald clucked once.
Borin nodded.
"Aye."
"That's about what I expected."
Without another word, he unrolled the large map of Stonehollow across Adrian's desk.
Almost the entire surface disappeared beneath carefully drawn streets, districts and construction notes written in Borin's bold handwriting.
The old dwarf smiled.
"Now then..."
He tapped the map with one thick finger.
"Let's build ye a kingdom."