"You are a kind soul, Keystone," Saran replied, trotting alongside him, "but I consider you a good man, despite everything you say. Your friend Raa has a voice to speak for him. Yours." She smiled with that same warm smile she had the day they met.
Saran looked around, quite concerned with the situation. Keystone noticed that she seemed out of her element on the open road, far less comfortable being out in the open than he was. A few minutes later she came back to the monk with a look of confusion:
"I don't understand. Should Two Stars not be guarded and manned? We heard from the caravans that the city was alive and well, yet I don't see a soul. What divination spells I have show empty streets and houses, nobody walking the streets. It's strange." She adjusted her leather pads and pulled out a short dagger as he looked at Keystone.
"I suppose it would be the wrong time to mention that I'm ill suited for combat? I deal with divination and enhancement, so I can help you, but don't have much in the way of offensive magic. Is there anything you'd like to me to cast on you? I can make you faster, stronger and harder to hit, amongst other things. We may be here for a long time, and I'd prefer to not to exhaust my repertoire too quickly," Saran said, tying up the horses to a line she held.
"After you?" she pointed at the open gate, behind which was the gloomy, half lit main street. The sun had only recently come up, slowly revealing the streets with rays of striking light. A cold, seaside wind blew across the plains and slammed into the city walls, eliciting some creaks and groans.