Mordankell let out a feigned sigh of irritation. "Yes... seems I am stuck with them." With a smirk, he listened as Sain continued. At the last of Sain's words, Mordankell turned away, extreme agitation causing an expression of grief to taint his attractive features.<br/><br/>Facing Sweetie with a pleading expression, he started to attempt to convince her to return to the tavern, when her expression brought him up short. Anger, he could deal with. But the pain he read on her face was far more difficult to resist. Sighing, he dropped his head to his chest in defeat. "My dear friend... I wish you had remained behind as the others did... but now that you are here..." he looked up into her eyes, "See that you stick close. Watch our surroundings to see that we are not followed or watched. We'll all need to remain vigilant if we are to survive the trip."<br/><br/>Turning to examine the woods around them as he finished speaking, he caught sight of the briefest movement. In the same instant, he felt the stirring of power that told him another wielder of dark magic was near by. Without a word, he raised a hand in the direction he'd seen movement and sent a bolt of shadow into the trees. The bolt would not be deadly. Rather, it would simply announce to whatever hid in the trees the fact that the attempt at hiding had failed.