...Oh, such a perfect day
I'm glad I spent it with you ...

I woke in a beautiful garden, one of our favourite places. The smell of bushes, flowers and scented candles, the sound of birdsong - such a welcome greeting to the day. I stayed there a short while, checking supplies and equipment, getting ready to train. Then I received a call from my love - would I guide her through the fire caverns to where a green crystal guardian had been cornered?

I equipped my gear, and ran to meet her. In the caverns we met up with others to help in the assault on the creature - Ardaion and James Silver putting in hits and healing us as we were forced to retreat time and again. At last, my love slew the creature, gaining the dull green crystal for which she had searched so long.

I was so proud of her - her eyes, shining with triumph, brilliant rivals to the gouts of fire erupting in that place.

We went on to Midnight Beach, where I had to leave her to train while I spoke with merchants and innkeepers across the land, looking for food and supplies for my lady. When I rejoined her, her pack was full of crystals, so we went under the wall to the machine.

Planning to return to Midnight Beach, I offered to show my love a different route back to Caernivale. Ellyana, my Ocean Princess, loves water - but I think even she was taken aback the first time she rode the river from the bandit hideout!

It's kind of funny that there is such enjoyment to be found when she shoots me out of a cannon, and I drag her through a raging underground torrent.

We'd planned a picnic on the beach, but we'd no sooner got there than the events and exertions of the day caught up with us and we slept in each other's arms. I don't think we even spoke much as we sank to the ground - but two minds in tune with each other don't always need words.

... The smile on your face
Lets me know that you need me
There's a truth in your eyes
Saying you'll never leave me
The touch of your hand says
You'll catch me whenever I fall
You say it best
When you say nothing at all ...

... but you can travel on ten thousand miles and still stay where you are ...


I've roamed many lands for years, searching, as I thought, for a revenge that would bring me some peace of mind. And yet, in spite of all the years and all the travelling, I am not far from my homeland. Now, as I have done in the past, when I have a heavy heart or am unsure of my path, I have come back to the place I used to call home.

The town has been rebuilt gradually over the years since that fateful day. There were no more raids after the one that took my parents. I hunted down the raiders, following their trails or sneaking into their camps, taking them out one by one. As I pass by, some of the townsfolk recognise me and call out a greeting, though they address me using a name other than that by which you who read this know me.

At last I come to the site of the one house in the town that has not been rebuilt. I never had the heart to rebuild the family home, knowing that I would never again live there. Using money taken back from the raiders, I had the remains of the house taken down, and built a garden in which my parents could rest. It's a peaceful place, in its way. A few trees, a small pool fed by a spring, the two graves, and a seat where I can sit and think, or talk to my parents as I would have had they been alive, telling them my news, asking them for their advice. The garden is looked after for me by the townspeople, a debt they feel they owe me as I left most of the money I took from the raiders to pay for rebuilding the town, taking just a small amount to start me on my travels.

In the past, when I have come here, I have had a feeling of coming to a place where I can just sit and reflect in peace, away from the cares of the world, to sort out my mind and find my way once again. But this time, the journey felt different. I seemed to be journeying not toward something, but away from something.

I did not tarry long there. This time, the journey and not the destination had given me my answer, and I retrace my steps with a lightening heart, back to the place and the person I
should not have left in the first place.

... who knows how long I've loved you?
You know I love you still ...

... to sleep, perchance to dream ...

... but not this time. One moment I was sitting talking with my lady, and then - nothing. Total silence, blackness, absolute oblivion. No sights, no sounds. And that was how I spent almost a full day. It gives me a feeling that I have seen what death must be like.

Mostly at night I sit and keep watch over Ellyana in her troubled sleep. It is no burden, it is something I do gladly for her. I hope that somewhere within whatever tortures her through the night hours she knows, somehow, that I watch, stroking her hair when she seems troubled, holding her when she weeps. It is little enough, I know, but it is all I can do for her. But no matter how I would wish otherwise I can do that only for so long then I must rest, and pray that nothing happens to her while I lie somewhere, unaware of what might occur.
That, I think is my greatest fear. I have sworn to protect her. The thought of breaking that oath, of failing her in her hour of need, that is what comes to me sometimes when I rest for just a short time.
To fight for someone, perhaps to die for them - you've made your choices, upheld a vow you have made - whatever the reason you go to wherever we go with some satisfaction, I guess, knowing you have done all you could. But to lose someone while the world is blacked out from you and they are alone - that would be the unkindest cut of all.

... watching, and waiting ...

Yesterday, I guided my lady through the fire caverns below Dundee, fighting off the creatures there so she could conserve her strength to face the Magma Lord. I was so proud when I saw her triumph over him, and take the magma ash boots. The smile on her face was beautiful to see.

We went to one of our favourite places to swim, cleaning off the soot and ash that covered us from our quest through the caverns. We'd taken food and wine, planning a celebration, but our enjoyment of the moment was cut short.

It came to us on the wind, a warning that Facleo may be trying to trace us. We've both told you about him, a murderous scoundrel, more wood than flesh from the limbs he is missing.

Should he have not seen the warning I left for him, then I repeat it now: "If he has harmed my ocean princess, then his life, worthless as it is, is mine for the taking." And should he think to follow us to these lands, then those words hold true.

I have friends in other lands keeping a watch out for Facleo, and for any of the others - whose names I shall not mention here - who may think they have reason to come for my lady. Those friends will send word to me if any of these individuals are on there way here, or if they try to send others in their place.

My lady slept, eventually, in my arms beside our fire, close to the sea she loves so much. I held her close, talking quietly to her, though I do not know if she heard. I held my watch for as long as I possibly could 'til the light returned. I watched over her as she slept and woke, and cried, and hoped, and I laid my plans.

They may come. They may think they will succeed. They will not.

Welcome to my Nightmare

Picture a garden, a place of peace and beauty, a haven of tranquility in a world assailed by evil. On the bank of a natural swimming pool two lovers sleep, entwined in each others' arms. The woman sleeps peacefully, for once. Sometimes she wakes for a moment, smiles and strokes her lover's hair gently before drifting back to sleep, feeling safe and content in his arms.

He too sleeps quietly,a smile on his face as he dreams of the lover that lies in his arms. He sees her as she was a few hours ago, standing in a lake, hair held back with one hand, her emerald eyes reflecting the stars as they bathe her in a soft light, giving birth to a reflection of her which bubbles and dances on ripples of dark water. He sees her on the shore of that lake, a radiant smile of pleasure on her face as her eyes follow a stone that skips across the water. He sees her in their own special high place, the wind blowing through her dark hair.

'Excuse me. Might I talk to you?' In his dream he hears for the first time once more the voice that has become so dear to him, as they first met beneath soaring forest trees.

But the scene is wrong now in this dream, and a slight frown crosses his face. Another shadowy figure stands behind her, arms reaching for her. The figure speaks, its voice cold, its words made all the more alarming by a complete lack of emotion.

'Fool! You think to take her from me? Never - never.'

The woman wakes as her lover begins to call her name softly from within his dream. She props herself on one arm, a frown on her face as she smoothes his hair.

The figure speaks again, in the dream. 'She can not be yours. She always has been mine. She always will be mine.' In his dream, the man advances on the figure, shouting a denial. The figure laughs. Again the man calls, trying to refute the shadowy figures' words. The laughter grows ... the man's voice calls louder now ... the unicorns scream their defiance.

In the garden, she watches her lover as he twists and turns on the soft grass, her name tumbling from his lips, over and over. Softly at first, then with some concern, then louder and louder, a cry of desperation.

A look of alarm crosses her face as his eyes snap open and he suddenly sits upright, though she cannot tell if he has awoken or is still trapped within his dream world and whatever terror he faces there.

Ellyana starts back as Pallas reaches for his blades and his voice rises to the skies. 'No, not again. She is mine now, and I am hers. While there is breath in my body she will never ... you will not ... not again ... NOT WHILE I LIVE ...'

Ellyana screams.

... the things we do for love ...

I've never realised before lust how much our lives are controlled by the landscapes within which we move. Take deserts, for instance. Until now I've never thought that much about them. Just places where it's a bit warm, a bit sandy, a place where you need to make sure you carry enough water to get to the other side ...

I hate this desert. I hate every grain of sand, every dune, every step that is oh-so-hard to take, and particularly I hate every inch of it that lies between Ellyana and myself.

It seemed so straightforward, that moment however long ago it was that I left her near the entrance to Ryndell. Go south. Fetch the supplies I needed, come back. The best-laid plans ...

I took just a small amount of water for myself, leaving most of our meagre supply with Ellyana. Leaving her there was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, but I set off south, looking back until I could see her no more. I tried to hurry as best I could, but that's not possible when you walk on sand, and I had not realised just how tired I had become. I missed my footing as I crested yet another sand-dune and rolled down its south-facing slope. There can't be many pieces of rock in these miles of sand, but some malicious fate made sure that my head hit one, and blackness took me.

It was night when I came to, whether the night of that day or a later one I have no way of telling. The wound to my arm had stiffened up, my water-bottle was gone and my head swam as I staggered to my feet. I set off again, painfully slowly, in what I thought was the right direction.

I was way off. I'd meant to go south, then off to the west in search of Milltown, but somehow ended up at the Wall. Now, logically, I should have turned to the west then, but with no water and not knowing exactly where I was, I didn't feel like risking the desert again. Instead I headed south to the Wall entrance and on through the wastelands to Branishor.

Why can you never find everything you need in one place? My arm was treated by a cleric I passed in the wastelands - my thanks to that unknown friend, unknown because I was in no state to even ask the name before they were gone - and I carried on in slightly better condition to the town itself. I obtained some supplies, but not all.

There's a sort of inertia that makes you want to keep going in a more-or-less straight line. Knowing I might have to travel the various towns of the lands, I struck out for Fartown.

I slept only when I had to, my dreams filled with images of my love. Happy ones, sad ones - terrible ones. Was she well, was she alive, even? Had she rationed her water and kept herself shaded from the blazing sun? These thoughts and images stopped me from resting long or well.

... working my way back to you ...

At least in Fartown I found the rest of the supplies I needed. Entering the rogue tunnels, I realised I had never noticed before how cool it is in that warren beneath the lands. I emerged in the poultry farm, made my way to Milltown, and steeled myself for the walk through the desert and back to my love.

Soon after, a desert storm whipped up from nowhere. I kept going for as long as I could, but was forced to take what shelter I could in the lee of a sand dune, worrying all the time how Ellyana was faring alone in that inferno of wind and sand. When the wind reluctantly died down, I looked out on a changed landscape. The dunes had shifted, new ones had formed in a pattern of steep ridges between me and Ryndall. Still, that was the direction I needed to go, so I set off once more, climbing dunes and slithering down the other side when I could, going around them when I had to.

I was just about all in again when I found Ellyana again.

She is asleep once more?/still? - I have no way of knowing. I call her, and to my relief she wakes. We sit for the longest time, simply holding one another. I can see there is something troubling her, but whether it is discomfort from her injuries, or more of her dark dreams I cannot tell, and she will not say. Ah well, she will tell me later maybe, at a better time.

I see to her wounds once more. They seem to be starting to heal at last, though I'm not certain why that has taken until now. I make sure my love has enough to drink and I give her the food I've managed to obtain. But she will not eat.
'Not now, my love,' she whispers. 'Later, perhaps.' And she just holds on to me once more. I can feel tears trickling down her face. I try, but can find no real words of comfort without knowing whar troubles her so.

At last, we decide to move on. At first I thought to carry my love once more, but realised that would not be right. She always gives so much of herself to others - never showing how little of her strength she leaves for herself, and I know that is the face she would wish to show as we make our return.
'You will walk,' my words are half question, half statement. She understands what I mean, and hopefully why I make the suggestion. She smiles slightly, and takes my hand for the last few steps of our journey.

... when you can't walk ... when you can't do that ... you find someone to carry you ...

Daylight breaks, and along with daylight comes that edgy feeling I get when someone .. or some thing ... is watching me. I don't know what that feeling is, or how it works, but it's a a feeling I've been thankful for many times in the past. I check our supplies - it doesn't look too good at the moment. Ellyana needs food to build up her strength, but I need to hold some back to brew up that snakebite potion of mine.
Our little fire is still burning so I make a quick meal for her, then start packing everything away - Ellyana has drifted off to sleep again. As I'm packing our gear away I find a parchment she has dropped ... I feel guilt at first, reading what she has written, but then a sense of wonder at the depth of this marvelous woman's feelings.
Sadness comes over me also. It's as if she had written that note at some time on her travels in the expectation that she would die, and on the parchment were her last words for me.
I carefully pack that parchment with the ring of hers that I had found on her trail, putting them safe to return to her.
I call her name, quite softly, and she wakes and smiles, and I am lost again for a while in that smile and those eyes.
I've treated the snake bite once more, but even so she is in great pain and can walk only slowly, leaning on me as she goes. I can't hurry her, but I still have that edgy feeling of being watched. I've said nothing of that to Ellyana, and we make our way out of the city slowly, she leaning on me and me supporting her with one arm, drawn blade in the other hand.

... later ...

When we find our way to the lake in the clearing I light a small fire and brew up some more of the potion. I'm worried about supplies, but Ellyana's treatment must come first. I can worry about food later - in between worrying about getting her back to the lands, worrying what may be behind us or before us. I look down at her as she sleeps, a peaceful sleep this time, a slight smile on her face.
She wakes, and realising where we are insists we should bathe in the lake. She says just for a while, to wash away the dirt of our travels, but I know what she's like around water. Eventually, I have to almost literally drag her out of that lake, fearing she will exhaust herself completely.
As I expected, she fell asleep and I can't wake her this time. So I lift her up and carry her to the river. I place her on the riverbank and consider matters. What to do - what to do now? I can see that fishing village across the river, but dare not call for assistance lest Falceo and his crew hear. And I don't want to risk carrying her across in case the river creature attacks. I shouldn't leave her, in case she wakes and in her pain and fever tries to go off again. What to do?
I eventually decide the best course is to leave Ellyana where she is while I cross the river to seek a boat in order to return for her and bring her safely across. I'll leave the backpacks here so if she awakes she will know I am not far.

It seemed a good idea at the time ...

I make it across the river, just. That creature attacked me. I'm not sure if I killed it or wounded it so badly it fled. But I've lost some of my daggers, and my arm is hurt. I find the same fisherman who ferried me across the river what seems a lifetime ago, and we return for Ellyana and the equipment. Now for the road around the Hellhole, and south back to the lands.

.. I don't remember most of that long way around the Hellhole. We had to take the long path, as there was no possibility of using the cuts through I had followed on my way out.
Some of the time, Ellyana would walk, leaning heavily on me. The rest of the time I carried her, though I'm not too sure how.

... much later ...

It's the first time I've been happy to be in a desert! It means our journey is almost over. But I have no supplies left, no strength left, and try though I may, I can't carry her any more for now.
We're near the entrance to Ryndall, but the supplies I need will only be found further south - and I need those supplies right now.
'Ellyana, can you hear me?' She rouses and smiles slightly. I drop our equipment and use a lot of it to make a bed for her. 'Listen, there are some things I need to find for you. You'll be safe here.'
She holds on to my hand for a while, before I lean to kiss her. 'It's nearly over, my love. I'll be back with what we need, as quickly as I can.'
Though it breaks my heart to do so, I walk away, casting frequent looks back at my love until I am too far away to see her.

... they call me the seeker, I've been searching low and high ...

She is awake now, ignoring her pain and hurts, clinging to me, tears of relief running down her beautiful face.

I reach out and stroke her cheek, just as I have ached for so long to do once more.

'You're not dreaming, Ellyana,' I whisper softly. 'This is me, this is real. I've found you, and I never want to let you go again.'

We kiss, and I hold her as she sleeps and wakes, drifting in and out of dreams that I hope are happier now. And thus the night passes.

I followed her trail to a small square in the abandoned city, and there I lost sight of her footprints. I tried all the streets that led from there, but found no sign of her passing. I stopped for a while, leaning against a low wall. As I tried to think what to do next, I toyed with the ring I had found, the one with a dragonfly etched on to it. I tried to slip the ring onto my finger, but it was nowhere near large enough to fit.
I am constantly surprised at how small my love is. The steel and spirit inside her make her seem so much larger than she really is. She is small, seemingly fragile. I wish others would realise that, when she has used all her strength in healing any that ask her - but still they ask, and still she helps them, leaving nothing for herself.

I thought I heard a cry. I looked around but could see nothing. Then I heard sounds issuing from an entrance in front of me - a set of steps leading down. She wouldn't have gone down there, could she? Then I remembered an evening at the Dundee Inn when she had wondered what was down the hole in the floor and without a second thought just dove in to find out ... yes, she could well have gone down those steps. I went part-way down, and saw before me the twisting passages of a labyrinth. I returned to the surface, pulled a length of string from my pack, tied it to the handle of a dagger then jammed the blade into the low wall where I had been sitting. I lit a torch, and unravelling the string as I went, again returned to the steps, and on down.

... going underground ...

The place is full of strange sounds:water drips from the roof of the passages, odd gusts of wind blow through, sounding like the breath of some fantastic monster. Mists drift along, and it is easy to imagine how it could look as if the walls themselves are moving, encircling you, trapping you in those twisting passages forever.
I move as softly as I can, listening for the sound made by anyone else down here. I call softly 'Ellyana?' The sound of my voice is mufled by those mists, and echoes oddly, seeming to come back at me from all directions at once. I call again, louder this time. And still I am moving through those dark, dank passages of earth and stone, unravelling my ball of string as I go.
A gust of air blasts it way through the labyrinth, bringing the stench of some rotting corpse with it, no doubt some animal or traveller who has lost their way and perished in this place. That thought spurs me on, and I move faster now.
From somewhere up ahead, hidden by the mist, I hear a clatter and a thud, as if someone has dropped a weapon and fallen to the floor. Again I call her name, and rush forward.
I have found her! On the ground, loooking around vacantly, seeing and hearing ... who knows? She looks to be in a bad way. I come up behind her, unsure if she has heard my approach, not knowing if she has heard or recognised my voice. She is trying to climb back to her feet, though clearly has no strength to do so.
I whisper to her 'Stay where you are, Ellyana,' and push her gently back to the ground.
As I am trying to get a water-bottle to her mouth, her eyes snap open, she babbles something about a monster in the labyrinth, and then screams. Her screams cut through the mists, eching through the passages, and go on and on, as if she will never stop screaming ...

... later ...

After some time, exhaustion, emotion, and the effects of her snake-bite took their toll. Ellyana lapsed into unconsciousness. I trickled some water into her mouth, then waited for a while, listening out lest there was some creature of the dark down there with us. But apart from the sound of wind and dripping water there was nothing to be heard. Whatever else Ellyana thought she had heard down there was a nightmare brought on by her pain and exhaustion. I gathered her up in my arms, and carefully following my string, brought her back to the city square.

... even later ...

I've given her a dose of my home-made snakebite serum, and bound a poultice over the bite. I've dressed her other wounds and scratches as best as I can for now. Every few minutes I drop some water into her mouth. Her sleep seems more peaceful now. I talk to her, but am not sure if she is aware that I am here, but I like to think it brings her some comfort.
I've lit a small fire to keep her warm - must keep a watch in case the fire attracts any unwanted attention, human or otherwise - and I've wrapped my cloak around her. I did venture back into the labyrinth to collect her equipment, apart from that I will remain with her 'til she wakes, doing all I can to look after my lady.
And I know, now, that being by her side, looking after her, is what I wish to do - for as long as she'll have me.

Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more
Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

It's a kind of magic

For every action there is a reaction. That's how the world works. And Mother Nature ensures that is so, in order to look after her children. For every poison, there is an antidote. You just need to know where to look for it.

Tree moss has more uses than just for making tea - though that's the only form in which I have any. Still, there may be enough of the component in there that will counteract the venom of that snake. I just need to heat the tea with some wine - the alcohol will extract what I need. Add some fruit juice to the extract so the acids in the fruit will activate the whole thing. I've kept some of the liquid as it is, and mixed some into a roundloaf I had packed away to make a poultice. All this is making a hole in the supplies I brought with me, but I guess it's better to live hungry than die with a full belly.

The tracks are becoming more aimless, as if she's in a daze, and she's clearly got a wound to one foot. This is becoming worrying now. She could be hurt and helpless somewhere. On the other hand, I should catch up more swiftly. There seems to be a small city to the west, and her tracks lead more or less in that direction. Time to pack away my gear and take up the trail once more.

something in the air

I'm so close now, I can sense it. Her footprints led me to a lake set amongst the trees. I could smell her perfume there, sense her recent presence.
It must be my lady who was here such a short time ago. Who else, during such a trek, would stop to draw a picture of a unicorn? I reached out to the drawing, and realised it was the same gesture as when I would reach out to her, to stroke her cheek. I ache for the chance to do that again.

She left some of her equipment here, she must be getting so weary from the journey. I collected what I could of the scattered gear.

I think she's losing her sense of direction. Clearly, she roamed around the banks of the lake for a while before setting off on some random course. So now, instead of having at lease a vague idea of her course, I'll need to track her. That will slow me down ...


... later ...

This isn't good. I've been managing to follow her random wanderings, but I think she's in trouble. I found a dead snake on her path. That type is rare, but if it has bitten her ... the effects can be serious. And it must have attacked, else why would she have killed it?
She's lost some more small items, they must have fallen from her pack as she pulled out her herbs. More worrying, I've found one of her rings which must have fallen out at the same time. If she didn't notice that, or check her pack before setting off once more, is the poison starting to work its harm already?
I hope she thought to cut the bite - that'll let out some of the venom. But the usual healing herbs that clerics carry won't help in this case. I need to check through what I'm carrying - perhaps I'll find something useful.

Facleo - now there's a bad 'un. He claims to be a guide, a friend in need, a protector. In truth he is a liar, a thief, a murderer.
The name was familiar to me, and it troubled me as I tried to take some rest last night. Then I remembered the details of our meeting a long time ago. I just hope that my love has evaded his clutches.
His method is simple. He watches for travellers at the river and offers to take them across in safety, for a price. And then he takes them across at a point near the place where his old pirate ship and the survivors of his crew lie. The traveller is killed for whatever they may be carrying usually, unless they seem well-to-do, in which case they are held for ransom.
There are fearsome creatures in the river who will sometimes take the traveller. I'm not sure whether the creatures are under Facleo's control and the travellers are fed to them as a tasty treat, or if Facleo and his crew are afraid of the creatures and feel the need to provide a sacrifice now and then. It makes no odds - the outcome is the same.
If he has harmed my ocean princess, then his life, worthless as it is, is mine for the taking.

... all I have to do is dream ...

I slept for a short while, comforted somewhat by the knowledge that I am gaining on my love. My sleep brought visions of her to me.
I saw her sitting in her favourite spot in our high place as the wind whipped through her hair, her eyes sparkling as she saw not the desolate landscape before us, but a quiet place where we lived in peace and the unicorns played ...
I saw her as she emerged from the water, where I gave her a garland of seaweed and first called her my ocean princess ...
I saw her as she fell asleep in my arms as we sat in an inn and watch the sea and the stars ...
I saw her as she sipped wine in a wondrous garden, her beauty outdoing that of the flowers ...
I saw her as she sat on a beach, her eyes fierce with concentration as she drew pictures in the sand...

I woke, feeling somewhat happier than for some time. I know I am getting close to her. I found a small fishing village, and a man who ferried me over the river while I stood at the prow of his small boat, blades at the ready should the creatures of the river or Facleo and his crew spot us. And then I found footprints heading north, and some abandoned gear on the path from the river.
The footprints are recent. I am catching her quickly at the moment. Be strong and well Ellyana, I am coming to you.

It's been a long road ...

Now here's a tip for all you people. If you have something a rogue wants from you, and you've declined a bribe, and not bent to threats of violence, don't be so stupid as to let the rogue see what pocket you put it back into ...

One quick dip into Eliza's pocket, and I had his map. I'll return it, should I survive to come back this way. As I thought, I've made good time. The map showed a few shortcuts I could take, and I think I must be gaining ground on my loved one at a good rate.
Ellyana was right. I have met Facleo before. The meeting was quite lively, as I remember. Apparently he now has only one eye, only one arm, and no legs. I'm almost sure I'm not responsible for all of that. But, having met the man before, I remembered the river, and the old pirate ship so could take a fairly direct route. At one point I had to cut through a corner of the Hellhole ... I don't wish to remember the experience. Let's just say my blades aren't as clean as they were.
I'm catching up with you quickly, my love. Be strong, and soon we will be together.
I've just reached the river. The area is wild - strange shrieks come from the river, and I'm sure I heard the cry of a banshee.
But now I must take some rest. I'll cross the river tomorrow.

'Cause I've got faith of the heart
I'm going where my heart will take me
I've got faith to believe
I can do anything
I've got strength of the soul
No one's going to bend nor break me
I can reach any star
I've got faith
I've got faith
Faith of the heart

I have a starting-point for my quest. I am looking for a travelling merchant who calls himself Eliza. He can tell me the way around the Hellhole and how to find the valley past the ghost town and on to the river.
I'm sure that with a bit of persuasion, he will be able to supply me with a map. I have travelled those parts in the past, and have a vague recollection of some of the area. With a map to remind me of the way I should find some shortcuts and make good time.
*grins* I've a bag of plat in one hand, and a dagger in the other. I wonder which will be the more persuasive in getting that map I need?

Like ships on a dark sea, we crossed somewhere on the road, each unaware of the passage of the other ...

Think, Pallas, think - not scheming a little plot, or pondering the path that brought you to this land, just stop a moment and for once in your life think.

I've failed so far in this self-appointed task, found nothing that may give my love some peace. I have returned, and she is gone. But she wil have left a trail a rogue can follow.

So. First I must farm for a short time - cash reserves are low and I'll need supplies, as much as I can carry for me, and for my ocean princess when I find her. Then to find the start of her trail.

I can only trust that what I do now is not too little - or too late.

Don't you hear my call ...
Don't you hear me calling you?
Write your letters in the sand
For the day I take your hand ...

I've been away far too long. I reckon it's been four days since I stopped to rest, and probably not far short of that since I ate. Time ... my greatest enemy.
What possessed me to take off on this journey - what impulse drove me to leave without a word of what I hoped to achieve?
My love received a letter telling her that two old friends might have fallen on a quest to free her from her past. What to do ... what path to take? She did not know, nor I. We talked, endlessly it seemed, as to what could be done.
I could not ease her mind. There were too many questions and doubts as to her friends' fate. So I thought to see what I could find for sure, to find if they still live, or at least to find where they had been laid to rest. If I could find them, I could bring my love to say her goodbyes to them.
I left, in too much haste. Had I told her what was in my mind, my lady would have wished to come with me, but the danger for her was too great. At the time I felt it best to go without a word, hoping to be able to find something to ease her mind.
I am, I think, a day or two away from her still, and worse I have been able to find nothing. I've wasted so much of the precious little time we have together ...