I fear I have grossly overestimated the amount of food we
have for the return trip to Katena. A stop at the Carapid Ward at Hecatyn is
surely necessary now to stock up on supplies. Though there may be a chance that
the wardens there may be hostile, I can’t imagine them refusing a brother in the
study of carapids. The only reason they may not welcome me, detain me, or
worse, is that they somehow discovered Gareth’s poisoned body in the
wilderness. But this was on the other side of Blue Hollow from the Carapid Ward
and I can’t see the wardens traveling that far, that quickly, to discover his
body before scavengers in the wild devoured the hunter and his igawaza’s bodies,
leaving no evidence of poisoning. The only wild card is the chance that an Akrasa
made the discovery and traveled to Hecatyn to report it. But we must risk it, without food, our
decision is made for us.
I have decided to avoid Sunbird Lake even though we may find
traders or other travelers from which to obtain supplies. Sunbird is too close
to Expedition Heights, Pelatross and Anchorwatch. I prefer for my travels to
remain unknown to those who might inhabit those towns. Protectorate spies and
Legion agents are everywhere. The Protectorate cannot know of my experiments
and certain rival chemists may try to steal what I have learned and take
advantage of my vulnerable position to take claim for my work as their own.
Instead, we are following the Azuris River north to Fog Rend. From what Gareth
told me, Fog Rend, a misty outcropping of small peaks overlooking Blue Hollow,
is where he most often encountered the starskin carapid. We will make one pass
through the peaks. If unsuccessful, we will head to Hecatyn to stock up on food
and return to the Rend. Death before success is not an option.
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