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done.”
                  “Then they are alive?” asked Y’Dürkie. “I had no idea. I thought that they vere murdered before ve vere, and vould be in the Great Hall before us.”
                  “Yup, they’re alive!” called out Lexi. “And they’re to the north of us. I think my feet will hurt before we find them, though. They’re a long ways away. I think Barek wanted to get out of Tanisal pretty fast.”
                  Y’Dürkie nodded. “Barek and I discussed a plan similar to that over the years. He vill have headed north.”
                  With a heavy sigh, Arwenna curled up under her blankets. With Lexi and Y’Dürkie watching over her, she did not fear what might come in the night. The only fears she had were dreams that could come her way. Hauk had found her again, though, and her sleep remained undisturbed.
                  Arwenna woke to the smell of the stew cooking. She emerged from the blankets and noted the lateness of the hour. It was well past time they should have broken camp.
                  “You should’ve woken me hours ago. We can ill afford to be found within a day’s travel of Tanisal,” she chided Y’Dürkie slightly.
                  “And ve cannot afford to have you fallink down from exhaustion in just six hours, Arvenna. Vhether you like it or not, I am goink to see that you get some extra rest for the next few days. I do not like havink my healer fall over vhen I need her!” Y’Dürkie did her best to look down on Arwenna, but couldn’t keep the grin off of her face for long. They both began to laugh. “Ah, Arvenna, I just vorry about you. It has been a hard time for you these past few days, and there is a hard road ahead for all of us. Listen,” she grinned wickedly, “I vant to teach you some hand to hand combat, just in case ve get attacked. I do not vant to turn around and find you beink carried off!”
                  Arwenna nodded her agreement, surrendering the argument. It’s probably best, she thought to herself. Y’Dürkie was trying to take care of her this time. The training would be beneficial as well.
                  A companionable silence settled over them as they ate breakfast and broke camp. By the time they were finished, it was impossible for anyone to know how many had slept there. Hoisting their packs over their shoulders, the trio headed north.
                  They walked in silence for several hours, happy being together and alive once more. Every now and then the sound of horses approaching caused them to veer further into the woods by the road. Mostly it was other travelers, but at least one group of soldiers rode by. Arwenna scarcely breathed from her concealment. Y’Dürkie and Lexi waited within arm’s reach of her, ready to kill anything heading their way. They stayed hidden for some time after the soldiers passed as a precaution.
                  “Y’Dürkie, do you know where to the north Barek was from? It may be the only clue we have to find him and Mialee.” Arwenna brought up the destination as they set up camp that evening.
                  “I am not sure. Ve did find him under a bridge, you know.” Y’Dürkie spent a few moments thinking. “The only thing I can think of is to head to the north and start askink questions as ve go. Mialee can disappear into nothink, but Barek is too big for that.”
                  Arwenna sighed. A destination would’ve been something to hold onto, an idea of safety once reached. “I’d hoped we could at least put a name to when our journey would end.”
                  Lexi spoke up, as if a thought had occurred to her. “There’s a new town about thirty days from here. Well, it’s almost a town. It’s not a little village any more anyway. But it may be a place where you two can ask questions. I’ve heard they