They had an uneventful descent on the mountain side, and for that Roen was relieved. The sun had given way to night, and she was not sure how many bells they had spent in that place called Ehs Daih. The two kept to themselves for the most of the trek down, only exchanging short words and grunts during the climb. When they reached the bottom, a blow of the whistle returned their faithful mounts to their side in less than bell. Goldwind nuzzled the paladin with affection, his dark eyes round with curiosity. Perhaps the bird could sense that something had changed about her.
Khadai chose a small clearing surrounded by a copse of trees for their campsite. The bandersnatch that roamed nearby still kept to their distance as they had before, giving the two wearied travelers some respite. Perhaps it was their prior encounter with the dragon, or the events of the Ehs Daih that preoccupied their minds, but neither the paladin nor the Au Ra seemed as uneasy about an attack from above. At least, not this eve.
Roen laid upon her bedroll and stared up at the sky, the black canvas now littered with countless glittering stars. One radiant moon outshined them all, and the paladin could not help but take comfort in seeing that it was still full and serene in its celestial throne. She could still picture the flat hungry moon pressed against the bloody sky, or the eerily distant moon that was mirrored upon an icy ground beneath her feet. Even now, their unworldly voices echoed in the distant corners of her mind.
The paladin let out a long breath. Even as they scaled down the mountain, all that had happened in that place replayed themselves in her mind. In the cave, her mind was awhirl with too many thoughts and emotions. Now, she had been able to settle some of that turmoil that roiled within, and only a few questions burned in her mind.
“Are you happy?†She finally broke the silence with a quiet inquiry, her grey eyes studying the stars above. “You have finally found what you came for. Now you can return home.â€
Khadai chose a small clearing surrounded by a copse of trees for their campsite. The bandersnatch that roamed nearby still kept to their distance as they had before, giving the two wearied travelers some respite. Perhaps it was their prior encounter with the dragon, or the events of the Ehs Daih that preoccupied their minds, but neither the paladin nor the Au Ra seemed as uneasy about an attack from above. At least, not this eve.
Roen laid upon her bedroll and stared up at the sky, the black canvas now littered with countless glittering stars. One radiant moon outshined them all, and the paladin could not help but take comfort in seeing that it was still full and serene in its celestial throne. She could still picture the flat hungry moon pressed against the bloody sky, or the eerily distant moon that was mirrored upon an icy ground beneath her feet. Even now, their unworldly voices echoed in the distant corners of her mind.
The paladin let out a long breath. Even as they scaled down the mountain, all that had happened in that place replayed themselves in her mind. In the cave, her mind was awhirl with too many thoughts and emotions. Now, she had been able to settle some of that turmoil that roiled within, and only a few questions burned in her mind.
“Are you happy?†She finally broke the silence with a quiet inquiry, her grey eyes studying the stars above. “You have finally found what you came for. Now you can return home.â€
