Ivan felt Teresa's body press closer to his, sharing in the warmth. It was a cold night and would only grow colder. The moon cast ghostly shadows in the fog. It made him wonder about the world of the dead, where Teresa now walked. He imagined that it looked something like this; pale white wisps dancing in the air and dark shadows that swirled around them.<br/><br/>When Caroleen spoke of the possibility of seeing her husband, Ivan could hear the sadness in her voice. They both wanted to see their loved ones again. Ivan pondered his 'wisdom' in performing those black rituals. He cast away all friends, disregarded the laws of the Academy, and severed all ties to the world in his pursuit of Teresa. Even were his efforts successful, he would have doomed them to a life of constant fear, the persecution of the Inquisition forever at their heels. Just as they were now. Caroleen instead surrendered her family to the Fates, knowing full well the consequence her actions would bring. Ivan's respect for the woman grew as he questioned his current objective.<br/>"Wise?" replied Ivan rhetorically, "Capable, perhaps, but I fear that I am as foolish as a child." Even as he acknowledged the folly of his actions, he still followed the same path.<br/><br/>The road became rugged and pitted, jerking the cart aressively. It seemed that it had fallen into disrepair since he had last traveled this way. It was a good thing though. The less likely they were to meet other travelers, the harder it would be for the Inquisition to find them.<br/><br/>Caroleen lighted upon the future that awaited her if Ivan was successful with his plans. It tugged at heartstrings that Ivan thought he had long since severed. He did not know what happened to a spirit once banished. Despite all his research, he did not pay attention to the fate of a soul that was forced to return to this world.<br/>"You will have mercy on me, won’t you?” She could have fled, run away in Teresa's body to escape the possibility of wandering the world as a disembodied spirit, but she didn't. She acknowledged her fate and asked for nothing more than mercy. Again Ivan questioned the plans he had laid. He could not even offer her the single request she asked of him, for he did not know how.<br/>"I promise I shall," he lied. He could not bring himself to tell her that he was not sure how; that she may be damned to wander without form forever.<br/><br/>Seeing Caroleen's discomfort at the forced nightly journey and the surrounding bats Ivan offered to postpone their travels.<br/>"We can make camp here if you do not want to carry on. The past days must have been taxing, and I've paid little heed to your comfort."