The Delle Kingdom was to the left of the map and the group had set out from Eastdelle. They had continued East along the King’s Road until they had broken off from the beaten track and headed South. Their time had been four days hard travelling now and they were unsure of where to go next.
“It’s hard to get lost if you don’t know where you’re going,” Frederick sighed. His finger tapped a point on the map. “My wager is that we’re about here, where this lake is drawn. It should be over that low hill and crest of trees, if I’m not mistaken.”
“So we ain’t lost,” Jeph said. “But where are we heading after this lake place?”
“Well the inking ends a ways after that, maybe another two days travel. Then we’ll have to be real careful and to mark anything we see that’s a landmark.”
“That’s nice and all, but where we going?” Jeph persisted.
“I do not know,” Frederick admitted. “Where we can live, I suppose.”
Tobias spoke up, “Why not here then, or by the lake?”
“Too close to Delle,” Frederick frowned. When the two men looked at him questioningly, he continued. “I don’t want to be in the way of any wayward travellers, especially after they've been to Delle. They’ll carry the stink of the city and the Duke on them.”
Tobias’ brow knitted in concern. “The Duke’s not all that bad, I hear. Just a touch sickly.”
“And touched in the head,” Jeph added, a faint grin playing along his lips.
“Thank you, both of you,” Frederick said with gritted teeth. “But I think moving on a little further would be for the best.” Both men opened their mouths to argue.
A shriek cleared the air and caused them to turn. Tamora Griffin, the merchant girl, stood in her sleeping clothes and encircled by the others. Small black lines were present over her face and hands. She quivered in fear and cold as she geared up for another scream. The men stared at the poor girl until Dane clapped Tobias on the shoulder.
“There, good sir, is why Frederick is correct. This here is swampland, and has plenty of small creatures lurking in the dirt. Missus Griffin here is covered in leeches. Not a terribly pleasant thing to wake up to in the morning, I’ll tell you that.”
Tamora was deleeched and the camp was quickly packed and on the move.