With ears open for any sound of soldiers they set off slowly and cautiously through the forest. But though they heard faint voices in the distance once, they encountered no one. Eventually they emerged, coming out in a plowed field. Seymore scanned the open land in front of them. "I see no sign of her soldiers. Perhaps they as yet search the forest. Let us reach the road. We will go more swiftly on it. And perhaps your friend the shape-shifter can take a form less noticeable and go on ahead? Then if there are any soldiers on the road we can be warned."

Flame nodded. She considered possible forms, and finally, somewhat to her reluctance, settled on the shape of a large dog. She couldn't do anything much smaller than human size, and the only other large things she could think of that might be in farm country were animals that a farmer would try to catch if he saw them running loose. But dogs were not as valuable as horses or cattle or sheep.

She did have to warn the group once, and they scrambled off the road and hid behind a farmhouse, whose occupants thankfully seemed to be out in the field somewhere fairly distant. They stayed there, with Flame still in canine form on watch, as a platoon of soldiers passed down the road. They eventually marched out of sight, and the seven of them continued on their way.

They encountered no other soldiers, to everyone's relief. An hour or so after dark Seymore halted them at a crossroads. A rough sign indicated the way to several different towns, but Seymore wasn't interested in the battered wooden pointers. He lifted a large rock that sat at the base of the sign, and retrieved a scrap of parchment from beneath it. He nodded, and replaced the scrap under the stone.

"I had hoped this would be the case. They have gathered at Radu's monastery."

Brianna blinked. "Did you say Radu?"

"Yes. Radu is the one I mentioned, the one who can counter the Tyrant and allow us to fight. He is a clerical mage, a war cleric, and I have never known such power as his. He said he has the wild magic, and it gives him strength beyond that of any other mage."

"I see."

"You know a Radu who is different?" he asked.

Brianna shrugged. "I don't know him, exactly, but the calamity he caused is the reason for our quest. And," her expression turned sober and worried, "If the quest fails, our whole world may die."

Seymore looked at her for a long moment, then shook his head. "The death of a whole world is not a light thing. But I cannot do aught but care for my own people more than for strangers. I will do what I can to help you, but our fight comes first."

Brianna nodded. "I can say the same. We'll help your fight as much as we can, but our goal is not to defeat the Tyrant, it's simply to reach the crystal. That comes first, before even saving our own."

He nodded.

"Enough talk," said Lon impatiently. By his brusqueness, Flame knew that it was the Lon from this world. "Let's go."

"Indeed," said Seymore. He chose a branch of the road, and set off down it briskly. They went on for several more miles, before stopping to camp. "The monastery is almost a full day's journey more. We should rest now, and continue tomorrow." They set up a simple camp. The Queen's Own had brought some supplies with them, though only the bare basics. But with a fire and a little food, they all felt better. They agreed on a watch rotation, and then all but Flame, who had taken the first watch, laid down to rest. She had reverted to her firecat form, and she sat now at the edge of the firelight and looked out into the forest. She sighed softly, sadly. Aidan's life was nothing when balanced against the whole of Aretha, she knew she would choose the same path if she had to choose it over again, and Aidan would do the same as well, but... she wished she at least knew if he was alive. If he had died... She felt tears welling up in her eyes. They had not even had three years together yet. They had no children. They'd done so few of the things they had planned and dreamed of. Let him be alive, she prayed, not even quite sure who she was addressing the prayer to. Just... just let him be alive.