Emergency by a dune
After parting ways with the mercenaries, Nay only had one objective left for the time being.
To move north, as quickly as they could. Theo's fate depended on whether they would reach the shore of the dried-out lake before the heals stabilizing his state would run out. And Nay already saw how quickly Theo's state could deteriorate, once his soul would start running out of fuel.
And so, after spending the night at the camp and then parting ways, Nay and the kid pushed forth, through the unwelcoming paths.
All the way up in the highlands, there were no roads to speak off. Even the horses that the mercenaries used were different from the ones they rented back at Thatcham, sporting a much smaller yet more solid build over the lean coursers that Nay brought.