As the trio ate their evening meal, Brightblade continued his tale.
"Here is the border of Death's lands. In the hills beyond is the Temple of Light, and the Warrior's Horn," explained Breeks. If we travel through the day we could be halfway to the Temple, and beyond Death's lands by nightfall."
"Sounds good to me," Ramon asserted. "The sooner we leave Death's lands behind us the better."
"That's easy for you to say," I replied. "You don't have to walk, or carry supplies."
Ramon jumped down from my back. "I'll walk it if I have to, to get out of here quicker."
"I agree with the rat," said Breeks. "This rout was a last resort. Now that Kerberus is no longer a threat it would be to our benefit to leave these lands as quickly as possible."
"Very well then, we travel through the day." I didn't really mind, I had become used to long treks without rest, even though, that day's journey seemed slow and long due to my lack of sleep. However, since we were descending into the valley, we made good time. That night we camped on the bank of the river that ran through the valley.
In the morning Breeks led us southwest, along the river, to where it could be crossed. There was no bridge, only a broad, shallow ford. Around the ford grew a grove of willow trees. It was the most idyllic site I had seen on my journey. We could not linger long, but since we were beyond the Lands of Death, we made camp after crossing, even though it was not even midday.
We resumed our journey the next morning, refreshed. The traveling was easier than it had been in a long time, even though we traveled uphill. By evening we were in the hills where the Temple of Light lay.
"Where too now?" I asked Breeks.
"Khaar! Must I guide you by the hand through the entire quest?" he shot back. "What would you have done had I not joined your quest?"
"We'd just wander through the hills until we found the Temple, I guess. I figured you'd just lead us to the Temple for expediency."
"You'll not be a hero with that attitude," replied the raven.
"I don't think he knows where the Temple is," observed Ramon.
"Khraa! O' coarse I do!" kawed the bird. "It's in the hills…somewhere."
"Well, we'd better get looking then."
The next morning we began to search the hills for the Temple of Light. Breeks flew high overhead, scanning the ground with his keen eyes, while Ramon and I searched the numerous caves and groves of trees. It was the middle of the afternoon when we crested a hill and saw, in the valley below, a white, domed structure ringed with columns, set into the slope of the opposite hill. We had found the Temple of Light.
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