On the 30th you set out.

On the 30th, the air is a little crisp yet in the mountains early in the morning.

As you pass out of the temple grounds, the man in the watchtower waves to you.

A familiar woman is leaning against the wall just as you pass the archway.

Who is she?

How is your son?

She is the woman who's son you healed.

My son is walking and dreaming of what he will be when he grows up. My thanks to you will be unending.

You are looking out at mid-morning from the waystation at the base of the pass that runs through the mountains to the temple of the Avizamar.

After more than a year in the mountains, the plains seem to stretch out forever. To the left, the road stretches Northwards into Alm Peresh's lands and Southwards towards Alm Allem's lands. The river rushes out of the mountains to your left and flows SouthEastward? towards the holy city of Piri'lm.

The man who supplied you with new rations and sandals told you that a man matching Kitai's description had left at dawn.

As you are leaving, the man hands you a note. It is addressed to the head of your order, but appears to have been opened.

"What, it came that way. I didn't see who left it either. Showed up yesterday morning."

"I tried to give it to that Kitai fellow, but he just read it and threw it back at me.

Thank you for giving me the note I will see that it reaches the head of my order.

"Here," he says, "you might enjoy a chunk of Jarhzah cheddar. Just came in yesterday and smells good. Have a safe journey, may Chal guide your path."

Blessings to you. Ah before I go, do you know who sent the note?

"As I said, it was here on the floor yesterday morning." I didn't hear or see anything. Mighty strange."

Thank you

Tajal leaves the waystation heading south I believe

Chal and the Light Praj help me discern which path I must take to follow in Kitai's trail. Do I follow the river or the road south?

A familiar warmth enfuses your neck and the palms of your hands.

The sound of rushing water grows louder and you can almost smell the full fury of the waterfall, that clean beautiful scent that fades all to quickly.

I will follow the river

Thankyou for your guidance

The warmth fades slowly from your body. The world feels more solid and your purpose feels clearer. It always does after you receive the gifts of Chal.

The road takes you Eastward.

At the river's last deep spot before it heads in to the mountains, 5 barges are offloading people and horses who will be heading into the pass.

Tri'jar, Alm Practla's middle son calls your name.

You were 10 when you first met Tri'jar.

Your fathers had taken you hunting together.

He was 12 at the time and you brought down a stag together after being separated from the rest of the party.

R'acpra had invited Pract'la and Ephra'ij to a hunt with him and Izlijah. Their sons joined them as well. It was on this hunting trip that we met Durkar a Krudrun whom we have met since in the pass.

comraderie

Tri'jar and Tajal's relationship is one of friendly comraderie based upon past exploits. Both men are comfortable with each other as they have no reason to engage in politics as one is focused on Chal and the other the world. They both have an interest in the past and engage in intellectual conversations.

Tri'jar hands me a case with three items - 3o year old wine from Sru'haro estates, bought in a tavern, but it is a good wine. A vinter in the Sru'haro lands has made some surprising connections. He pulls out an extremely old and well crafted knife (stone blade with and antler hilt) then pulls out a little pouch (the end) of cloth. We part ways. Half way to Pri'elm there was a burning (seeing a smoke in the distance). We leave in good spirits

The knife is Kudrun (the blade) the antler bone is an afterthought. Looking at the knife I seen Durkar with similar shaped knives, but without hilts or handles.

I will look at the pouch - inside is a heavy ore (that is broken), This is a quarter of the original, there are a couple of grooves that suggest writing on the rest of the ore. The ore is black and shiny, heavier than basalt.

I journey for four days and I encouter a burnt smell. It is wafting from across the river.