“I told him that I was a sailor and newly married,” chuckled Syman, “just in case he actually needed help. When he politely declined my offer to work for him, I confided that your father did not approve of me and that he did not know of our wedding. I asked if there was somewhere that we might spend our honeymoon night without entering the city, for I feared that your father might come looking for us. I must have struck an old memory in him as he offered us a room for the night. I politely refused and inquired if there might be an old hunter’s cabin in the woods nearby. As I guessed, he confirmed that there were several and told me where I might find one. I asked permission to traverse his property and he gave it gladly and here we are.”

“Don’t start believing your own stories, Syman,” laughed Lyra. “I never realized how resourceful you are. How do we meet up with Antello though?”

“Well, he said we needed to circle around the city, so he intends to meet us on the other side. I would suggest that we find a high point on the other side of the city and keep watch for him. First, we are going to have to find a way to cross the Altha River. Perhaps we should catch some sleep in the hunter’s cabin first.”

Lyra playfully punched Syman’s arm and laughed. “I think we need to circle the city and find out what is going on to alarm Antello.”

Darkness settled over the valley as Lyra and Syman worked their way through the woods and finally found a trail leading eastward. The trail was well used, but not a main trail and they proceeded single file. Chirping crickets and croaking frogs created a racket loud enough to block out any other sounds and Syman led them slowly through the woods to avoid stumbling upon a patrol. Eventually, the trail ran alongside the Altha River and they followed it upstream for several hours before coming to a crudely made bridge. They crossed quickly and started following the trail on the other side of the river back towards the city.