Combat Scars

    "So what now, my Prince?" Masark asked, turning to Garadaine.
    "I am an outlaw now, a traitor to the throne. All of Ikros will be after me; we need help."
    "You're thinking of Master Greylen."
    "If anyone can help me out, he can. At the very least we can find sanctuary with him until we can find another way to solve this Shadow Walker problem," Garadaine sighed heavily.
    "Be strong, Garadaine. Do not let what happened in Stonebarrow with your father weigh too heavily upon you."
    "To tell the truth I'm actually quite relieved at the whole situation."
    "How so?" Masark smirked.
    "Well, not only do I know that my father has been altered and hasn't been simply growing mad on his own, but now that I'm no longer a Prince, I don't have the responsibilities of one to slow me down."
    "Now that's uncharacteristically optimistic," Masark teased.
    "Today I'm half full," Garadaine smiled and shook his head slightly.
    "So off to Dahyart?" Masark asked.

    Garadaine slowly scanned the sky above them. Though it was dawn, the sky grew darker as storm clouds slowly began rolling over them. Thunder softly rumbled in the distance.
    "Yes," Garadaine nodded, "we'll have to stay off the main roads. And with this storm approaching, it's only going to slow us down more."
    "We have time," Masark said, patting Garadaine's shoulder. The two started walking into the forest, staying within eyesight of the path, but watchful for anyone around.
    Dahyart was a good distance southeast from Stonebarrow, Garadaine knew it was a few days travel with good weather, but it might take an entire week of creeping around the forest in the rain. However, the rain seemed to hold off, though the clouds became thicker and more threatening as they traveled. Garadaine began to wonder if the clouds were natural, or if something, or someone, was behind them. It was entirely possible that his master Greylen had created them, as he had helped the locals farmers of Dahyart with rain during times of drought, but it was never in his nature to create such looming thunderstorms, or have them hang around for so long.
    The two slept uneasily at night, and traveled till exhaustion in the day. Normally Garadaine would opt to travel at night, as they could travel without the risk of being seen, but with the darkened sky, it was far too dark to even see passed sunset. They couldn't afford to be discovered by traveling Ikrosian forces which were no doubt on the look out for the wayward Prince. It was of the utmost importance to reach Greylen's tower at all costs, which Garadaine was painfully aware. If he failed, his father would be doomed to follow the influence of the Shadow Walkers and those behind them, and all of Ikros along with him. Certainly Greylen would know something about the creatures, and how to stop them.

    A few miles outside of Dahyart, after four days of travel under dark skies, the clouds finally tore open and drenched the countryside. The rain was unmerciful, and it took the two travelers a full day to cross the remaining distance and reach the city. By the time they reached the city, Garadaine couldn't find a dry place on his body, and his feet began to sting from being in wet boots for so long.