he way to Whitestone was over a wide dirt road that hugged the edges of the Walwicky Forest as it wound its way upward into the mountainous regions of the Northeast.

Castle Whitestone was perched atop a high mountain overlooking the city of Alarin. The first King and Queen of the land, Tharus Arem and Bellisandra, built the city to be the capital of all Aremsland.

The great city was an impenetrable fortress, created from giant alabaster blocks that were mined in quarries not ten clicks south of the city walls. Alarin was nestled in a green valley bordered by clusters of jagged rocks. It was surrounded on three sides by steep cliffs that the hardiest climbers could scarcely navigate, and two sets of high, thick walls stood between the surrounding grasslands and the city streets. Its western entrance was protected by a long wood and steel drawbridge that straddled the mighty river Ginz.

The roughness of the surrounding terrain and the immense fortifications instilled the Alarinians with a sense of peace and security unmatched anywhere else in Aremsland. The city had never fallen. For five hundred years Alarin had stood tall against all invaders and was called by many The Shining Light of the North. The jewel in the crown of the city was Castle Whitestone, which stood so high up on the northernmost mountain that it seemed unreachable to all but the Gods.

"They won't have another Gateguard waiting for us when we get to Alarin, will they?" said the Cow nervously, as they ascended the final few clicks to the drawbridge.

"Oh no. They won't have one Gateguard," said the Horse, winking at Tom. "They always work in pairs at the city gates."

"Pairs!" said the Cow, stopping dead in her tracks. "Gateguard in back of me, Gateguard in front of me - let's call the whole thing off!" she sang as she whirled around and started galloping down the steep path.

"Now wait a second," said the Horse, moving its body across the path to stop the Cow. "You can't - ha ha, ha ha ha!" The Horse broke up laughing, with Tom following suit.

The Cow skidded to a halt, stood up and crossed her front legs in front of her chest. "Well! Having fun at the poor little Cow's expense are we? Huh! I'll show you!" With that, the Cow lunged forward and bit down hard on the edge of Tom's jeans, pulling him from the startled Horse. Tom fell laughing on the ground as the Cow head butted the Horse, knocking him over as well, and they all rolled around on the path laughing for a few minutes until they caught their breath.

"Very funny," said the Cow. "What do you for an encore: tie me to a rock and roll me down the mountain? Have you no shame?"

Tom and the Horse stood up, brushed themselves off and continued down the path with the Cow following along closely behind, berating them as they went.

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