Dresden walked along a narrow dirt trail; tall firs and pine trees reached towards the starry heavens on all sides of him. The night was his friend. He shifted to adjust the weight of his sword.

Dresden never tired of the road. Today though, he was completely out of dried meat and the terrain had evolved into human dwellings and tighter farmland. That meant less wild lands and more structures. Animals as far as the eye could see, and he wasn’t allowed to eat a single one of them.

Lazarus spent the afternoon gathering himself. For the first time during the journey he remained silent. No insults, no ramblings, no turmoil. He washed and dressed himself in a single white cloth that tied at his waist and reached his knees.

Dresden spent only two nights in the cursed woods before veering South rather than West. His second night was uneventful. The creatures of the forest didn’t dare instigate another attack on him; they learned their lesson and left him alone.

He looked like a new man. Dresden had taken the time to cleanly shave off all the unruly tangles of dark hair on his head and chin using the dagger he'd confiscated from Lilieth. It proved effective in making him appear presentable. Dresden figured it would be less hassle to arrive in a new kingdom looking like a gentleman rather than a thief.

The Haiute wasted no time once negotiations had been finalized. They motioned for Dresden to give them the bottle containing the hissing, now whispering demon.

Moonlight bathed a sea of wheat in stark white light at an odd angle. A gentle breeze tugged at the fuzzy tips, while they danced for miles around Dresden’s legs. The attacker who had tried to corner him in the stables was now lurking somewhere in the field.

The plan Lazarus laid before him was flawless. The new moon would not allow them to wait to execute it, so Dresden checked out of the inn four days early and left for the coast with Lazarus, who talked the entire time they walked.

That night Dresden walked the countryside outside the castle gates. He climbed the sloping landscape until he made his way to the top of the cliff edge overlooking the ocean. From this vantage point, the lights from the bustling courtyard and the castle were in full view.