The rest of Mortis's unit's journey could be described as uneventful.

They rode for some time after leaving Kagi ,which weighed heavily on Morta's shoulders.

Alsarie had tried to comfort her here and there with words like:

"You made the right choice my Lady, she would have died if she came with us."

"My Lady you know as well as I do that she had too much confidence for her age and she might have caused an even worse disaster than we had just experienced."

Needless to say, Morta did not seem too happy about these words, and after receiving a look of warning, Alsarie stopped trying to make her feel better.

Luckily for Relam Alsarie didn't see the wide grin on his face when this happened. He was still a little sour about being kicked by the Hand.

Mortis kept his word and they all made camp early for the night. The whole group, having not eaten the whole day, eagerly gulped down their rations and collapsed from exhaustion.

Mortis stayed up to keep watch. Morta worried as he looked to be absorbed in thought, so much so that looking out for luxcian scouts was the least of his worries. Morta had kept a veil of darkness over the group in the early hours of the night. The last thing she wanted was a repeat of the events of the previous night.

Anyone could tell that she was consumed with guilt over not being able to protect the Hands that fell.

The next morning was a slow start. Everyone's muscles ached severely from the ride the previous day. Relam didn't even move a muscle after he woke up. It took Mortis himself to get him moving. This of course made him receive another deadly look from Alsarie.

Despite this start and the slower than desired pace, the group made its way out of the forest of Euma before noon. It was a welcome sight for everyone. The party had grown tired of trying to avoid all the hindrances that the forest provided. The trees with their giant roots, trunks, and branches, would especially not be missed.

The terrain had more hills compared to the flat plains before the forest, which presented their own problems, but they were nothing compared to the forest.

Every now and then, Mortis would break out of his trance and look back to check on those behind him. Tired as they were, they seemed to be driven by a sense of duty, so much so that not one Hand would slow down out of fear of being mocked by her sisters.

Relam, on the other hand, stood out like a sore thumb. He appeared haggard, and would doze off in his saddle frequently. Though a smile did creep onto Mortis's lips when he saw that Relam no longer had his flask. Most likely the work of Morta, or maybe Alsarie.

The party took camp later in the night to make up for their slower pace.

The camp was quiet with the exceptions of the occasional whispering amongst Hands, and no doubt some type of complaints.

When Morta called all the Hands together they all scurried to her. No doubt they wanted to make up for their lost time with her from the previous night. Relam took no part in the Hands talks as he fell asleep right after he ate his rations.

Alsarie had tried to persuade Mortis to let her take watch so he could rest, "Please my Lord, I don't mean to be rude, but you have been pushing yourself recently for all our sakes. Even though I am grateful, your health is more important than anything."

Mortis just simply waved his hand, "There is no need to concern yourself Alsarie, I haven't pushed myself too hard yet. Besides, you need more rest than me."

Alsarie gripped her green cloak, out of frustration, "As you wish my Lord."

Mortis remained separated from the others with the same contemplative look on his face from the previous night with the crescent moon shining on him.

Morta took worrying glances at him during her talk with her Hands.

The next day was much better. The whole party seemed to be better rested than before. Especially Relam, who looked as if he had slept for a whole week.

The party rode much faster than Mortis had expected. reaching its destination by sunset.

Mortis was beyond satisfied as they made it a full day earlier than planned, as they now had time to rest and prepare for the coming ambush.

The party made camp at the base of a hill that overlooked the road where the caravan should be traveling the next day.

As Mortis dismounted his attoka Alsarie ran up to him, "My Lord I humbly request that you let me keep watch tonight!"

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Her voice sounded desperate to the point that Mortis almost accepted her request, but a hand fell on Alsarie's shoulder.

Morta wore a warm smile, "I'm sorry I have something that I must discuss with him tonight."

Alsarie drooped her head in disappointment.

Mortis nodded at Morta's words, "Hmmm...In that case I'll leave Yamack you."

The attoka was, in all senses of the word, a beast. He towered over all other attoka and he held a murderous glare in his eye that would make any one cower in fear.

Everyone, but apparently Alsarie who was now beaming, "Yes my lord you won't be disappointed."

As Alsarie grabbed his reins an intimidating aura could be felt from the beast, but Alsarie paid in no mind, and walked away with him.

Morta watched her walk away, "I still don't know how she can handle Yamack like that. He won’t even let me touch him."

Mortis smiled, "Hmm, you're not the best with attoka. Besides, that girl has dealt with worse."

This didn't seem to satisfy Morta, but she let it go nonetheless, "Let's go somewhere private."

As the two walked to the top of the hill Mortis spoke up, "What is it that you want to talk about."

"Many things...many things."

As the two reached the top of the hill and overlooked the road Mortis turned to Morta, "Well?"

Morta furrowed her eyebrows, "What have you been thinking about these past few days?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean Mortis. I haven't seen you like that in a long time. You look like you're somewhere else. You even used the excuse of going on watch to be alone and think to yourself."

"You really want to know?"

Morta's face remained unchanging, as she awaited his answer.

"I was thinking about the lives that we've lost. They were unneeded and I'm sure we could have avoided it." Mortis shook his head, "I'm just disappointed in myself."

Morta took two steps forth anger rising up inside of her, "Don't lie to me! You don't care about those Hands enough to be in that kind of state for that long. If anything all you do is shrug it off and plan on retaliating. Just like what you did with Yorburn's group. It's not personal for you. It's just a matter of reputation."

Mortis smiled wryly, "What are you saying of course I cared about the Hands. I'm still mourning their deaths."

Morta's voice grew more harsh, "Please! The last Hand you truly cared about enough to mourn was our daughter."

Mortis's face hardened, "Shelta has nothing to do with this conversation."

"You're still mourning her. We both are! But you surely aren't mourning any of those Hands. You wouldn't even mourn one of those Hounds of yours. If anything you would be..."

Morta widened her eyes, "So that's what it is. The boy. It's the boy's death isn't it."

Mortis stood where he was looking at her, then he spoke in a bitter tone, "He is only one part of the equation."

"Really now! You're actually still thinking about him days later. He wasn't even one of your despicable Hounds yet. Usually you would just scoff and walk away with someone like that."

Mortis looked as if he was burdened down by the world itself. "He really was a disappointment to the very end. He had so much potential too, but in the end he couldn't live up to it."

"I've said it before and I'll say it again. Using a trauma like that is disgusting. I haven't seen the Hounds in years, but ever since you've left Alsarie in my care I've seen it's effects."

"You can't argue with how effective they are. My Hounds are the equivalent to a luxcian army."

Morta went on as if not hearing him, "Besides, you should believe in the ability of those you give the cloak."

Mortis forced a laugh out, "What about that young girl, that you sent to dig graves so that she wouldn't die in battle? Surely what Alsarie said has some truth to it"

Morta bit her lip, "Kagi is better in stealth operations, and I thought she was best suited to do the job, as she would be able to avoid any scouts."

"Sure."

Morta shook her head, "Besides the death of one of your Hounds shouldn't put you in a state like that. I'm sure that Relam's death would do a better job at that."

Mortis put a finger to his chin and looked up at the moon, "It probably would. But my attitude has nothing to do with who died and who didn't."

"Is that so? Then what does it have to do with."

"Probably frustration. I simply have not found any new Hounds in an uncomfortably long time. I've been trying to find the answer to why that is."

Morta stepped back, "And what answer have you come to?" She looked like she was afraid of the answer that she would be given.

"I'm not quite sure myself. The problem shouldn't even exist. Isn't it only natural for us to want to retaliate against the ones that have harmed us? Recently, everyone I've found doesn't take this emotion to heart and use it as their driving force. I think that may be where the problem lies."

"You left out the part where they collapsed from the pressure."

Mortis waved his hand, "No, I have a solution for that."

Morta didn't even want to delve deeper into what that solution was.

Morta calmed herself, "You keep mentioning retaliation. How exactly are you planning on going about that in this case."

Mortis took some time to process her question, "I just want to carry out Yorburn's plan. Though in this case I'll do it better."

Morta relaxed, "Even so, I still don't know how I feel about taking advantage of Galaris. We both know what it celebrates. I find it hard to believe that you have no qualms about it."

Mortis shrugged, "All we’re doing is reminding the people the Black Crescent never rests. Nothing else."

"That better be all."

Mortis gave a reassuring smile, "Don't worry it is. I hope this whole ordeal doesn't go on for much longer."

Morta turned to start down to the base of the hill, "At least we have something that we can agree on. My Hands are waiting, so we'll have to end it there."

She stopped and turned around, "Are you coming?"

Mortis smiled and shook his head, "I think I'm going to look at the moon for just a little longer."

His smile died as he turned back to the moon, still the crescent from the night before, but brighter.