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.The hawk-nosed man pointed at Midnight with his right hand, his fingers thrust forward like daggers.The mage backed away slowly."I-I wasn't," Midnight whispered.She looked into Cyric's eyes and shuddered.There was something in the thief's eyes that frightened her, something she had never noticed before."I know your secrets, too," Cyric growled.He stood only a few inches from the mage."Don't forget that, Ariel!"The mage stood perfectly still.Cyric had learned her true name on the journey to Shadowdale.With that information, in league with a powerful mage, the thief could, if he chose, hold dominion over her soul.Midnight knew she should have been afraid, but she was simply angry."You know nothing about me!" Midnight cried and turned to the boat.Adon stood up and held his hand out toward the mage."I know you," the cleric said softly and moved to Midnight's side.He pointed to Cyric, who was still glaring at the dark-haired magic-user."I know you, too, Cyric."The thief narrowed his eyes, then looked away and walked to the clearing."We have a long journey.We should go now if we're going at all." After a moment, the thief cleared his throat and spoke again."Are we going, Midnight?" he asked.The mage trembled."We're going.Let's go, Adon."Smiling at the mage, Adon gathered the remaining gear and got out of the skiff.Both he and Midnight turned to Cyric, who was still standing a few yards away.The thief muttered something, walked to the skiff, and grabbed the bow.Midnight and Adon took hold of the stern, and together the travelers flipped the surprisingly light craft upside down and held it over their heads.They followed the path through the woods, parallel to the river, for nearly an hour, speaking only when necessary.As the thief had suggested, the heroes soon broke from the woods to take the more direct route past the rapids.Soon, they were in view of the low, rolling hills of Battledale.For hours they were surrounded by lush green rises as they carried the boat over the soft ground.The hills in the distance seemed to melt, losing form until they became a hazy, greenish white wall on the horizon.A soft wind whispered over the dale, and occasionally a sound from the river made it to their ears.The heroes found a path that lay between a series of hills and followed it.On either side of the travelers, the rising earth was marked by ridges that angled up to the top of the hills, then blended into the soft, brownish green of the landscape.As they progressed through the dale, the hills that were closest came into sharp focus, while those in the far distance lost their form and melted into the sky.Slow-moving, puffy clouds drifted past.The work was tiring, but it was a pleasant break from the steady toil of rowing the skiff down the Ashaba.The heroes set a strong pace, and soon after highsun, they were once again nearing the river."The Pool of Yeven should be very close," Cyric said flatly."The river's usually calm here, but who knows what it'll be like now? Be ready for anything."The heroes reached the shore, and Midnight and Adon lowered their end of the skiff as Cyric did the same.Midnight was exhausted, and her muscles ached.She sat on the ground beside the skiff, and Adon knelt beside her.The thief stood with his arms crossed, tapping his foot impatiently."What do you want from me?" Midnight cried."Do you want me to cast a spell that will take us to Tantras? I only wish I could.At this moment, I'd rather be banished to Myrkul's realm than take on the Ashaba again." The mage put her hands over her face."But I don't see that we have a choice."Midnight stood and walked toward the thief."We're just as worthy to make this trip as you.In fact, I don't know who put you in command of this little expedition in the first place." Cyric started to speak, but Midnight cut him off."The point is, Cyric, I'm not going to be treated as your baggage anymore.Neither is Adon.If you want to continue alone, then I won't stop you.I'm sorry that I couldn't be whatever it is you wanted me to be.I tried to be your friend, but that doesn't seem to be enough for you."Cyric's arms had fallen limply to his sides
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