"I think we should travel down river... If we can all swim across, we can all swim with the river. A few leagues should be enough, just in case the demons do come this way. If they cross here, they could surely find our scent again," Lysonna suggests.<br/><br/>As the shorter Elf woman spoke, Morys knelt on the river bank, filling his sheep's stomach with water. "What she says has merit," the Almerkian says, having forgotten her name if she had even offered it. Morys's brow furrowed when he realized she hadn't.<br/><br/>"We don't have much time for making decisions," Lysonna pointed out. She moved closer to where Morys was by the river, being careful of the deep mud that had been softened by the river's risen waters and rain. "How safe is this 'Hollow Root'?"<br/><br/>"Safe enough, if we can lose our enemies. We could stay a night, perhaps two to rest," Morys stood, taking a sip from his sheep's stomach. He raised his voice to make sure the others could hear plainly for what he said next, "Actually, it may be best for us to swim UP river. We'd be moving closer to the capital if that were the case. Closer to an appropriate destination."<br/><br/>"Are you sure you would have the strength and stamina required for that, human?" Lysonna asked.<br/><br/>The Elf nervously turned around, listening intently. She wondered if the demons were even in pursuit of them, yet the human seemed sure that they were.<br/><br/>~~~~~~~<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF4040">The bed crashed to the floor, the metal ringing. Laraine jumped, and sunk into her chair. She hated seeing Krastyo so angry, for it was he who had flipped it.<br/><br/>"Gods be damned! They escaped with MY artifact!" Krastyo punched the obsidian wall, above the crimson glass filled with blood that flowed through every building in the town. The wall didn't give, and Krastyo slowly loosened his fist, extending his fingers. Dark blood  covered his knuckles. "Keep watching them Laraine. I wish to seek council with my father."<br/><br/>Laraine let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and nodded. "Very well, my love."<br/><br/>With that, Krastyo left the bedchamber, and the palace. He walked through the streets, headed for the temple.</span>