“Then the trail goes cold.”
There seemed to be a finality in Bolivar's tone. A irrepressible weight that was starting to push the squires to the limit. Their quarry seemingly impossible to deal with on their own. The certain nuances of tracking still trying for Bolivar hearing Fallon give up greatly influenced his decision. If the squire with a hunting dog/wolf/thing was not feeling up to the task what chance did a regular thug of a squire like him had?
“They would not fault us for failing. We did what we could.”
Sounding unconvinced himself Bolivar's words seemed directed more so himself then Fallon. Failure wasn't too familiar a sensation for him and his realization that this little romp in the forest was considered a failure was not going too well. It only served to show how finite his abilities were.
“The voice of reason for sure.”
His teeth set tightly together Bolivar had some trouble breathing in and out as he grit his teeth. Despite that he kept on as he led the horses around. Eyes still glancing for any clue of the zith's and Symnestra's whereabouts the squire slowly got a foot up in the stirrups before taking his place in the horse's saddle. From their opposite view it was clear that they were not the only ones that fell for the false trail.
Markings strewn on the opposite side of the a few select trees. Looking up Bolivar noticed a few select branches above them marred and bent. With Syna already setting over the horizon the slight clue was antagonizing more than helpful with Bolivar's mood. Gesturing Fallon to look as well Bolivar gripped his stirrups till his knuckles turned white before continuing on.
Leading his horse was infinitely times easier with something to keep his mind on. Using his experience from before Bolivar made doubly sure to avoid any hazards riding in the wood. Letting the horse choose what best path to take Bolivar merely made sure to avoid any low hanging branches. Letting Orvin showing the pair of squires back to the road the only solace Bolivar found was how easily he now traversed the Bronze Wood on horseback.
“That zith is ravenous to a fault.”
Continuing on Bolivar kept his eyes to the ground trying to find their trail from before. The faster they can get back to Syliras to report their findings the faster they can send for aid for those taken. Perhaps that could bring rumors of Kale Balemount's involvement to a close. Being one of the squires to clear an influential man's name certainly didn't hurt. His mind on the official report Bolivar was finding it difficult what to put. What they found. What the symnestra said. How they ran into the zith and how it struck out at the squire pair. The farmers that seemed to hide something from the pair. Too much was going on this trip and Bolivar was now starting to think like Fallon. He wasn't feeling it earlier but now thinking about it but now the temptation to simply have it done and over with was growing strong.
“We are doing the right thing. Aren't we?”
Teeth still set together Bolivar kept facing forward lest his face betray how he felt. The last thing he wanted to see was look back at Fallon, the voice of reason, who he felt like shaking. Just to grab Fallon by the sides and shake her until she agreed that they should continue continuing on. Though she had a point Bolivar wanted nothing more then for the pair of them to keep at it even through the night if needed. But that was why the knights probably sent her along with him. Bolivar needed a cool head to deal with his unreasonable self and after awhile each step eased the hotheaded squire into the plan. There was much that needed to be done they had to check in with the checkpoint, maybe track down those farmers from before and confirm the stories of aggressive Symnestra and Zith in the area. Better they reported all of this it this way lest more fall victim to the sweet nothings of those Kalinor parasites and that ever visceral flying hair balls of a species.
Bit AnticlimacticBut makes sense. End the thread here?
