After bathing, dressing and lowering the shield, Alex returned to his tent to find Jeremy sleeping soundly. Not quite ready to go to sleep yet he sat outside the tent and made arrows for a time, a softly glowing mage light floating above him. While he worked he thought about his companions as well as everything that had taken place on the journey so far. Some of the journey so far had been enjoyable while other parts had been just a bit scary and somewhat stressful. He was finding he didn’t like travelling that much. As for the dangers they’d encountered so far he...well he could’ve lived his entire life without them. In fact the more he thought about everything the more he really didn’t want to encounter anymore life threatening dangers than he already had if he could help it.
Setting aside the arrow he was working on Alex slipped inside the tent and quietly rumaged around in his pack until he found what he wanted. He pulled out the map, took it outside and spread it out. Alex studied the map for several minutes. Finally he sighed, leaned back and looked at the stars. From the look of the map it appeared they had a good three to possibly six days journey yet before they reached Dara.
Did he really want to continue on to Dara with his present companions? Was this quest they were on one he really wanted to follow through with and help them finish? Was travelling to Dara and back what he really wanted to spend his time doing or was there more important things he should be using his time doing? Based on what Jeremy had told him the night before how did he really feel about what they were going to Dara to get? How well did his current companions know the woman who had sent them to get the talisman and did they know or even care what she planned to do with it if they managed to get it that is? These and more questions swirled around in Alex’s mind as he went back to working on the arrows for a while longer.
Finally Alex put the arrows aside and the map up and went to bed falling into a deep sleep. Jeremy woke him the next morning when he got up but Alex remained in bed for a few minutes thinking about things again.
He got up changed clothing then went down to the stream to wash his face. He joined Jeremy and Kato by the fire. He dished himself up something to eat, settled into a comfortable position then regarded Jeremy and Kato.
“Kato were you at the meeting when the lady asked all of you to go get the talisman for her? And if you were what did you think of the lady? Jeremy, what did you think of her? Do you both feel you can trust her? That she will use wisdom in dealing with the talisman, if you can get it for her, that she won’t use it for her own gain or to cause trouble or create danger for others? I’m asking because now that I’ve had time to think about this venture, I really don’t feel good about what you are all heading to Dara to do. And also because I need to decide if I want to continue on to Dara with you or return home.”
He grew quiet and settled down to eating waiting to hear whatever responses his present companions chose to give him.
