The next morning the group set out for Reach in high spirits, a little closer simply by virtue of sharing their misery. Except for Arn.

Noticing Arn’s silence, Keana elbowed Arn in the side. “That’s sure a swell pebble Arn. You’re getting pretty amazing um, floating it there. Practically an Arch Mage. ‘Fear my pebble foul beasts!’”

Arn scowled. “I’m on the Path To Power. One pebble, two pebbles, volcano. Watch me.”

Keana nodded. “My apologies large one, I had no idea. It’s just that, you know, we have the whole dead parents super-team thing going on; Val is a half member. Maybe three quarters. It’s all ponies and rainbows from here out. Pretty sure I even saw Pepper smile, although it might have been gas. And you are scowling at that pebble like it’s the eye of the slarn that ate your nuts.”

Arn said “I can’t sleep anymore without gaping wounds. Maybe tonight I’ll borrow Princess.” Val smiled wickedly and drew her long knives, spinning one in each hand until they blurred. “Awe! You should have asked me big boy! You can’t ask Sar to service all your needs. Slicing you up a bit is the least I can do after the night you gave me! A good night's sleep is important!”

Arn blurted, “is that what you got? A good night’s sleep? Sar or Val didn’t measure up?” Arn silently cursed his run-away-mouth; there was no point to this. Keana was a nut and a half – he was clearly better off not getting involved, and should be glad that ship had already sailed.

Keana looked at Arn like an insect with an extra leg. “What in the Hells are you babbling about? Brain not grow back right?” Arn sighed – no getting out of it now. “I walked by your room on the way to the stairs last night.”

Keana laughed hard and deeply. The group, which had spread out a bit, closed in at her mania. She turned to the others and said, “Arn here paid my room a visit last night. Got his panties all twisted because he heard me relaxing a bit. Girl has to have some fun! Nice bath, surprisingly soft sheets, and the maid left a perfectly good feather duster just lying around. I think it had real Emu feathers! Girl would have to be crazy to ignore that kind of gift! Right Pepper?”

Arn felt himself reddening. “I was just passing by on the way to the bathroom!” Sar chimed in. “That’s interesting Arn. Since the bathroom is on the other side of your room.” Arn pondered. “No. Its not.” Sar smiled. “True, but you had to think about it.”

Keana’s mad laughing fit resumed. After gasping for air, she said “oh geez Arn, don’t be so shy! Bring a bottle of wine next time. I promise not to laugh, leastwise not until the wine is done! And maybe also afterwards, if you’re very lucky!”

While they were told Reach was a two-day trip, they talked, they joked, Sar shot bunnies and Pepper even had Princess show off a few tricks. Arn wasn’t fooled and refused the offered paw. As such, it started to get dark before they got to Reach.

Arn argued for continuing. Val smirked. “I can’t imagine why you would want another night in an inn Arn. But you’re out of luck. Again. Reach closes its gates at dusk, and for good reason too. They charge an arm and a leg to open it early, and we don’t want to be blundering around in the dark anyway. We need to make camp, get a fire going and set watches. No trips into the bushes I’m afraid.”

Between his high constitution, the fact that he had never camped outside, and his recent luck, Arn didn’t sleep. He thought about chatting with Keana during her watch, but time to talk with Keana was hardly the problem. He decided to be a daring wild man and skip a few exercises. He found a second pebble and worked towards the imaginary volcano. It didn’t go especially well; Arn imagined the Path to Power probably had a few platitudes about sticking to “THE Path” somewhere. Arn chucked the obviously defective new pebble into the woods – and noticed a set of eyes staring back.

Sar was supposed to be on watch; Arn hissed for his attention and pointed. Sar tossed a ball of fire into the air above the forest where it dispersed harmlessly . . . revealing a slarn that promptly fled. Sar smiled and softly told Arn “I guess they don’t all like you huh? We are kind of close to the river, but they will probably leave us be after that.” And they did.