Kire braced herself against the cold. Without the immediate threat of the Kartaians at their heels, she felt more nervous about the journey. Why did it take longer? The moment they emerged, she stepped away from him, relieved to find herself on safe ground. Blinking as she readjusted once more to the terrain, she noted how the terrain looked to be where the desert ended. She was about to ask Rulitus about the place when she noticed the way his body sagged. She didn’t understand the look on his face, but the rest of him had tells. [i]Not on good terms?[/i]

Already she narrowed her eyes at the hill he had been pointing at. “That’s—mighty convenient,” she muttered under her breath. The suspicious part of her wondered if he had led her to a trap, which would make his efforts to save her earlier rather redundant. She kept her hand on her sword hilt. “As you wish.” She had already taken a couple of steps forward before turning suddenly. “Have they seen her—the doll? What are they going to think seeing me just waltz up to their home or hiding place, wearing this face while carrying around a big sword? You weren’t exactly jumping up and down with glee back there.” Kire rubbed the bridge of her nose, frowning. “Nevermind. Hopefully this friend of yours has a friendlier attitude than you.” 

With a huff she continued on before he changed his mind and dragged her away from here. The hill was rather steep, and the rough, jagged rocks proved a challenge to climb, but soon enough Kire found the treeless path he had described. [i]Someone will find you.[/i] “Ominous,” she muttered, looking at every dark crevice with suspicion.