Hestia hugs Brystasia happily at her decision.
"Thank you! It'll be such fun!" She grins broadly at the mischievous suggestion. "And yes, we'll have to find that stream. He takes things far too seriously most of the time.
"As far as seeing the world goes, you've seen far more than me. I know the city like the back of my own hand, but nothing beyond the walls. What reason have I had to travel until now? When I was helping my father, I needed to go no further than the shop, and since then I have lived in the Healing Hall. The city has brought everything I've needed for my life, but I feel I need to see more of the land. I've never seen a forest. I've never smelt the Stinking River. I've never seen the mountains. I've not seen a beach that wasn't covered in fishing boats."
The pair finally make their way out of the gloom and back into the first chamber of the Compass's cellar, lit by an everburning torch and a single sunrod. The bodies of the four ghouls have been laid out, hands crossed on their chests. Ryat and Velimir are kneeling beside the corpses, examining them for clues while Ged stands a few feet back, watching the Obedient brother's movements closely. Aster waves from his seat on the bottom step of the stairs leading back up the theater, then returns to washing his hands clean with a green lotion. Ged smiles when he spots Brystasia and Hestia.
"How are you both holding up? I'll be glad when I've had the chance of a square meal and a sit down." He says, leaning back against the door frame. Hestia nods, propping herself up against Ged.
"Brystasia's said she'll come with us when we start our travels." She says, leaning her head back to look up at Ged.
"Really? That's good news indeed." Ged's smile goes from tied to warm as he looks over to Brystasia. "Although, I warn you, it'll probably be pretty dull most of the time. After all this, that's likely to be no bad thing in any sane person's ..."
"I think we've found something." Velimir raises his hand, beckoning the three to come over...
)
