The Road Back

As the long column of Darians spent the days sluggishly making its way toward the mines, Arran spent his nights studying the set of movements Muna had taught him.

He soon discovered that although the techniques were simple, learning them properly was more difficult than he'd initially thought. The insights that were hidden within them were hard to uncover, buried deep beneath layers of movements.

He understood the purpose of this, of course. For children and youths, the extraneous movements would be helpful, gently guiding them toward the complex insights step by step.

Yet for Arran, this gentle guidance was an obstacle more than anything. He didn't have decades to study the techniques, and what he needed was a more rapid path to the treasures they contained.

Here, the Knight's help proved invaluable.