Svarik and the company I :)

[VisAnastasis]

" I don't want to be of burden, and I wish to go as soon as I can. Taking time to take bath and bid goodbye to everyone now, it would delay me and mean many miles between here and our city even if it's short. " vampire whispered reluctantly, no matter how idea would be tempting. " Cold may not be best idea for young demons, but I am sure little cold for day or two won't mean the end of me, at least I hope. Maybe you should take couple strands of my hair so you can burn one each time you change location, just in case, so I can find you most certainly... But I'd bid your permission to part with you now, sir, please... " he smiled a little vulnerably. " So I may return to you sooner. "

[Mirach]

"But you will spend as much time with a bath here as somewhere on the way," Svarik tried to convince him. "I can tell Emil and the others that you are in a hurry and bid them goodbye for you."

[VisAnastasis]

Erdel bit his lip hesitantly against the temptation.
" It'll take longer to organize it, and I'd just take a moment to wash myself in the river. I don't take my clothes of, anyway, so it really shouldn't take me that long to take quick dip, once I reach White river. " he whispered reluctantly. " I don't dare go against your will, sir.. Bur will you please reconsider and let me leave? I don't feel like pampering myself, I just want to be on my way to reach Falcon. "

[Mirach]

"If that's how you want it, alright," Svarik sighed. "Give me a few of your hair then. We will wait for you if we can, but if we will need to change the location for some reason, you will know where to find us. Take care, and give my greetings to Falcon. And others, if you meet them."

[VisAnastasis]

" Please, do not wait for me needlesly, if you'd long to go on and see something new. I wished I could be there with you, to see the sea together with you for the first time.. But this is more important. I would like you to have fun instead. " he whispered quietly. " Stay safe, but do have fun, please, sire. I am not sentimental. Here are ten strands of my hair. It should be plenty for you to light them whenever you are at some place where you're taking longer brake. I don't need only rely on that, anyway- I have sharp senses, so hopefully, they can help me find you more easily even if you're moving around the place here and there. Do not worry - I will give your greetings to everyone I meet... "

[Mirach]

"Thank you. Go then, and tell Falcon what we learned. It's an order," he winked. "And take care..."

[VisAnastasis]

" I will. Good luck, sir, take care and don't get into trouble, or ser Falcon will be terribly angry at me. Vampire smiled at king fondly for a moment, and he caressed Xia reassuringly, before he turned away and leaped high into the air, disappearing from their sight swiftly.

[Mirach]

Svarik caressed Xia again, to reassure her that it's alright and Erdel will return. Then he knocked on the door of the other fortress. 

[VisAnastasis]

Emil was already there, and he waited for him, one of his priests opening the door, while he greeted him, with sleeping Sunshine and Yiska in his arms. He greeted him kindly, and asked him how their day had been, adding with a little worry a question about why vampire's not with him.

[Mirach]

"We learned something from your father that would help our friend back home, so he went to tell him right away," Svarik explained. "I will leave soon as well, to get far enough before sunset. Could I just take a bath before that, to not bring anyone on your father's track?"

[VisAnastasis]

" Most certainly. I'd be pleased to arrange it for you in our bathroom, you are right, some refreshment is far overdue, in fact. " Emil replied pleasantly to him. " Please, take your critters, and rest by the fire in the main hall, kind guest, while I prepare it for you. " he said, and right away he went to do what he was asked.

[Mirach]

"I will just wash quickly and change my clothes," Svarik said. "Thank you for taking care of the animals." He took Sunshine and Yiska from Emil, and caressed them, glad to be with them again.

[VisAnastasis]

Priests led him back to the main hall, where he could relax and keep warm by the fire while Emil prepares the bath, while Xia stayed close to king, cuddling up more shyly with him, seeming to feel a little more insecure with Erdel whom she seen as her elder, absent.  Soon enough, not to keep his guest waiting, the playful little boy returned, exclaiming gently that bath is ready, and that if he doesn't have anything to exchange into, they would have no merit against giving him a pair of clothes of their own, adding it's most important to stay warm in winter so it would be no bother to them.

[Mirach]

"There's no need for that, I have enough of spare clothes," Svarik refused politely. He picked some from the baggage, and then went to take the bath. He left the animals with Emil again, but allowed Xia to follow him, although feeling a bit shy with that. After Erdel's leaving, he did not want to leave her alone, though.

[VisAnastasis]

Animal indeed seemed to appreciate being allowed to follow him - like the first day, still reluctant to leave him without good reason, as if she subconsciously feared she will be left behind even if Svarik told her she won't. His shyness rubbed of on her, though, and she was a little shy as he followed him, until they reached the little secluded bathroom, filled with steam from the hot bath was prepared for him, scented with some cleansing and soothing herbs, as well as having clean towels aside ready for him. Priest that escorted him, young lad appearing of his twenties, bowed to him fondly, and handed him the key to the room, so he could enjoy in his privacy more knowing no one can accidentally walk in on him.

[Mirach]

Svarik let Xia in before locking the door, but covered himself with a towel as he undressed. He resisted the temptation to stay in the pleasant hot bath for longer, and washed quickly, to be able to leave with the sun still high. Then he dressed in clean clothes, but kept the gloves and the knitted things from Melody. After that he took his luggage and went to say goodbye to Emil and his people.

[VisAnastasis]

With eyes full of glee and wonder they admired his accessories knitted from Melody, specially little Emil, recognizing Spirit blessing and handy work in it. Everyone escorted him to the door, giving him kind and well meaning advises and good wishes.
Boy was last to make sure he showers them kind words. He also offered king a nice clay jar with honey.
" I won't burden you with loads to add to weight of your luggage, but I noticed both you and Xia have  a sweet tooth. " he winked. " Please, take this one for the road, I picked out best combs this morning while you slept. If you're nice and eat it all, I'll give you some more on the way back. "

[Mirach]

"That we will take gladly," Svarik smiled. He thanked Emil and the rest for their kind hospitality, and bid them all goodbye before asking Xia to take on the winged form.

[VisAnastasis]

Despite previously shy, with that request, Xia was more excited, eager to fly and stretch her wings for a while after long brake. She only longingly and little wistfully for a moment turned her head towards Cernunnos's fortress - before, as Svarik climbed upon her, she looked up again, and she swiftly leaped into the vast sky, carrying him through the misty clouds.  

[Mirach]

Svarik made sure that Yiska and Sunshine are safe and comfortable during the flight. Only then he let Xia fly faster to the south to get out of the dangerous area as soon as possible. 

[VisAnastasis]

Animal flew carefully, knowing they don't have Erdel to help out if something from their luggage, or, pray tell, any of her precious passengers fall. Thankfully, thanks to the rush, they left early enough, and it took them a while, but at last, they left the endless woods behind them, slowly reaching places with more meadows and little kills and lower plains, while night was only slowly dawning, cold, but fresh, without that unnatural scent of danger and dread it was bearing in the haunted forest.

[Mirach]

Svarik sighed with relief when they left it behind. As it was getting dark already, he looked for a place to spend the night, both in the map and in the land below.

[VisAnastasis]

As they got farther from the forest, first more scarcely, but then more frequently, they started to notice little specs of light in the nearing darkness - lights from houses and cottages scattered every now and then. Closest marking Conrad had as potential place for host for them was around hour of flight away, but it seemed there were two little villages and one town already on their way not as far, so it was a choice between flying further to a more secure peculiar shelter Falcon picked, or trying to find place for the night on their own somewhere sooner.

[Mirach]

Svarik considered the options as they flew, but at the end he decided to avoid the lights, and land further from them, at the edge of a little forest and a field, barren now in winter. With Erdel gone, he wanted to use the chance to be alone for a while, and have some time just for himself and his thoughts.

[VisAnastasis]

It was growing increasingly difficult to distinguish too much of the land with naked eye, as light was slowly waning. On the map, there seemed to be one close by place in nature Melody marked for him, at that one time little before their trip when everyone started leaving their own marks of interesting places to visit on their route. This one was around fifteen minutes of faster flight away, and seemed to lead to some kind of uninhabited secluded valley.