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Shyriath
The slightly expanded group trudged onward through the swamps. It was a thoroughly unpleasant journey, as they became particularly deep and murky in these parts. Zadireth noted that stopping to rest too long was probably a poor idea with so little distance between themselves and their recent battle, but since there were very few spots dry enough to actually lie down on, it was probably just as well.
Were it not for the fact that - or so Zadireth claimed - there was a sanctuary hidden in this part of the swamp, Demarath might have been tempted to suggest going a different way. He found it quite hard enough to slog through the thick mud overlain by water, but he at least was uninjured. Ferleth's badly-healed injuries left her struggling painfully; their attempts at tourniquetting Ilirith's leg was not preventing a slow but steady seeping of blood, an increasingly severe limp, and probably unwholesome muck getting in the wound; and even Zadireth, when breathing heavily, could not quite hide faint gasps of pain in response to his damaged ribs.
The bronze led the way some distance ahead, slowly wending his way through the pools and puddles of stagnant water. Although now nominally in the group, Ferleth had thus far absolutely refused either to nap while the others were nearby or to accept food from any of them, and seemed to have adopted a position that kept her at a reasonable distance from them while able to keep an eye on them. So it was that Demarath had only Ilirith for company - not that he objected greatly.
Once again, he found himself wondering about Zadireth's motives. He recalled that, back in the ruins of Kar Oram, Ilirith had expressed some doubt as to whether this Citadel actually existed, and the sense of misdirection from earlier caused him to wonder if that was indeed the case, or if Zadireth was hiding something else. Though clearly, whatever he was doing, it wasn't just for fun.
He caught Ilirith looking at him with tired eyes. She murmured, “He doesn't strike me as the most straightforward individual either.”
Of course, she must have seen something of what he'd been thinking. It made one wonder what she might see of what Zadireth was thinking.