'I've already packed my things. I believe a ship leaves from Garramandos in a week. It should not be hard to acquire passage. As I said, it would do me good. And of course, this damn poison still courses through my veins. Some days, I curse Myriam her lusts.'
'And some days you thank her,' grinned Saark.
'Aye. That I do.'
They sat in silence for a while. Eventually, Saark said, 'I, also, have taken the liberty of packing. It would, of course, be highly foolish to let such a moaning old goat as yourself travel alone. Imagine the trouble you would get yourself into, with your ignorant peasant ways, base stupidity and crude manners! Whereas I, I with my noble breeding, sense of natural etiquette, and love of everything honourable, well, I would surely keep one such as you out of terrible mischief.'
Kell looked sideways at Saark. 'I suppose you've packed a huge wardrobe? Silver goblets? Silk shirts? A perfume of subtly mingled horse shit?'
'Of course. But thankfully, I have Mary, my donkey, to help shoulder my burden.'
Kell groaned. 'You're not bringing that stinking and cantankerous beast.'
Saark frowned. 'But Kell, how else will I journey with an extensive wardrobe? Just because I travel with peasants, doesn't mean I have to look like one. I must protest…'
'Wait, wait.' Kell held up a huge hand. 'What do you mean, ' peasants '? Plural? You told Myriam?'
'Well,' Saark shifted uncomfortably, 'I couldn't have you sneaking off in the night without her, could I? I couldn't allow you to do the dishonourable thing.'
' Dishonourable thing! ' spluttered Kell, turning bright red. 'You! You! You dare to come out with that whining bloody gibberish? After all the things you've done to the poor women of Falanor! After all the hearts you broke? After all the children you sired? After all the chastity locks you picked?'
'Hey,' frowned Saark. 'I never said I was perfect. Only that you should show some morals.'
'Morals?' screeched Kell, but they were rudely interrupted. Myriam appeared, climbing deftly up the rocky ridgeline. She was dressed for travel, and had her bow strapped to her back. She smiled at the two men.
'I'm ready,' she said.
Kell scowled. 'So I need to book passage for three travellers, do I?' he snapped.
'And a donkey,' said Saark.
'And a donkey,' growled Kell, through gritted teeth. 'Well, we better be going, I reckon. It's a long trek to Garramandos, that's for sure. Over some treacherous terrain.'
All three stared across the western flanks of the Black Pike Mountains, vast and black, towering and defiant, and their gazes drifted down towards the Salarl Ocean, which glittered like molten silver in the early morning sunlight.
'Men and wolves,' said Kell, distantly.
Saark grinned and slapped him on the back. 'Aye. Men and wolves. Come on.'
Against a sparkling horizon of ocean and a rearing backdrop of savage mountains, the three travellers began a long, careful descent from the mountain plateau to the breathless, waiting world below.
