You spend the remainder of the morning walking south along the Swan Wing Path and arive in the coastal town of Unicorn Landing by mid-day. It is well past lunch. Joref leads you to Amberlessa’s home where you are greeted by her Father and invited to stay for dinner. This is just what you feared would happen and Kale groans audibly (though discreetly) when you accept the kind offer. Soon, you find yourselves the honored guests at a small feast, complete with the friends and neighbors of Amberlessa’s family all wishing you well on your raid and toasting everything from your Valor and Courage, to Joref and Amberlessa’s engagement. Though the festivities would be enjoyable under normal circumstances, you find anxiety mounting in your mind as the hours wear away. Glancing at your companions, you see it mirrored in their eyes as well and you begin to wonder if you haven’t made the wrong decision following Joref after all. Finally, as the sun begins to set, the guests begin to drift off toward their homes and you manage to pull him aside for a moment.

“Joref, we have got to get to the Glade of Many Waters!” you remind him impatiently. “You said that was where the Overlord told us to go!”

“It is.” Joref assures you, shrugging nonchalantly.

“Then why are you wasting so much time here?” You feel the blood rushing to your face in anger at his ambivilance. Taking a deep breath, you continue on. “You said you weren’t coming here just to spend time with Amberlessa, but that’s all we’ve done. We’ve got to get on with our mission!”

“I didn’t come here just to spend time with Amberlessa. We got dinner too, didn’t we?” Seeing the look of irritation on your face he quickly adds, “Relax. I told you we don’t have to be to the glade until nightfall. Amberlessa and her parents know that. That’s why their clearing everyone out. We’ll have plenty of time to gather our things and get there.”

“Nightfall? You didn’t tell us that!”

“Didn’t I?” Joref looks at you with absolute puzzlement on his face. “I could have sworn I did. Oops. Well, I’d better say a final farewell to my precious “flower petal”. I’ll meet the rest of you outside in a moment.”

With that he turns and is gone, leaving you with the sudden urge to throttle the oblivious orator.



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