"Had some visitors while you were sleeping." He nods his head in the direction of the smell.

There are several burnt large snake like creatures.

"They came a couple hours after you went to sleep. Not enough of a threat to wake you up for. Still Take your watch above the ground. They seemed to go for the horses and one came near you so I dealt with them."

The horses are much closer to the cart and tied down she will notice.

"I'm going to get a few hours shut eye, hopefully the smell keeps any others away but there haven't been any other problems for hours since the first wave of these things."

She made a face, “Gross. I hate snakes. Hopefully you’re right and nothing else happens tonight.”

She gathered her things and climbed onto the driver’s bench facing the wheat field. “Get some rest. I’ll make coffee in the morning.”

He stretches and rolls out his bedroll on the cart.

"They shouldn't be able to get to the cart or horses, or us. I set up a ward though I can't predict everything so, it's up to you."

He will get some sleep after a time of tossing and turning.

Nothing comes for the rest of her watch. She sees some birds as well as mice and some other small creatures moving in the wheat fields. No large predators though that she can see on her watch and the sun rises about three hours after Bastion gets to sleep.

Liya takes the time to draw during her watch. She fills a couple pages with birds and mice, a sunset landscape with the thorny wheat field and campfire. As the sky starts to lighten more she gathers enough firewood to start coffee and breakfast.

"I smell coffee !" Bastion says opening one eye and looking around finding Liya by the fire.

"Smells much better then burnt snake."

Liya laughed and looked up at Bastion, “Definitely a better smell to wake up to.  Coffee’s ready, and there’s eggs and rabbit as well.”

"Speaking of rabbits, saw a few last night. Probablly what those things eat, when they are not having delusions of grandeur and trying to go after horses or red heads."

He spends a few minutes and cleans up before joining her and drinking some coffee.
"The ward wasn't ruined so, calm night ?" he was still squinting from the bright sunlight.

“Nothing exciting to report. Had to chase off a squirrel that got brave and climbed in the cart with you,” she smiled.

"Hey those guys go for nuts !  I owe you my thanks." He says looking deadly serious before bursting out laughing.

“Gods Bastion, that was terrible,” Liya laughed with him and handed him a cup of coffee.

She sipped her own coffee and smiled. “Mm. That’s good. I was thinking. It’ll be easier and faster to leave the wagon behind and just take the horses when we leave.”

"Remember speed is not your friend when traveling worlds and yeah that was pretty bad." He rubs the back of his head and laughs a bit more.

"We can take the horses, but moving real quick risks the breaks in reality, the crevasses. Travel too fast and you might not be able to see and react in time. I hear you wanting to have speed though, we did lose a day and no clue how long this thing will be around. Forever, or the next few minutes or what."

"Still up to you cart or no cart, I am good either way."

Liya laughed too and enjoyed her breakfast. She was excited to get back to looking for the black road and possibly the carriages as well. Hopefully they hadn’t lost too much time.

Once they are back on the trail, they travel most of the day and the terrain takes on some very cool Utah like rock formations. Then after a time more farmlands then distantly tremendous mountains. The Black Road seems to head straight for those distant snowcapped and incredible tall mountains the fill the distance.

"I know where we are. Talk about holding lightning in your hands."

He looked off towards the distant mountains.

Liya glanced at the mountains and back to Bastion, “You do? Where are we?”  She looked around them to make sure they weren’t in any immediate danger, “Should we be concerned?”

"Those are the barrier mountains or nest to the Storm Lands."
He quirks his mouth to the side but not in a smiling fashion.

"As to whether we have to be concerned, no not from them. Violet tell you about the Storm Lords ? Queen Morrigan ? They are allies after a fashion. The fact the Black Road leads right too it though gives me concern though.  As I said the Storm Lords are allies. Yeah we need to check if they need help."

Liya nodded. “She told me they were Allie’s, as well as some others. I don’t know much more than that about them though. Lead the way.”

She looked back towards the black road, “Should we let her know it’s heading towards Queen Morrigan?”

"Yeah you know good idea. Contact Violet let her know where the road went and that we are checking on Queen Morrigan. I am going to get us past the mountains without us having to climb the damn things."

He starts working on something.

Liya nods and takes out here trump of Violet and concentrates on the connection.

"Liya, how are things going ?"

“Oh. How did you know it was me? Things have been interesting. The black road though is heading towards Queen Morrigan’s lands. Bastion and I are headed there now, we can see it in the distance.”

"One of my gifts, Queen Morrigan you say." She is quiet a moment.

"Bastion is still with you, let him take the lead there. Queen Morrigan is a bit erratic. Though keep Bastion thinking with his brain if you don't mind."

She chuckles “I’ll keep that in mind when we get there. Is there anything else I should know?”

"They are our allies, it is kind of disturbing the road led there. Just treat the people with respect they should do the same unless something drastic has happened. Have my trump ready in case you need an out."

Liya nodded, “Alright. We’ll let you know how things are with Queen Morrigan as soon as we can. Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.” She smiled les at her friend, “We’ll see you later.”