They got their horses and set out. Roric knew where the stronghold was and would lead them. They planned on the way how it would go. No one seemed to notice Iphnis, until Miryanna asked what his role would be. The whole company was startled at his appearance, and Miryanna had to explain to Stalles who he was. He was wary of Iphnis, but didn't protest. Their completed plan was risky, but it was the only one they had. They would sneak in, find Wis ad Yanev, and sneak out. It was risky, very dangerous, and foolish, but they were going to go through with it.

It was after dark when they found the formidable fortress that served as the main base for the Vanags. They all felt an oppression as They neared it. Something evil was within those dark walls.

man wouldn't I LOVE to know what it is about the Sorceress that makes her evil and where the lines are drawn and what is morality. This, my friends, is where we get into the meat of the whole good vs evil thing that I'm really rethinking now, not the least of reasons due it being overdone.

"The sorceress is in there," Iphnis whispered to Miryanna.

"How can you tell?" Miryanna whispered back.

"Can't you feel the evil within?"

"Yes, and it reminds me of how I feel when Karayan is around sometimes,"

Iphnis nodded, "The evil you feel about Karayan is the Sorceress in him,"

Miryanna's brows furrowed, "How is that?"

"Karayan is controlled by the Sorceress to a certain degree. That's why he does all the evil things. It is not him, but the Sorceress controlling him," Iphnis explained.

And here we have another new development. Man, this day was over 4000 words of a wild ride. also how does he know that? I feel like with all the stuff Iphnis seems to know about Karayan they'd have some sort of connection but they are complete strangers to each other. save the library incident.

Miryanna was surprised that Iphnis was telling her this, and was surprised at the concept of Karayan not actually being the terrible monster she thought he was. She pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind, bringing things that were most relevant to the forefront. Rescuing Yanev and Wis.

They tied their nervous horses and continued on walking, feeling just as jittery as their steeds. The dark building loomed up ahead. It was in the clearing in the midst of a dark forest, and was surrounded by swirling mists. They used the mists to their advantage, and were able to sneak up without being sighted, but the mists were also to their disadvantage, as they couldn't see clearly enough to determine whether there were guards stationed nearby. They couldn't imagine that there weren't but it was unnerving to not know where they were. They walked along the perimeter, looking for an entrance, and found a small door. It wasn't locked, so they got in. It was just a kitchen door, probably used for disposing of garbage. As soon as they were in, Andarin stopped them.

"Wait, wouldn't you expect all doors to lock or at least guarded?" He questioned.

Roric stroked his chin, "I guess so," he admitted.

"Then why is this neither locked or guarded? It seems like a trap to me," Andarin stated.

Roric hesitated, then sighed, "I we can't just walk away after we've come this far,"

Stalles nodded his head in agreement with Roric.

Andarin looked at Miryanna and Iphnis, "What do you two have to say?"

Miryanna bit her lip and looked at Iphnis.

"If we go forward, we risk being caught. If we go back, we riak your loved ones dying," was all Iphnis said.

Andarin looked at Miryanna again.

She said, "It does seem rather fishy that no one's guarding this door, and it could be a trap, but I don't want to walk away from Yanev and Wis and leave them here."

Roric nodded, "We continue," and headed for the door at the opposite end of the room, the others following.

He opened it slowly, peeking outside to make sure no one was near, then exited cautiously, the others doing their best to stay silent and undetected.

"How're we going to find the dungeons?" Stalles whispered to Roric.

"We'll find someone who can tell us," He replied.

Stalles nodded and said no more.

It was not at all pleasant to walk through the dark halls. They were dark and eerie, and you could hear sounds from other parts of the fortress. Sounds like screams and clashing metal and harsh voices. Miryanna could feel her palms sweating. She didn't like this place at all. The feeling of evil only increased as they worked their way through the halls.

because of course it has to be classic gothic horror castle fortress. nothing cliche about that at all.

They heard someone coming and ducked to the side. It was a man, sullen of expression, by himself. Roric dashed and tackled him, pinning him to the ground. He clamped a hand over his mouth so he wouldn't cry out. Andarin and Stalles grabbed his arms to keep him from getting away.

also what about all these people in the castle with the Sorceress? Are they just down to have a bad time whenever boss is around? Are they adapted to her evil?

Roric drew his knife and pressed it the man's neck. "Where are the prisoners held?" He asked, his voice low and menacing.

The man was obviously sorely afraid of this darkly dressed person with a knife and made no attempt to answer.

"Roric, how can he answer with you hand still over his mouth?" Andarin asked.

Instead of replying to Andarin directly, he addressed the man, "One scream or cry, and this knife silences you forever,"

Miryanna was surprised at how barbaric Roric was acting. She wouldn't have expected him to threaten death to the man, Vanag though he be.

The man nodded vigorously and Roric removed his hand.

"Where are prisoners kept?" Roric asked again.

"I--In th--th--the d--d--dungeons," The man whispered.

"Where are the dungeons?"

"F--Follow this p--passagw--way until you c-come to a--a d--door that l--leads down s--s--some s--stairs and y--you'll come t--to them that way," The man stuttered in reply.

"Many thanks," Roric said and hit the man over the head with the handle of his knife.

The man sagged instantly, unconscious. Andarin and Stalles dragged him to the side of the hall and followed after Roric who was striding down the passage.

Miryanna glanced at Iphnis worriedly, but Iphnis was already following the others.

They eventually came to a thick, heavy hinged door and slipped in. It creaked abominably so they only opened it as much as they had to for each of them. They closed it carefully and made their way down the damp, dark, stairway. They encountered a guard at the base of the stairs, but Roric felled him quickly and grabbed the keys off his belt. There seemed to be an endless number of cells, and it was all dimly lit by one or two torches every ten feet or so. There were many prisoners and they either moaned, or cried weakly for help. Miryanna felt sick at heart for all these poor people, and she wanted to free them all, but it didn't seem very likely that they'd escape at all that way.

be it known that like no thought whatsoever was put into this. it's kind of ridiculous actually. who are these people? Erglis?

They maneuvered through the dungeons, calling Wis' or Yanev's name every now and again. Finally, after what seemed like an hour long sojourn through the dark halls, filled with misery, a call came from one of the cells.

"Stalles!" Wis' voice.

Stalles stopped in his tracks and searched anxiously for where the voice had come from.

"Stalles, over here," They saw a hand reached through the bars of one of the doors and Wis' hoarse sounding voice called again.

Stalles rushed over to the cell, the others close behind, and grasped Wis' hand. "I'm here, Wis,"

Roric searched the keys in his hand, looking for the right one for the cell.

"Are you alright?" Stalles asked.

Roric found the key and opened the door before Wis could answer. Miryanna was horrified. The whole side of Wis' face was black and blue, and she bore other signs of a beating. Stalles took her in his arms and she held onto him tightly.

A soft moan came from the back of the cell, and Roric dashed in to find Yanev lying on the hard stone floor. She also looked to be in bad shape. Her face and body were bloody and bruised, and it looked like someone had gashed her legs. Roric knelt beside her, and gently took her limp body in his arms, "Yanev?"

Her eyes fluttered open, and she saw her brother's face. She started to cry, and Roric held her close.

"Who could do this?" He growled.

"Karayan," Wis' answer came. "He beat us both, and seemed to take special attention to Yanev," Her voice was filled with bitterness, but then broke, and she also wept. "He wanted us to tell him where the bases were, and I tried to hold off as long as I could, but then he started hitting Yanev, and he wouldn't stop until I told him what he wanted to know," She sobbed.

it seems with a lot of torture situations like this, the victims always hold out way too long and like that's cool and all, but it's a nice change when they actually do give

Miryanna felt sick. She couldn't believe that Karayan could do such a thing. Beat up a child like that? That was torture! "If the Sorceress is controlling him, she must have a strong hold indeed," She murmured to Iphnis.

now this is just a meta for my own work and analyzing something maybe not worth analyzing, but miryanna seems awfully quick to accept that karayan is being controlled. is she relieved? she's surprised for sure, but maybe she's kinda in a small way glad to hear that it's not all karayan. is she thinking about how well they get along? was she thinking about how there must be some good in him?

Iphnis merely nodded.

"We need to get out of here before we're caught," Andarin said anxiously.

Miryanna nodded in agreement. "Yes, I don't want to spend another minute here,"

Stalles supported Wis to help her walk, and Roric picked up Yanev, wincing when she cried in pain.

"It hurts, Roric," She moaned pitifully.

"I know, but we have to get out before we're caught, and I need you to be quiet so no one hears us," he replied.

They made their way back through the dim halls, their pace somewhat slower than it was before. They reached the top of the stairs and had just turned to go down the passage that led to the exit, when a voice from behind them made their blood run cold.

Karayan surveyed the seven persons who'd stopped in their tracks at his voice.

sudden pov change to karayan bc we got some pivotal moments coming up. Gahh i should have written from karayan's pov long before this and more frequently. he should be as much a main character as miryanna.

"Leaving so soon?" He questioned tauntingly.

They started to run, but guards cut them off. They turned around to flee the other way, but were stopped by Karayan and more guards.

Karayan's piercing, red eyes gazed at the intruders. He instantly recognized Miryanna, and also saw Andarin, Roric, another man he didn't recognize, two of the prisoners, and... He couldn't believe his eyes, for there was that person from the library a week ago! The one he'd stabbed.

that was only a week ago

"Well, a motley crew indeed," he said after examining each one. "I'm sure you'll all be quite willing to answer the questions we have for you," he chuckled evilly and snapped his fingers to command the guards to bring them.

"We won't answer any questions you put to us!" Roric called after him.

Karayan turned slightly to answer, "You say, but you do not mean,"

Roric snorted and started to say something more, but was cut off by one of the guards hitting him in the face.

He heard a child crying, then screaming, a cry of protest, and more blows. He didn't need to glance back to see what had happened. The child, Yanev, had been grabbed by a guard and Roric had, of course, refused to comply. Karayan had a pretty fair guess that now, Yanev was slung over the shoulder of one of the guards, and didn't like it judging by the sound of her pitiful cries and sobs, and Roric was firmly restrained by a few other guards.

"Restrain them all, we don't want one of them making another escape attempt," Karayan called back to the guards.

"But, my lord, they wouldn't leave their friends behind," one of the guards replied.

Karayan whipped around to face the guard. "Do you question me?" He asked, his eyes narrowed and his tone cold.

The guard quailed and submitted. "No, my lord," and followed the order.

Before turning back around, Karayan glanced at the stranger. He didn't protest at all to being roughly grabbed and restrained. His ice blue eyes met Karayan's blood red ones and bored into them. It made Karayan uncomfortable, and he quickly broke the gaze and continued walking. Unbidden, thoughts entered his mind. What are you doing? Why are you hurting these people? Is that right? He shook his head to clear it. I'm doing my mistress's bidding. I'm hurting them because it's fun. It's right to me. Satisfied, he pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind. But it is right? The question same back to confront him. He scowled. I don't care! There was no time for the irritating thought to make a reappearance, for they'd reached the doors to the Sorceress' throne room.

ah sweet moral dilemmas

Suddenly, there was a commotion behind him. He turned and saw that three of the prisoners had yanked free of the guards and was making a mad dash for it. Karayan yelled for the guards to pursue and leapt in chase after them. One of them stumbled, and Karayan tackled him. The man tried to break free again, but Karayan, having had enough of these shenanigans, pulled out his dagger and thrust it into the man again and again until he was limp and dead. Meanwhile, the guards had caught the other two who'd tried to escape.

"Stalles!" A cry of grief went up from one of the prisoners who'd stayed behind. "Stalles, no!" It was the woman who'd been captured previously. Wis was her name.

Wis jerked at her captors, trying to escape their grasp. "No! You murderer! You killed my husband!" She screamed, and then burst into sobs.

"Oh, so that was your relation to him," Karayan replied to her antics, wiping the blood from his dagger and sticking it back in its sheath. "You should have told me, I could have made his death slower and more painful for you," He quipped as he walked past, then laughed as she tried even harder to get to him. He glanced at Miryanna as he passed, and he saw horror, grief, and deep dread as he passed.

Oof

"Oh, that's right. I'm marrying your cousin," He said to her, "I guess you have a right to be scared," He said and laughed as disgust and anger also entered her expression.

Oof

"You are sick." She muttered. "You just murdered someone. Brutally,"

Karayan snickered, "So? I do it all the time. You've never ridiculed me for those, have you?"

Cold

Miryanna's face paled and she didn't reply.

Karayan laughed again as the guards had returned with the other two on their firm grip.

He faced his captives. They looked angry, scared, grieved, and vacant. Karayan thought it funny that it was usually one of those emotions displayed on someone's face before going in to see the Sorceress. "Well, are you ready to embrace your impending doom?" He asked, a sinister smile on his face.

No reply came except for Wis and Yanev sobbing

"Good," He said, and turning back around, thrust the big double doors open.

They entered, Karayan in the lead, and the guards dragging the rest behind.

On a throne in the middle of the far wall, was the Great Sorceress. Long white hair was done up in an intricate bun. Deep purple eyes gazed out from under long, dark lashes. There was no wrinkle or sign of age on her face, but one could tell that she was old. A black and purple dress adorned her tall figure, and in her hand was a long, slender wand, or scepter.

really didn't give this sorceress any character now that i think of it. she was kinda spur of the moment. idk if it was a good idea or not. she also looks and sounds like every evil female sorceress character ever made. nice job, gadsul

"Ah, Karayan, my most devoted of servants," A musical voice resonated through the room.

Karayan bowed low to the Sorceress. He straightened and gestured to the prisoners behind him, who the guards lined up before the Sorceress. "I found these intruders trying to escape with two of our prisoners,"

Her gaze went over each of them, and each of them shuddered as long as her gaze was on them. Except that stranger from the library. He returned her gaze unflinchingly.

Karayan was surprised at this. He'd known of no one who could return the Sorceress' gaze without trembling with fear. Even he couldn't keep eye contact with her.

"You have done well," The Sorceress replied. "Now," the Sorceress said turning to the captives, "I have some questions for you, which I'm sure you'll all be only too willing to answer. Where are all the bases for the Erglis located?"

What's her gig? It would appear that she'd the ultimate leader of the Vanags, and she's from Amani. It would also appear that she wants to conquer the world. Why?

also didn't i write just earlier that that info had already been extracted from wis? Yeah pretty sure i did. whatever, i told you this day wasn't thought out

No answer came.

"If you do not wish to give an answer we have many ways of extracting them," The Sorceress added, a sadistic gleam in her eyes. "Guards, you may leave us, but keep someone stationed outside the door,"

The guards bowed and complied.

After they were gone, the Sorceress spoke again. "I gave you some time to think. Now, are you ready to give me my answers?"

Still no one said anything.

The Sorceress turned to Karayan, "Karayan, convince them," She commanded.

Karayan smiled in a way that would make shivers go up anyone's spine. He turned to the captives. He looked over them until he came to the stranger. I was then that his ears were pointed. A Gnome. Why didn't he realize it before? The Gnome's icy eyes captivated Karayan once again. Suddenly, it was as if a voice spoke in his head for the thought it portrayed was not one of his.

and now, telepathy. i like to picture the other companions standing there while this is going on, just wondering what's up. also, since i did italics for the telepathy, i'm making my commentary underlined for the time being.

You have a choice.

Karayan frowned. What did that mean? What do you mean?

I mean what I say. There are two choices before you. Do right, or do wrong. Which one will you choose?

Karayan's brows knit in puzzlement. I have a choice?

Everyone does.

so this whole right or wrong thing. I meant it to be the main theme of the story, but i really hate it now. because i neverr entail what's right or what's wrong. it's not like i want to get legalistic or anything, but...... i had to make this all earth shattering and fate of the world and good vs evil, when this could have been some good old fashioned morally gray international political intrigue? my tastes have changed.

It was at that moment when the Sorceress spoke in his mind, Karayan, what are you thinking right now? Why aren't you doing as I say? Her tone implied irritability and impatience.

You have a choice, Karayan Batal. Don't let anyone tell you what choice to make. The voice said, and was gone.

including you, iphnis

Karayan? The Sorceress questioned again.

Karayan bit the inside of his lip, trying to think. A choice. Two choices. Right or Wrong. Up to this point, he'd been doing wrong. But that's wrong. Shouldn't he choose Right? What would it mean if he did choose Right? The Sorceress had him doing wrong. But the Sorceress was telling him to do wrong. Should he disregard that? What would happen if he did? He should just keep doing wrong. That's what the Sorceress wanted him to do. But that's what the Sorceress wanted him to do. The should do the right thing. He knew that, so why was he doing the wrong thing?

it's really muddled, and it should be. i wrote this super fast and wasn't about to get hung up on the physiological upheaval going on. but this is too fast. there should have been some sign earlier that he was questioning it, or the seeds for this should have been planted like months or years earlier. this is an unprecedented 180 turn around

Karayan was so confused as to what choice to make. He didn't know. He couldn't decide later, the choice was right now. He couldn't ignore it anymore. He knew what was the right choice. It was Right. But if he did choose right, what would that mean for him? Wrong was fun. Right was hard. But if it was right, was it worth it? If it was right, it was worth it. You were supposed to do the right thing. He would do the right thing. He'd made his choice.

"Karayan!" The Sorceress pressed.

"No." He mumbled. "I... I choose Right,"

And where did that come from?

The Sorceress' eyes filled with rage. "What?" She asked him in a still civil tone.

"What I've been doing is wrong," He said louder, "and I choose Right."

The Sorceress said nothing. "Guards!" She yelled.

Karayan looked back at the prisoners, who were looking back at him, confused expressions on their faces.

it's like that part in two towers when legolas is speaking elvish and aragorn is speaking elvish and they have a little chat and then aragorn goes 'THEN I SHALL DIE AS ONE OF THEM' it's like that

He chose Right? What did that mean? Miryanna questioned in her mind. She had no time to think more, for the doors opened and a dozen guards strode in.

why did i capitalize Right?

Miryanna saw Karayan lay a hand on the hilt of his dagger, a look of... fear in his eyes? Miryanna didn't think he was capable of fear.

"One last time, Karayan," The Sorceress shouted at him, "Will you do my bidding?"

Karayan returned her gaze, "N--No," He replied shakily.

The Sorceress seethed in anger. She stood up from her chair and stalk towards him. He took a step backwards.

"Run!" He called to them.

DASI RUN RUN RUN

He didn't need to tell them twice. They ran for it. He'd neglected to take their weapons from them, and they drew them now. As they burst through the door, Miryanna could hear Karyan scream in pain. She didn't know why, and she didn't know what had just happened, but he'd told her to run, and that was one order she'd take from him seriously.

once again, oof

They dashed through the doors, encountering more guards, but they had the element of surprise, as the guards weren't expecting them to be right there, so they were able to push past them.

They ran through the halls, looking for an escape route, but finding none. They tried to find their way back to the little side door, but that way was blocked. They wandered through the seemingly endless halls, looking for some way out, but they were thwarted every time. They'd been wandering for at least fifteen minutes, getting more anxious every second, when they came to a hall that looked familiar. They realize that it was the one they'd first entered. With great joy, they found the little kitchen and the door that led outside.

wow. they were just. wandering around. the evil fortress. and they just. didn't get waylaid or captured. just. wow.

They exited and started for their horses, intent on getting out of there as fast as possible, when a moan stopped them.

Miryanna looked back, and to her utmost surprise, she saw Karayan! Only, it was quite a different Karayan from the one she'd seen twenty minutes ago.

there are so many twists and turns in this chapter i think i pounded more storyline development into this day than i did the entire previous month. also telepathy is done for now so i'll return to just italics. if the underline pops up again ya'll'll know what's up

His clothes were torn, and bloody. His face was hardly recognizable, it was so bruised, cut, and bloody, not to mention the rest of his body. It almost looked like he'd fallen a long ways down a steep slope covered with sharp, hard rocks. He was lying right outside the door, and apparently hadn't noticed the others yet.

A gasp from the others told her that they'd seen him too.

He moaned, and tried to support himself on his elbows, but fell back down. He looked up, and through the immense pain, he recognized them. He cowered against the wall, but he called weakly, "H--Help?"

A part of Miryanna wanted to leave him for dead glad that he was in such misery after all he'd done to others. But another part of her wanted to help him. He looked so much in pain, and he did let them go, after all.

i maybe should have included some moments earlier of miryanna being more friendly inclined towards karayan especially after what just happened *gestures vaguely towards wis and yanev being all messed up and stalles' dead body* because this is just me making the characters do things.

Someone walked past her, a dagger glinting in the moonlight. The mists had gone away. Miryanna realized that it was Roric, and he seemed intent on finishing the job.

Miryanna couldn't let that happen. She grabbed Roric's arm, "Roric, no," She cried.

Roric looked back at her in disbelief. "Have you seen what he's done? He deserves to die!" Roric yanked his arm away and started for Karayan again.

Miryanna dashed in front of him, getting in between Roric and Karayan. "No. If you kill him now, you're no better than he is," She said defiantly.

again, the motivations are all different. karayan did it all just because. roric has justified anger against him for that

"Miry?" Andarin called to her, clearly confused by her sentiment.

Miryanna ignored it, and knelt down by Karayan.

He cowered back from her, dragging himself up to the wall. He grimaced as he moved.

"What happened?" Miryanna asked him, her tone neither friendly or harsh.

"I--I didn't d--do wha--what she w--wanted me t--too," Was his broken response.

Miryanna frowned slightly, "Tell me what happened. Last I checked, you were back at the castle with Nynesi."

"I left s--soon after w--we told y--you of our engagement. I-I'd received word o--of prisoners that sh-she wanted me to q-question,"

Miryanna nodded, "Alright, how did this," She indicated his numerous hurts, "happen?"

"I denounced her."

Miryanna was surprised, "You mean to say that you, her most devoted of servants, denounced her?"

Karayan managed a nod.

"Why?"

Karayan didn't answer at first. "I--I knew what I w--was doing was wrong, a--and wanted to d--do the right thing,"

Miryanna was stunned. The most infamous, evil, treacherous, Karayan Batal, wanting to do what's right?

what is right????????? how does he know what right as opposed to wrong is???????????? and why does it matter to him??????????????????????

"She withdrew her power from me," Karayan said.

Miryanna nodded, still slightly in a daze.

"We should kill him now," Roric's harsh voice came from behind her.

Karayan cowered again, "N-N0, please," He cried.

"Why not? Are you afraid of death, even though you've inflicted it on so many others?" Rorc sneered.

"Y--Y--Yes," Karayan whimpered.

Roric laughed, "How ironic. You'll get to meet it soon," He stepped forward, dagger in hand.

Miryanna stood up, blocking Roric again. "No. You're not going to kill him."

"Miry, what's wrong with you?" Roric asked, a puzzled expression in his face.

"Miry," Andarin's voice came from beyond.

Miryanna glanced back at here companions. Yanev was crying, leaning against Wis, who also had tears streaming down her face and a confused expression. Andarin also looked puzzled. Iphnis was watching with an unreadable expression.

frikin iphnis

Miryanna swallowed hard, but didn't stand down. "I'm going to help him."

Roric looked at her like she'd lost her mind.

Andarin and Wis had similar reactions.

"Will any of you help me?" She asked, already knowing the answer.

Roric snorted, "I'd rather walk barefoot on nails."

sharp end up nails to be specific

Miryanna looked at Andarin and Wis. She didn't at all expect Wis to offer to help, and didn't expect much of Andarin either.

it would in fact be rather cruel to ask wis to help

"Miry, I just..." Andarin started, then trailed off.

"I'll help," Iphnis soft voice offered. He stepped forward and went to Miryanna.

"Thank you," She said to Iphnis.

iphnis at this point i'm thinking you are actually some mastermind orchestrating all this. that or a really potent mind controller.

Karayan had passed out from pain and blood loss, and didn't protest when they struggled to lift him up.

Roric turned away in scorn and went to fetch his horse. Andarin and Wis followed.

Miryanna and Iphnis half carried, half dragged Karayan. By the time they'd reached where the horses were ties, Roric had left with Yanev and Wis. Andarin was on his horse, but waited until Miryanna had Karayan situated on her horse in front of her and she and Iphnis were able to ride off.

As soon as they were on the road, Miryanna was presented with another problem. Where was she going to take him? She couldn't bring him back to the castle, and she couldn't take him to the base. There was no where to go.

imagine if you did bring him to the palace. now THAT would be an interesting high stakes story. I mean, i am a firm believer in putting your characters through some tough stuff and then giving them plenty of recovery, and this is that recovery time, but still

"Where will we take him?" Miryanna asked Iphnis.

Iphnis shrugged. "Any ideas?"

Miryanna shook her head.

Andarin, who was riding near them, sighed. "You can take him to the country estate," He offered grudgingly.

"Oh, Andarin, you don't have to do that," Miryanna said.

"No, it's the best place. The only people around right now are the servants, and I can tell them to not go into certain areas in the place."

young master andarin rollin' up with his girlfriend and his weird new friends.

Miryanna reached an hand out to touch Andarin's arm. "Thank you," She said.

Andarin shrugged in reply. They left their course for the base and turned to go to the Dohmnall's country estate. The only servants around were the groundskeeper, and the cook, and Andarin went to make contact with them and tell them that he and a few friends were going to be staying at the estate, and not to inform his family and not to enter certain areas of the manor unless they were called. He came back and led them to a room.

It was simply furnished, but still quite nice. The large window looked westward onto now moonlit pastures, and bare orchards, white with snow.

how long has it been winter? what are seasons?

okay so andarin was the one who kinda pulled miryanna into this, but i hope it's clear that he's not nearly as passionate about all this as, well, anyone is. he knows karayan is a really bad guy, but he's just rolling with everything at this point. He knows he cares about miry so he's going to help miry