"How much longer until we come to the edge of this forest?" Marabir enquires of Calvorn.

"Still another five or six miles," Calvorn replies. "But we will want to cross as much of the farmland beyond as possible while we have the cover of darkness."

As if determined to make life as hard as possible for Marabir, Erald has begun shivering miserably.

OOC: Erald Veldorn rolled 8.  Fort save vs cold.

"Calvorn, the boy is shivering," Marabir reproves the ranger. "Lend him your cloak, would you?"

He seems to feel that he has more chance of coercing the ranger rather than Falnis, the only other member of the party wearing a cloak.

Calvorn glances irritably at Marabir, but seems to agree that Erald needs something to keep him warm, and dutifully removes his cloak and tosses it to Caln, who wraps it about the boy.

"He might find doing some walking on his own two feet warns him up," pants Caln, who is himself sweating quite profusely.

Falnis snorts.

Erald, possibly used to being spoiled, seems to feel this is a bad deal, and grips Caln's neck a bit tighter.

Marabir seems glad that he made the sensible decision of not carrying the child himself.

They continue on for another couple of hours. Every so often they hear a rustling in the bushes about them, and the more keen-sighted in the party are able to make out a squirrel or fox peering at them or scurrying off through the gloom. At one point and owl on a nearby tree gives a hoot which startles Caln and causes Caled to half draw his sword, and once or twice they hear the sound of wolves howling in the distance. However these seem content to steer clear of the passing warriors, and they encounter no resistance in their journey. At length the trees begin to thin and the ground becomes more even as they reach the edge of the forest and into the open farmlands that lie between the Senth Forest and the Helard Woods.

"How much further are we planning to travel tonight?" inquires Caled wearily, stifling a yawn.

"Indeed," Caln seconds with a wince as he adjusts Erald's position slightly on his back.

"We do not rest until dawn," Calvorn asserts dampeningly. "We must cover as much of these farmlands as possible while we have the cover of darkness."

"Surely the peasants of these lands are not all spies for Galnor," Caled counters sullenly as he nevertheless continues to trudge on.

"I don't know who we can and cannot trust," Calvorn shrugs. "But I am certainly not taking any chances."

If Caln is having any second thoughts about his volunteering to accompany Tyronius, he does not voice these as he resolutely marches on.

The party make their way across a couple of fields in the mist and gloom, arriving at length on a wide, muddy road, which Calvorn keeps to the left of, walking along the wet, springy grass. Every so often a tree or row of bushes looms out of the fog before them, and once or twice a narrow track leads off from the main road. They encounter no one along the road, and the lands about them are quiet and still as they pass. Even the princes' booted feet make little noise as they pad along the soft turf.

Aerendir, bringing up the rear, seems to have his hands full with hiding everyone's tracks-- though not too busy to keep an eye out for anything growing around here that is potentially edible.

OOC: Aerendir rolled 32. Survival check to hide tracks. Taking 10. (Skill Mastery)
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Sat 11 Mar 2023.

Most of the fields they pass appear to be cattle fields, and do not contain anything that can be readily plucked and eaten. Occasionally through the mist they are able to make out cows or sheep which huddle beneath trees or beside the wooden fence that separates them from the road. These watch the party pass by warily and pay them little heed. At length the sound of running water reaches their ears through the gloom and a few moments later a wooden footbridge comes into view, beneath which a shallow brook passes by.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:07, Sat 11 Mar 2023.

"Water at last," Caln gasps hoarsely as he stiffly places Erald down and begins to clamber down the embankment to the stream.

"With the cattle all around who knows what is in that water," Caled sniffs, unmoving as he watches the guard captain. "I am certainly not that desperate for a drink."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:45, Sat 11 Mar 2023.

"Begging your pardon, my lord, but you haven't been lugging around a young boy on your back for the last six hours," Caln grunts back as he reaches the stream and crouches beside it.

Erald’s lip wobbles.

“I would offer to share my entirely sanitary water skin, but I’m sure none of you are interested in a varim’s supplies,” Falnis says.

"We aren't," Caln agrees with a look that suggests he would trust water from a muddy puddle ahead of that offered by a varim.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:41, Sat 11 Mar 2023.