"You are from Vargorath?" Thornak asked. "How did you end up here?"
Alaric looked away. "That is a long story."
"We need to leave," Thornak said. "Our talisman is broken. Do you know a way out?"
Alaric nodded slowly. "There is a shaman in the far east. She knows the old paths. She can help you leave this desert realm."
"Then why are you still here?" Nerida asked, lifting an eyebrow. "If you know a way out, why stay?"
Alaric's jaw tightened. "It's complicated," he said quietly. "I have my reasons."
Rhylen turned to see Wanda quietly looking into her bowl. When he connected with her, he felt that she was unhappy about something.
"What are you thinking?" he asked her coming to sit beside her.
Wanda gave a faint, tired smile. "It's nothing," she said quickly.
Rhylen frowned. "You don't even know me. Why would you trust me with your worries?" He paused, then added more gently, "But what you did back there… helping those people. That was good. Really good."
