Hadrin walked with them as far as the split ash.
He carried a pruning hook and a bag of white stones, combining their departure with work along the station road. At the last marker, he pointed toward a narrow track climbing the slope.
"Stay above the water until you reach the ash with two crowns. The ridge path begins behind it."
Rod repeated the directions. Hadrin nodded and turned back to his work.
The party climbed in single file. Dirk stopped frequently to study the ground, leaving enough space between himself and Rod to inspect each bend. Their packs held food for several days, bedding, and the equipment they might need if the visit became more than a conversation.
The forest changed as they gained height. Low plants gave way to ferns, and pale fungi grew in shelves along fallen trunks. A stream sounded below them. Once, Rod saw the stone curve of a bridge between branches, but the angle disappeared before he could judge its distance.
Dirk noticed him looking.
