Narrisa brought down her sobs with great effort, each breath making her feel light headed as she brought it under control. But the returned hug, the hold, the security, finally pulled her together as she focused on his words. At this point she didn't want to think, to consider or even remember anything else other than how this moment was existing right now. The pounding in her head subsided as the memories faded. But like a flash of light after looking at fire too long, the afterimage of Rhodes persisted. Was it there, at that tavern, that she had been captured? Or was that only one of several encounters she had had the displeasure of meeting?

She nodded to him, but wondered how well Edgar could defend her from the man. Her memory didn't tell her anything of what he was capable of. Only that he was the powerful, driving force behind so many resources at his disposal . . . And . . . And he had something, something that could deflect her own magic. If she was ever to succeed in defending herself from him, she'd have to find out what it was. She prayed that they could make it to Edgar's brother without having to resort to that stand off.

Pulled into the hug, she breathed in a sigh of relief, inhaling the aroma of his musk and scent. It relaxed her more than anything, the intimacy of the moment as she felt herself begin to drop down into a deep sleep. "I just . . . Hope you're right, Ed'," she whispered into his neck. She highly doubted the man was afraid. Fear seemed something not of the man's nature from what little she knew collectively.

There were things that he was afraid of but orcs and Rhodes had not been amongst them. Edgar could handle himself of course and did not worry about these things. After all, he was not always a bandit though if he had lost his greatest treasure he would be heart broken.

What he feared of course was loss. He would protect her, though he did hope to gain from this that was not his only motivation in this. Most people didn't do anything unless there was something in it for them but Edgar didn't want riches.

No, what he had wanted most of all was her safety and happiness followed by his own of course. He did not try to take advantage of her state, he might have been able to but he was not thinking in such a way.

Rather he listened, he comforted and when she slept he did as well. Jenna had come to get him later on in the night, it was his watch … she saw the two and rather than disturb them watched the whole night.

“Stupid girl, we still have a lot of ground to cover.”

“Don't worry Eddy, I won't slow you down,” she stifled a yawn as if showing that that wasn't going to be the case.

“Why didn't you wake me witch?”

“I could handle it and by the Maker I am not a witch!” She stormed off ahead leading the way with a huff.

The first day was rather uneventful save for the discovery of a moose carcass or what Edgar though was a moose. It was torn apart, chunks of it scattered here and there, most of it devoured. Edgar inspected the remains of the animal, shook his head and then drew his blade moving in caution as he watched the trees suspicious of every shadow now.

Narrisa woken up with no further episode or of memories assailing her. For that, she was both grateful and sorry. Sorry, because she couldn't quiet recall all of the spells that seem to be just at her fingertips, but thankful that something as crippling as that even hadn't occure again. In hindsight, she wish she could have taken watch, but if she were and did have the episode, it wouldn't be safe for everyone. Alas, it had passed and no one had came upon them, so there was little left to do or regret.

She followed them silently, unsure of what Jenna or Edgar were thinking. She had snuck many glances over at Edgar, wondering if he had thought less of her for becoming crippled by the memory or if he was being that much more cautious. Other than his jester façade, it was hard to tell when he was actually being serious. But she couldn't be quiet for much longer. Interjecting herself into the conversation, she put her voice in.

"Jenna, let me take first watch tonight, it'll be better, and I can wake Edgar when I get tired," she said. If they could at least work out a good rotation, it shouldn't be as taxing on them the morning after by the time they reached his brother. Jenna was a good friend, if any, and she didn't want to take advantage of her if she could help it.. "Do you have any more tonics left? I can help you get some ingredients if you are low. Just tell me what it looks like.

But of course, Narrisa wasn't thinking of the end or thinking too far ahead. Edgar had said he'd wanted to follow her . . .But what of Jenna? Would Edgar change his mind when they reached his brothers? Did Edgar's brother even know what Shadow she was from? It was a possibility, nothing in her memory even remotely felt like she could handle such tasking a business. But . . . .there was still a day or so to worry about that. Now, she would focus on what was in front of her.

And the husk . . .

"What . . . Happened to it?" she asked Edgar, her voice considerably lower, as if whatever had done it would spring upon them. For some reason,s he couldn't imagine any other animal having done it. Too much meat was wasted. No animal would waste that . . . But that only left of what beast of a man had done it? Or maybe an orc? She swallowed hard, drawing a little closer to the party. It wasn't that forested, as far as they went. Nothing could really be that hidden behind the trees. But her eyes looked to the skies. Shadows and shade was offered from every branch and stem. If the thing that did this was still here, could it harbor itself into the foliage above?

“Sure thing,” Narissa could take watch tonight though she checked her belt pouch she wore quickly revealing three vials. “Only three ...”

She sighed, "two are healing and one is similar to flash powder, if I whip it at the ground it will great a brief flash of light ...” She frowned a little.

“It's not the ingredients but rather finding the time to brew it. And the supplies seeing all my cooking supplies are about nine hours or so in that direction.”

Jenna pointed. “And besides we couldn't have a fire ...” she rolls her eyes at Edgar sticking a tongue out at him.

But all kidding aside Edgar seemed very serious when they came upon that corpse.

“I'm not totally certain, a hunch. There was too much meat left but teeth marks on the bones and bite marks on it hat are consistent with a wolf but no wolf would be so wasteful. Nor do I see tracks of the pack just a lone wolf and a lone wolf can't take out a moose … werewolf I think. It meets the criteria and werewolves are often wasteful causing carnage wherever they go. If it is one you don't have to worry about it being in the trees, that isn't a wolf hunting technique you need worry about though I guess their pretty smart and can shape change so being a little weary is a good thing.”

Narrisa winced at the proposed distance to the next ingredient. "I guess we will just have to make due with what we have," she muttered. She didn't feel comfortable with Jenna being so ill prepared, but it seemed there was little that could be done about it. She also forgot that it would take a fire to make the rest of it, even if they did have time for it. "Well . . . I'm sure if we hurry it won't be too bad. Pray we don't need to use a one of those between now and the house.

Looking back to the caracass, she made a hard swallow. Werewolves existed in this shadow plain? But it was still day time . . . If it were true, then at least if it was just that, the full moon would have been past, along with the danger . . . She hoped.

“Hopefully …” Jenna wished that was the case. She liked being prepared and having the orcs spring a sudden attack on them and having to flee all of a sudden left her ill prepared. What was worse was that she really couldn't hep without her tonics save for a bit of first aid she picked up while working at the hospital but no way was Edgar going to loose her because of a simple orc attack! Suffice it to say all the others either deserted or were killed in that last engagement so it looked like he didn't have much left now.

“It's probably nothing but keep on your toes.” Edgar stated as he clasped her shoulder. He didn't worry too much about werewolves though they were powerful he had dealt with them before. He also knew a lot more other than the typical lore, that they were still in danger … an affected werewolf may be governed by the phases of the moon but if this was a natural werewolf, well it didn't loose control at all. Still he did not worry about this at all though it was on the eve of that first real day of traveling that they came to a bridge over a raging river.

Edgar had them hold up, he seemed wary of something, picked up a stone and gave an under handed toss to the bridge itself. He had heard stories and had not been this way in awhile … better safe then sorry, right?

From beneath the bridge a warty green skinned creature emerged with wicked looking yellow claws and fangs along with pupil less black eyes … a troll!

“Ooh vay!” It intoned barely in broken basic as it pointed menacingly at the trio, boy was he large though being hunched over he was still at least two meters tall as he was, probably much taller than that!

Narrisa let the view of the carcass fall behind them, no longer wanting to see it in her sights. As they continued forward, she realized she wasn't feeling much tired or hungry. It was strange. They were nearing their third day since she had been rescued, yet she hadn't even had so much as the craving for food. Perhaps another sideeffect of the blessing. But so long as there seemed to be no other sideeffects, she kept it to herself. She didn't want to needlessly worry Edgar or Jenna or put them behind schedule. The longer they were on this plain, the more chances Rhodes had a chance to destroy them.

"Trust, me, I will keep a look at." Without missing a beat, she continued alongside with them, keeping any words to herself that wasn't to the advantage of the group.

As the day passed and night finally was coming upon them, the bridge showed an easy route. Heck, maybe they would even be able to destory the bridge on their side to keep anyone from following. AS she made her first step towards it, her shoulder met with the back of his hand, heeding them to stop. She looked up, giving a concerned look.

"What's wrong?" When he didn't answer, she took a step back, feeling the mana in her fingertips thrum to life. She took another look at the bridge, trying to see what he did, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. She watched as the rock he threw skidded against the surface of the bridge, scratching the surface before falling by the wayside just in time for another creature to rear up from the bridge's underside.

"AH!" she screamed, nearly falling back on her butt from the sudden roar it let out, its voice visceral and unclear. "What is that thing?" she shouted, not yet running as it seemed to not come at them. Not yet at least. Was it a troll?

“Troll!” Edgar snapped confirming her suspicions as the creature lumbered out of hiding. Shit, these things were tough, but he did not loose his cool. He did not advance right away either as it pointed towards them menacingly or was it it's sheer size that had been so intimidating?

Edgar drew his enchanted blade, the weapon feather light in his hands, glyphs carved into it Narissa could see now that he was closer to her though he pulled her back behind him, he got in front of both girls as the troll lumbered out into full view though it moved up from the banking of the river it moved closer to the bridge to prevent their approach growling at them as it took up a defensive stance.

“OOH VAY!” It bellowed louder, black eyes falling upon the trio.

“Ooh vay???” Jenna seemed to ponder as she shrank back knowing there was little she could do here when Edgar had his blade and Narissa her magic to wield.

“You pay …?” She had nothing else.

“There is another crossing if I remember my geography right but it's a ways from this spot and will only add to our trip ...” He had not taken his eyes off the creature ready to spring into action at the first sign of trouble ...

Narrisa screamed as the troll posed menacingly towards them. But she held her ground when she realized that the troll wasn't coming any closer.

"Payment?" Perhaps that wouldn't be so bad! If anything, if they could give this thing what it wanted, then it could just as easily let them through and they wouldn't have to fight or take the longer way! "Edgar, don't you have anything? Does it want gold? Money? We can't afford to take the long way," she said, hearing his response from before. Not only that, but if this thing planned on fighting to secure the route for its own, then they could lose more energy and be warn out by the time that the Orcs or anything else that wanted to get a piece of them could catch up. It was simply too dangerous . . .Or was there something that she was forgetting . . .

She looked to the troll. It seemed organic enough to be effected by . . . by . . . She rubbed her right earlobe. It wasn't fire she was feeling in her fingertips. But something much more potent, purer than even fire. A spark . . .

The troll growled out again dangerously, threatening them if they even took an inch.

"Edgar . . . Do you think I could . . . shock it?" she wasn't sure if it would help, but part of her was worried her mana would be upset again. But if they didn't have the coin . . .

“Yeah, electricity works,” Edgar whispered back, the troll seemed impatient with them but had not advance thus far. Maybe it did no wish to risk someone sneaking over the bridge in case if got distracted by Edgar who ran across the bridge last … if that was the case he was a smart troll, or perhaps it had happened more than once in the past and it had learned from past mistakes.

“Fire works better though. The regenerate from everything else.”

Edgar did have something but considering what the troll wanted would indicate whether or not they would have o pay or decide what to do.

“How much?” Jenna was rubbing her fingers together to indicate money and either the troll didn't want money or had other things in mind.

“UH DINAHS!”

There were three of them, could one of them cross at the price of the others?

“There's not much meat on -”

“UHH DINAHS!!!” The troll glared at them but did not approach from it's spot.

“But there are only three of us ...”

“Wait a second ...” Edgar unties a small pouch from his belt and tosses it under handed at the troll who easily catches it. “There are ten Denars in that … two, two and two, keep the rest.”

The troll poured the copper coins into his large hand and took the risk of looking for a moment. It counted. One, two, more than two. It was smart indeed! Of course it was two coins in total per crossing not two each but he did not complain. Rather he moved aside returning to his place under the bridge where he put his latest shinnies with the others.

“That was close, I almost didn't understand him.”

The remainder of the day was uneventful though that evening they were going to have a fire. Jenna was busy gathering up some ingredients for this tonic or that in preparation for what was to come.

“Less than two days to go, trolls are tough so unless there are a lot of orcs they probably won't get over the bridge. They're not that smart either, so staying back and using missile attacks might not even occur to them.”

She smiled as the creature let them pass, not letting a second to spare as they continued onward.

"I'm sure glad you understood it, its . . . .accent, was quiet hard to understand." She was relieved that it seemed that they were able to put a considerable distance behind them, especially with the troll guarding the way to their nearest rear. She kept up relatively well with the others, simply enjoying the peace and the fact that there was no other sign of the creature that had finished off the moose so easily.

She was grateful to know that they would be having a fire today. In Edgar's arms or not, it was still chilly throughout the night. When Jenna walked off to get her matierials, she only offered good luck and to stay near. The last thing she wanted for any of them to get lost or attacked while separated from the group. Already so many things had gone away from the plan, it would be horrible to lose another factor. She looked over at Edgar, the shadows of the fire dancing over his clothes as she slowly walked over, sitting besides him near the fire.

" . . . So . . . You still want to come with me, to my Shadow?" she whispered, not yet daring to look at his face about this question. Her eyes remained transfixed by the dance of the fire. Jenna had made the fire, already starting on it before she could get to it. She wasn't sure if that was just a precaution against another episode, or if she had just simply wanted to make it then and there.

“I could barely understand him. Dinners, that's a big word for a roll and so I kept running through words that seemed to rhythm and got lucky with the right word.”

They had traveled on, no signs of anything else and Jenna made the fire before leaving with the promise of sticking close.

Edgar was sharpening his blade then though it did not appear to need it. Sharpening and polishing the enchanted blade. Without hesitation he nodded to her question.

“Of course. You don't want me to go?” That was the case last time anyway and it seemed doubtful that she changed her mind at not being together.

Narrisa shook her head, quickly wanting to set that question straight. "No! That's not it at all," she said, looking away from the fire. "It's just . . . From what you said, we know so little about eachother . . . .Heck, I barely know so little about me," she chuckled. Hell, at least she still had a sense of humor in all of this.

"It's just . . . I don't want you or Jenna getting hurt." If Narrisa wasn't there, or if he hadn't had rescued her from the stake, so many of his bandits wouldn't have gotten killed. Even now, he wouldn't have gotten injured or be leaving everything behind. And Jenna . . . She was leaving her Shadow and there was no telling what would be beyond there. Even Narrisa couldn't share or warn her what was to come. She was leaving behind her mother's legacy.

"You don't think this is . . . . Running a little too fast?" She wanted to continue knowing him. She wanted to remember the feel of his hands all over her body and how safe it was just to be near him. But not at the price of his own safety.

“Yeah, I guess that might throw you off ...” he was silent though as he reflected on the matter. He had considered asking about Eve though that seemed less important at the moment. He had been through this dance before with less promising result and he looked away from the blade he was sharpening.

“We don't have to be married. I just ...” he looked away buying time as he examined the blade, testing the sharpness then sharpening it further with his whetstone.

“I just want to be close to you.” He wasn't going to get hurt, OK, again seeing that he still had the laceration on his leg.

Narrisa blushed at the word, turning away with her body. "Edgar! Don't . . . Don't say such words!" she said, flustered as she messed with her earlobe. It seemed like such a comforting sensation, she realized as she rubbed her right earlobe, needing the relief that it sent through her body. A pressure point or something? No, nothing seemed to be familiar. Just the act of rubbing that one spot. This conversation topic seemed to make her fluster much too easily.

"Edgar . . . We should just focus on getting there first." It was her fault, she knew. She had brought up the conversation, but now she had realized it wasn't something she was ready to have just yet. She wanted him close. Closer than anything . . . She gave a small glance in front of her. No Jenna to be seen. Maybe it was more important to have now, while they were actually alone. There was no telling if this privacy would ever be had again.

"I . . . I mean . . . " She tried to remember her mana, feeling it scorching her insides, trying to be relieved as well. She closed her eyes, focusing on it getting calm, rubbing her ear more firmly.