CHAPTER FOUR
RISPAN
The rumors started circulating the next day. I’d gone into a local tavern to catch a late breakfast when I heard it. I wore a cloak with the hood up, and I’d applied cream to my skin to hide my eyebrows and make my coloring match the Urgaban. I also had a wrap the color of Urgaban skin over my scalp to hide my hair. This disguise had proved handy for blending in.
“I don’t know what it is,” one man was saying, “but I heard it’s not safe. Best to stay far away from that place.”
“I heard it was a dragon,” I said, speaking across the room. I had an idea for turning the rumors into something that would make it a more challenging cover story.
“Dragon?” One of the others turned to me. “Where’d you hear that?”
“I can’t say too much,” I answered, looking around as if I was
