New Year's Festival at the Dragon's Garden, FR8

Faolan stood facing East with his small group, and they bore mute witness to the rising of the sun. The green banner he'd planted those months past was still there, hanging limp in the damp morning air. Once the sun cleared the horizon, he sang two stanzas of Live Free or Die, and his comrades joined in on the chorus.

When quiet returned, Faolan spoke: "For too long, we did not honor the heroes that fell at this place. Today, and every Festival morning to come, proud men in green will come to this site. They will acknowledge what was lost, examine what is, and dream of what must be done, so that every day--from now, until the ending of the world, We of the Frontier shall live free."

A few of the others made short speeches, and Faolan couldn't help noticing Tanner's restlessness. Tanner's inner engineer was probably mulling over some new invention, while the soldier in Tanner scanned the horizon for attacks, and planned how to counter them. Faolan knew that his friend didn't share his love for politics and intrigue, and this made him doubly grateful for Tanner's presence and support. Faolan didn't trust half of the stuffed shirts that tried to dabble in the Frontier's politics, so having Tanner's sword close by was a comfort, too.

As the memorial broke up, all those present congratulated and thanked Tanner and Faolan for what they'd accomplished at the Dragon's Garden, and they made sure to credit Samson, as well.

Faolan realized that there was a place to be had in the Frontier leadership. While he knew he was moving in the right direction, he was cautious, wary of this unfamiliar territory. He would still spend time at East Point raising horses, but he had also planted a garden in Brown's Ferry---and he hoped to reap a great harvest.

Tags: Side Stories, Adventures, Dragon's Garden