Almar grows pensive for a moment at the mention of powder and fireworks:"Actually Sandru is right, miss, I can't vouch for the rest of the Duchy but I happen to know a thing pr two about powder and alchemy. So these critters got their paws on some powder? And they are attacking caravans with it? This seems strange, goblins usually lack the care to deal with powder properly, if I recall my lessons properly, and I seems to remember they like fire too, and fire and powder don't mesh too well... If they are effectively using powder based weapons there may be more to this story than I initially tought". As for the man I'm hunting... this doesn't seem to fit his modus operandi thus far, he simply entered a town unoticed and did all sort of bad things to its people, then left, but I wouldn't certainly put past him to get some goblin enchemen... he had enchemen once, but he killed all of them. Anyway I said I will help dealing with this problem if this turn out to lead me to my enemy, all the better. I suggest caution though, the man I'm hunting is a mage of some sorts and he's deadly, if we meet him most of us will die, probably. says the gunslinger matter of factly.
After this Almar sits quietly, concentrating on the task ay hand. So deep is he in his toughts he barely notices the food served to him and the people sitting with him, but then Ameiko Sings and cannot but listen raptly. Whatever else she may be, miss ameiko certainly can sing!
After dinner Soring will stay in the tavern for quite a few hours at least, idly playing random tunes on the flute or just making up melody as he goes.
He wonders if Sandru will ever leave as he wants to talk to Ameiko but not while Sandru is around. He'll hang around for quite some time but if it appears that Ameiko and Sandru will talk late into the night then Sorin will leave and retun home to get his armor and weapons (which he likely hasn't needed for some time) ready for the next day.
Raziel enjoys the evening, but is still puzzled by Lisabett's reactions.
Something about Ameiko singing, I'd swear, but I have no idea why. Sorin' music didn't bother her much, so what is the answer to this riddle?
Raziel shakes his head.
I'll not answer this soon, I feel.
He bids everyone "Goodnight" when things wind down, and heads back to the catedral.
I'll need to prepare for the morrow, and get my things together.
Perhaps it is Eugeni's pride that prompts him to lead you on the trek to Brinestump Marsh, but he is not the best at navigating. "It's faster to go along Cougar Creek" he insists.
It is clear that Beven's patience is wearing thin by the time you have circled around the Ashen Rise and made west again for the coastline. "It's just over this ridge." Eugeni keeps saying. It never is.
It is dusk when you come to the bluff overlooking the swamp. Eugeni looks very proud of himself. "There." He points to a thin trail of smoke coming from the trees. "Proudstump has a fire going. Going to go say 'hello'?"
The fisherman from the docks makes his appearance as Raziel leaves. He gives a wave of greeting to Lisabett and winks at Sorin. Turning to inspect Almar, his face twists in uncertainty. The man can down ale, and he drink five mugs of it before he leaves your table with a hiccup of thanks. Ameiko does not charge you for the drinks.
Raziel returns to the cathedral, and walking to his quarters, he find Koya in quiet meditation in front of the Desnan shrine. She seems to sense him. "Raziel. You return."
After watching the fisherman imbibe more ale than most hardened warriors following a successful raid, Lisabett expresses concern that he should be able to find his way home safely. Assuming he answers in the affirmative, she will then negotiate with Ameiko for the price of a room, and make her way to the docks.
Lisabett carefully picks her way to a quiet spot, and as she did at the cathedral, almost ritualistically dresses down from her fighting kit. Her longspear she draws along her side, and she places the quiver of javelins in her lap as she kneels on the ground, tilts her head back and observes the spheres.
This is the only time of the evening when Lisabett feels whole. Having been raised without a strong female influence in her life, she has often wondered about her mother, whom Maens adored with such passion that he never bent his head to another woman. Lisabett knew only what little he spoke of her in her childhood, that she was a great priestess that had conquered the hippogrif, and that her place was greater than theirs. Lisabett often imagined, even now, that their place beneath the spheres at least was equal, and that some day, Desna might will that their paths should meet.
After a time, Lisabett's body begins to sway with the sound of the tide beating against the docks. She is listening for the music of the spheres, but finds only her heartbeat, the sound of her blood in her ears, and the memory of Ameiko's song - only the conclusion is twisted, melded with Lisabett's memory of the peace maker's sobbing following the captain's discipline.
The memory of that night snaps Lisabett to attention, and she rises stiffly, and returns to the Dragon. Feeling as though she will have no comfort from the spheres this evening, she will retire to the room she has purchased, and sleep.
Perhaps it is Eugeni's pride that prompts him to lead you on the trek to Brinestump Marsh, but he is not the best at navigating. "It's faster to go along Cougar Creek" he insists.
It is clear that Beven's patience is wearing thin by the time you have circled around the Ashen Rise and made west again for the coastline. "It's just over this ridge." Eugeni keeps saying. It never is.
It is dusk when you come to the bluff overlooking the swamp. Eugeni looks very proud of himself. "There." He points to a thin trail of smoke coming from the trees. "Proudstump has a fire going. Going to go say 'hello'?"
I believe that I will, yes. I'll say hello to the snakes for you...
Alazandaru will approach cautiously and announce himself as he approaches the fire, hands raised to show no weaponry or danger.
Sleep doesn't come easily for Almar, and when it comes it is populated by the man's ghosts. So he is up before sunrise and he quickly prepares to move. Having been briefed about the swamp Almar goes to the common room and waits for the others to show up. There's safety in numbers, but they need to be fast!
"I'm not afraid of snakes..." Eugeni harumphs as he climbs off his horse and follows behind Alazandaru.
It takes some time to find a trail descending down from the bluff, but eventually, the three of you come upon one. You are alert as you traverse the switchbacks, but you neither see nor hear any sign of the goblins that allegedly make their home here. The steady clank of Eugeni's leg protection is your constant companion.
By the time you reach the bottom, your vision is obscured. You can't see if the path you walk leads to origin of the rising smoke. You proceed carefully over a bridge slick with moss, stepping deftly over the missing boards.
"This is as far as I go." Eugeni declares. "There are snakes in the water, like to jump up from below."
Berev doesn't even smile. He stopped smiling an hour ago. "Very well, coward. We'll brave the nasty swamp in your stead."
After you are beyond earshot of Eugeni's noisy pacing, Berev leans in to Alazandaru. "Best be quick about this, but I don't know the way. I've never been here, and I'm sure that oaf hasn't either."
And then you hear a scream from the direction you came. Berev turns and runs after it.
Sorin watches Almar and Lisabett reserve rooms. Almar then heads up to bed while Lisabette leaves the Rusty Dragon. Sandru waits a minute before following her out. Ameiko is finally alone at the counter.
You finish your prayers and turn to head back to the Rusty Dragon. When you are nearly there, you notice Sandru leaning against the building. "Hello, Lisabett"
Lisabett arrests herself when she sees that Sandru is waiting for her, and glances about cautiously, for a moment of pure terror imagining that the sheriff and a team of deputies are lying in wait to clap manacles about her wrists and rob her of her freedom. When none are forthcoming, she sighs and offers the caravan captain a polite salute.
"I might ask why you have not informed on me, but I suspect it is much the same reason that I have not confessed," she says. "And if that is not the case, than I would prefer not to know."
"You have condemned the mercenary life so openly today. I wonder at that." Sandru leans forward into the light. "I came to look at the stars. And to apologize for any offense I may have given in laughter."
"Understand, when my caravan is on the road, I am its protector. I have the innocent all about me. There are children to look after, and when Koya travels with me, a mother too. I cannot be soft while lives are under my care. When I return here, I find release. I am a different man in Sandpoint than I am anywhere else, and I gave you no warning of that."
"Ah, Ameiko...I wonder if I might have a word?" he continues without waiting for a response and abrely pauses to take any breaths. "This may come out sounding rather silly, perhaps, as my own thoughts are confused and I hardly know how to put words to them."
"It seems as if strange things are happening suddenly. The last time such things occured ended up with "The Time of Unpleasantness". When that happened, I was away being trained. Had I been here, I could have done nothing; I had no real skills. Yet I've always felt a little guilty about it anyways. My father died during that time as well. That was natural causes but I wasn't here for him and I feel a little guilty about that too."
"I feel restless and ill at ease but I'm struggling with why. Certainly goblins with explosives is a cause for concern but it's more than that. I don't know this Almar person but I appreciate that he has knowledge of which I am completely ignorant. I feel that Lisabett is someone I can trust but her reactions, even accounting for being from a different culture, speaks to a hidden pain or burden. I had hoped I would be able to bring some of that to the surface as hidden hurts rarely heal but I don't feel as if I've been successful."
"I can genuinely say that I am not afraid...not for myself anyways. Nor do I have any doubt about my abilities, even though I haven't worn my armor in months and that was for the children's play. I do worry some about my overall lack of experience. Apart from when I left for training I've barely been out of Sandpoint, let alone Varisia. I've never really been anywhere and I've never really done anything. That might be a part of what is bothering me but it isn't even close to being all."
"You've had a far more interesting life than I. You've traveled and adventured. More than that, you're one of my oldest friends and the best person I've ever met. Is what I'm feeling, feelings that I can't even identify, normal?"
When he finishes, sorin's eyes are darting back and forth as if looking for a hidden enemy. Atypically, he now seems unable to look at Ameiko.
Lisabett rubs her lips together, but does not wet them, and draws in a slow breath before speaking.
"I had wondered if you thought me simple," she says. "I understand the burdens of leadership very well, Sandru, and am happy to learn that you have such a place to return to.
"You need not apologize to me. No offense was offered, and none was taken," she continues how is one without honor to take offense? Her eyes flick nervously to the entrance of the inn. "I wish you comfort of the spheres. I should retire, lest I oversleep and disappoint your companions."
Alazandaru rushes towards the noise after Berev.
Alazandaru and Berev race back down the path. In just over a minute, they come back to the to the bridge. Eugeni is nowhere to be seen, but one of his metal leg-guards lies in the mud. Berev reaches down and touches it.
"Eugeni!" Berev calls out into the swamp. It is perhaps the first time you can remember hearing fear in his voice. "Eugeni! Come out!" He turns towards you. "He's gone back up the path. Frightened oaf! He saw a snake or something and he ran back up the path, to the top of the bluff." Berev looks around frantically, leaning back down to pick up the discarded leg-guard. He then bolts back up the trail without another word.
"Goodnight, Lisabett." Sandru nods at you. "And good luck in the swamp."
At the beginning of your monologue, Ameiko seemed amused. You notice by the time you have finished that her face has darkened, her mouth tight and grim. "We are all filled with wondering, Sorin. I yearn for the time that mine was as impassive." She looks away, scrubbing a plate hard. You hear the grain of the ceramic against the rag she presses to it. The plate cracks down the middle. Ameiko stares at the two halves a moment before speaking again. "I am sorry...I...I should not..." Ameiko turns and goes into the kitchen. "Goodnight, Sorin."
"God natt, Sandru," Lisabett replies in Skald. "I pray that Desna will lend me that as well, to find the previous party hale, and return them to their families," she says hopefully and excuses herself.
Lisabett puzzles over the exchange with Sandru as she dresses down for the evening. Unaccustomed to such luxuries, she lays her bedroll out on the floor beside the bed, and spreads her furs over her long legs in place of a blanket.
A different man in Sandpoint? Is he not always a leader of men? Or does he simply deny his office?
Lisabett's thoughts are confused. She thought it was the presence of the peacemaker that had softened Sandru, and afforded the Lady Ameiko every honor in that regard, even if she were wary of the slender woman's power as such. Why else would they be so familiar if they were not attached for the sake of maintaining their influence here?
Sleep eludes her for a time. She is not willing to be jealous of Lady Ameiko's intimacy with Sandru, as she much prefers his smiling face to that which he seems to adopt with her, but-
Lisabett yawns and rolls onto her side, rubbing at her left eye.
...
Lisabett is up before the dawn in the morning, fastidiously gathers her kit and slips down to the common room to await the remainder of the volunteers. She is pleasantly surprised to see the young gunman within, and settles at his table.
"Is the kitchen open?" she inquires. "I have portable food, but I would prefer to get one last hot meal before we move. Have you seen any of the others?"
Taken aback by Ameiko's reaction, Sorin doesn't even respond to her farewell. He stands alone for awhile unable to decipher what just happened.
Something I said struck a nerve he thinks rubbing his forehead with his hands. and I have no idea what it was.
He slowly returns home going over Ameiko's words in his head again and again but he simply can't attach any meaning to them. Feeling depressed, he gratefully embraces sleep.
"No, miss, I didn't see any of them yet, you are the first" says the gunslinger with a respectful nod to the blonde woman.
"As for the kitchen I didn't check, I don't think we are supposed to take what we want, I'd rather wait the others and if we are lucky maybe miss Ameiko will give us something to eat while we travel. I think we need to move and solve this situation quicly"
"I am called Lisabett," she introduces herself. "And I agree with your assertion that we should move quickly. I do not intend to remain in this city."
Lisabett frowns slightly. "I do not mean to imply that Sandpoint is not to my liking, of course," she says and glances about nervously.
"Koya," Raziel replies, a bit uncertain how to start the conversation.
"I hope you didn't wait up too late for me?"
"How is the child? Lisabett's singing seem to do her some good."
"I'm going with the others to hunt for the missing party in the morning."
"No, I did not. I waited up late for Desna. I shall retire soon." Koya turns, her face calm but melancholy. "I am deeply saddened by the girl. It is hard to say how she will come away from all of this."
She stands, a smile coming to her wrinkled face. "You have a just heart Raziel, and so you have taken on a just cause. Sarenrae will bathe you in her rays as you walk this path, but do not forget the Song of the Spheres, for she guides your feet."
Sorin walks into the the tavern. He looks around for Ameiko and frowns when he doesn't see her. He wanders over to the table where Almar and Lisabett are seated. He places his glaive somehwere where it won't be in the way.
"Good morning," he says brightly as he sits though he immediately seems to become lost in thought. Periodically, he glances up to see if Ameiko has come in. When she does so, he'll immediately get up and go talk to her, even if she is not alone.
"God morgen, Sorin," Lisabett lilts musically in Skald. "You are a local here, and seemed to be familiar with the Lady Ameiko. Might you inform us when the kitchens open? I was very much looking forward to eating another warm meal before we depart."
Sorin looks up and forces a smile.
"I'm usually here in the afternoon and nights rather than the mornings. I can check and see if any of the cooks have come in yet."
Sorin gets up and walks towards the kitchens to see if anyone has come in though.
Finding no other gainful employment, Lisabett pushes back from the table and draws her quiver of javelins over her chest, to examine each in turn for imperfections. She begins humming a tune but the stress of the previous evening has taken its toll on her voice. Still, Lisabett persists in her song as she examines the tips of her javelins.
Her eyes flick nervously to the kitchen, where Sorin has gone, wondering about the knight. He certainly seemed much more... boisterous the previous day, and happy.
Sorin comes back from the kitchens.
"The kitchen workers are there but it looks like it will be a little bit yet before any food is available...well, hot food anyway."
Sorin resumes alternating between being lost in thought and glancing up looking for Ameiko. However, the silence of an early morning tavern penetrates and wakes him, somewhat, from his nervous lethargy.
Striving to play the congenial host Sorin talks, "Lisabett, did you get a chance to look at the stars last night?"
Lisabett's eyes widen momentarily, and she offers a nod. "I did, Sorin, thank you," she answers. "I have never listened to the spheres beside the sea before. It was..." Lisabett trails, and then shakes a negative image from the front of her mind. "It was illuminating."
"Well met then, miss Lisbet, my name is Almar an... hired guard for Sandru's caravan, I guess I saw you once or twice during the last part of our travel, but we were never formally introduced".
After that excange Almar goes silent untill Sorin enters into the common room and greets them:"Good morning to you too, mister, I'm Almar seems we'll be working togheter for a little while", says the gunslinger touching the brim of his hat and nodding at the new arrival. Then Almar goes silent again listening to Sorin and Lisbet's chat and to the girl's song (which he finds rather poor, especially if confronted with Ameiko's chant the previous evening). All seems well but...
Sense motive check :
... the gunslinger senses something strange in the girl's tone and words
"Something's amiss here... I guess stargazing wasn't all that illuminating... but why lie, then?"
A catch in Lisabett's voice causes Sorin to look up suddenly. For a few moments, Sorin's surprise is plainly evident but he can't meet Lisabett's eyes and quickly looks away.
"I see." His melancholy seems to deepen as he does little but stare at some fixed point on the table in front of him. Periodically, he still glances up to see if Ameiko has arrived.
This one, these ones know nothing of me, or my people. I can continue in this way, and pray they never learn of my shame, but... Might Desna have placed Minherzi in my path to reflect? And Sandru? How am I to trust, much less lead if I do not speak? Lisabett concludes her study of her kit, and slowly eases it down beside her chair.
"You do not recall meeting me in the caravans, Alamar, or any formal introduction because there was none," she begins, "Me and mine were prisoners, and subject to Sandru's mercy, freed only to assist in combating the goblin threat," she reports and places her hands on the table top.
Lisabett sighs. "I know not what Desna intends for me, only that she has lent me her grace once more. I thought," Lisabett arrests herself and shakes her head. "I believe that I am meant to assist with this hunt, but if you would not to have a villain among you, I will abide and surrender myself to this sheriff. He is an honorable man, and an able leader."
"I didn't notice you were bound or imprisoned in any way when I first joined Sandru's Caravan. You seemed free to go anywhere you wanted. If you were a "villain" as you said Sandru wouldn't have let you roam around freely, and I would have been warned about you. Instead no one said anything. To me that just means no one considered you a villain and that they trusted you. If Sandru shows that kind of trust in you why should I doubt it? But take this advice, miss: if you don't want others to think badly of you just give them no reasons to doubt you and speak with your actions, showing them what you are made of. Trust yourself and trust your companions, cause your life depends on that. That's what we said... in my home country a long time ago".
Almar concludes with an hint of sadness in his voice but feeling reassured about Lisbet. Now he recalls the story of the girl who Surrendered herself and her party to Sandru instead of trying to raid the caravan, and later helped defend it from a goblin attack. The girl may doubt herself, but she proved herself enough to deserve a modicum of trust... and Almar knows a thing or two about self loathing.
At this, Sorin looks up at Lisabett. He is obviously quite taken aback and the confusion in his voice quite evident.
"Prisoners?" Sorin seems at a loss for the moment. "Sandru said nothing about that. He said you were mercenaries who had surrendered to him. Being freed only to assist in combat is not freedom; violence is a lock and chain, not a key. Sandru should know that. I do not understand this. Nor this talk of being a villain. I..." Sorin rubs his eyes with his hands, too many thoughts and emotions swirling in his head. After awhile, he seems to regain some of his composure.
Sorin looks around. "This is a poor time to have a conversation like this and, perhaps, your tale is not one that can be so quickly told. I hope that, after this goblin problem is dealt with, you will trust enough in our friendship to tell it to me. In return, I swear by Shelyn that whatever you're looking for, I'll help you find it."
"Until then, I'll ask nothing more and accept only that which you freely give. However, I promise you that whatever it is you've done, or think you've done, that you would call yourself a villain, there will never, ever, be a reason for you to have to be dishonest with me."
With this, Sorin leans back in his chair. Some of the melancholy seems to have left him though it appeasr to have replaced by a somewhat agitated confusion. And he continues to glance up at every sound to see if it is Ameiko.
"Ja, Alamar, I know the way well. Deeds are a measure of a warrior, and lift his name, his father's name and his sons names into our living histories," Lisabett tells the guardsman.
Lisabett lifts her eyes and looks Sorin straight in his for as long as she can hold them. "Among my people, having little but honor, our word is our bond. I will not hold you to our standards," she says, "I cannot hold you to them, but I do appreciate the sentiment," Lisabett replies.
Sorin replies to Lisabett, "But there are standards to which I am held nonetheless; and atonements to be made and consequences to be born should I fail. Whether anyone else recognises them as such does not matter. But if you do not wish to speak with me then you will not speak. Just remember, you cannot shine a light behind a closed door, nor can you let any in."
Sorin gets up and leaves the tavern, finding someplace warm in the rising sun to sit and await the others.
Lisabett inhales sharply and for a moment wishes to follow Sorin's exit with her eyes, but restrains herself from doing so. No peacemaker, I, she derides herself sullenly, nor leader of men.
A blade without a sheath, pitted and scarred, shattered by frost...
When Lisabett exhales her breath mists on the room temperature air. For a moment her cool blue eyes appear to be almost glazed with frost.
I am simply a weapon.
Raziel bids Koya good night.
The next morning, he awakes, gathers his gear, and heads down to the Rusty Dragon.
I'm running late today. I hope they haven't left yet.
He arrives at the Dragon, and steps through the door.
The sound of a hinge. You look up to see Raziel coming through the door. There is no sign of Ameiko, or anybody to tend the kitchen. Strange that the door was unlocked. Where is Ameiko?, you wonder.
You hear the creak of stairs. Sandru is descending into the common room, tightening his jerkin as he walks down. He looks up, aware of the eyes on him, then behind the counter. "She got up early today. I heard her. Did she leave already?"
An elf watches you from behind a crooked willow. Her blue eyes seem to penetrate right through you. Shalelu.
"Let us go from this place. We can do nothing for your friend."
Lisabett, already melancholy positively pales to see Sandru descend in a state of undress and ask after the Lady Ameiko. So there was more to their relationship than power. Fool! her mind shrieks. What need has a man espousing peace for a broken blade?
"Vi er-" Lisabett begins in Skald before arresting herself. Her voice is strained, and the musical quality of it seems almost broken. "We are unaware of the lady's present location, Captain. Sorin is without. We've not received word of the young man who departed last eve, and I assert that waiting further will only inhibit our efficiency. Save for nourishment, myself and Alamar are prepared and ready to depart," she reports efficiently.
"She'd gone up by the time I made my way back last night. I'd hoped to speak with her. She does not usually open so early, as I remember it..." Sandru smooths his goatee with a finger. "I wonder if she has any eggs." He disappears into the kitchen.
A moment later, you hear his voice again, calling from the kitchen. "Yes. Eggs. I can cook. Or, I used to be able to. Let me fix breakfast for you."
Before long, Sandru reappears with a heaping plate of eggs. From the smell, you know that they are overcooked before he even sets the plate down on your table. He laughs. "Ameiko will need to buy more eggs, whenever she appears."
Lisabett's eyes widen as she looks at the eggs in shock, then to Sandru's smiling face, and begins to laughs.
"Ja, this will suffice, if we are all to eat with our fingers," she giggles and smiles before rising. "With your permission," she says softly and goes to the kitchen herself to pull a number of plates and utensils for the party gathered. Looking about, she wonders where the Lady's staff might keep milk, and spends a time hunting for water. Finding none but casks of ale, she places her charge on a tray, along with a pitcher of ale and a number of glasses and carries the entire kit out to the table.
"I will leave appropriate coin for what I have taken," she assures any who startle, "and the eggs."
Sandru shrugs. "Probably should."
Raziel shakes his head in negation.
"I've already breakfasted before coming here. I thought we would get an early start, to save daylight," he comments. He seems to have taken on a less carefree attitude with the donning of armor and weapon.
"Still, if you haven't eaten yet..."
Raziel seems a bit distracted.
Ameiko is always here to cook breakfast. When was the last time she didn't? This does not bode well.
Lisabett distributes the plates and cups, numbering five, and looks about and recognizes that besides herself there are only four. Her mirth fades when she recalls that Sorin is absent, and she flushes slightly. Likely he is hungry as well, and his lack of attention... cannot be ignored. And my behavior...
"Please, excuse me," she says to the others, and affords them a polite salute before exiting the tavern.
Lisabett finds Sorin resting in the sun. She approaches him cautiously, and kneels beside him.
"I apologize if my words gave offense, Sorin," she says softly. "When I said that I could not hold you to my people's standard of oaths, it did not mean that I believe you lack honor, but that I lack honor."
Lisabett's cool blue eyes settle on the dawn. "In my lands, names are earned. My father gave me mine when I earned these," Lisabett touches the clawmark scar over her right eye, and then holds out her right arm and shows a mass of old scar tissue on her forearm "defending a young boy from a raider's dog. He is a Jarl, a great man amongst my people, and his thanes were as my kin. But when I came into my magics..." Lisabett trails and shakes her head.
"I understand you have a much different view of magicians here. In the North, we are taught to fear witches, hellspawn descended from the mother of demons, Lamashtu, who rules in Irrisen. When I came into my power, my father could no longer recognize me, else be associated with demons by the small folk. He gave me a weight of gold that I could not eat, and banished me from his lands."
Lisabett remains staring at the dawn for a few moments more, than looks to Sorin and rises. "Sandru has prepared a breakfast for us. Let us eat our fill before it grows cold, hmm?"
"Would that I could aid you better, my friends, but I've much to do. I wish you the best of luck." Sandru bows to the both of you as he utters a traditional Varisian phrase. "May the road be a friend to your feet."
"You heard the man, let's go killing some goblins, people!"
"Agreed, Almar. We should go."
Raziel steps outside, looking for the rest of the party.
"Sorin, Lisabett, lets hit the road. We have a ways to walk, and daylight is passing."