Eric was quiet for the next leg of the trip. He sat at the front of the cart, mumbling to himself. Jen seemed a little remorseful, which made sense. Chris felt uncomfortable in the whole situation, so he stayed quiet. He decided he'd just sit and let the sun beat on his back. He was somewhat bored, but decided that was better than being chased again.

Finally, they came to a crossroad. Three signs were attached to a post. Pointing back the way the came was a sign labeled "Misthalin." To the right was "Faylor" and to the left was "Cortitia." At that, Chris spoke up. "Cortitia, that's the town I was heading for before... I got sidetracked..."
"So I guess we'll head left?" Jen asked.
"Alright," Eric said.

So they headed North up the road. Not long after being on the trail, Chris heard something. "Guys, did you hear that?"
"What?" they asked.
Chris remained quiet for a moment, expecting to hear it again. "I don't know..." Chris looked around, trying to figure out where he heard it come from.

Outside Misthalin

About an hour passed. Chris sat in the cart. Jen was leaning against the tree. The fire had died out, leaving it charred. There had been an uncomfortable silence, other than Eric pacing about, mumbling to himself. He abruptly stopped and looked up.
"Okay," Eric said, quietly. "Someone tell me where we're going."
Chris looked up. He thought back to yesterday, what he was doing. He remembered the bridge, being chased by bandits, and... "Milo..."
"What?" Eric asked.
"Nothing... let's just keep following the road. It still hasn't split."
"Alright then. Let's go."

Outside Misthalin: An Explanantion

"Alright, I guess it must've been about 15 years ago. Not because I didn't keep tarack of time, but because... it was... it was like I was in a coma. I was just eleven years old. I remember seeing a big wave, and then... then nothing. I just woke up like this. And I could, well..." She gestured toward the tree. "All of the sudden, I just knew... I don't... it..." She let out a long sigh. Jen extended her hand. She contorted it some, and a flame began to dance in her palm. Chris just stared in awe.
"Great." Eric threw his arms up in the air, almost in anger. "Forget the theories and explanations. No need to think about why we're here anymore." He got louder. "We'll just say a wizard did it and go on with our lives!"
Eric walked a few yards away and took a deep breath. Chris looked back at Jen who just gave a sheepish grin.

Outside Misthalin: Closing Arguments

"They might buy this!" Chris thought. He stepped up, to add to the drama. "Gentlemen, I am in a hurry. I'm asking you nicely now. Leave and no harm will... um, befall you." The guards didn't seem convinced. Chris decided to go in the direction of Jen's bluff. "Unless you want to be consumed in flames, I suggest you leave!" No good. The guards weren't even looking at him anymore. They were looking over his head. Chris turned around and looked up. The tree had caught fire. He looked at the guards. They had run for the horses. Chris wasn't much concerned with the fact he was standing under a burning tree. He was more concerned about why the tree was burning.
The guards had rode off back towards town. Chris looked back toward Jen. She was smiling. Everything was pretty quiet, aside from the crackling flames. Eric broke the akward silence. "Um, hey Jen?"
"Yeah?"
"Care to explain?"
She took a deep breath. "Yeah."

Outside Misthalin: Continuing the Story

Chris felt as if he had puched in the stomach. "Why, out of all the possible lies she could've told, did she have to say cleric?!" he thought. Chris was an RPG fan, so he at least knew enough that might get him by. He looked at the guard. He seemed amused, if anything.
"And for what reason is 'Christopher' in the lands of Misthalin?"
Chris began searching for an answer. But Jen spoke up again. "In search of demons, of course." Chris flinched again. It seemed everytime she spoke, Jen was making things worse.
The guard was on the brink of laughing at this point. "And has he found any?"
Chris looked at Jen. As if on cue, she added to her story. "Yes as a matter of fact. He recently rescued me from the clutches of a most... fearsome demon. Yes. In fact... that's why I was acting so strangely in town!"
"Oh, really..." the guard said, in a disbelieving voice.
"Yes, and I strongly suggest you let us go." Jen looked over at Chris and gave a quick wink. He looked over at Eric. He looked as confused as Chris was. "You do not want to invoke the fury of a cleric. Why he could call down fire from the heavens right now!" Jen was getting into this.