Fenlo's weathered hand shot up in greeting while Bronnick nodded from the driver's seat. "Need a lift back to camp?" Fenlo called out.

  Valgrin nodded, “Need to pay for both of us. Then we’ll climb in the back.”

  “Told the big boss what you two did for us with the bandits.” Fenlo stood and stretched, his spine popping audibly. “You both have free passage on this route as long as we have room, we won’t bump an already paid passenger for you. Both of you climb in the back, this stop won’t take long.”

  “Thank you.” Valgrin said as he and Skwilly climbed aboard and pushed past the canvas.

  Skwilly's ears drooped as he clambered in, “I wanted to stay.” Skwilly complained as he settled into the wagon.

  Valgrin rolled his eyes, “I know, I heard you the other dozen times. I don’t want to leave either but we owe it to the group to go back. Malcolm, Izzy, Ylnah, Deeah will all be worried about us if we stay without going back to talk to them.”

  “We can send them a message.” Skwilly added.

  “Been over that to, more polite and easier for me to live with if we go to them in person. And, as I’ve said, I plan on coming back. Ylnah, if nobody else, will probably come back with us.”

  “True,” Skwilly’s voice had an edge of petulance. “You have good reasons to go back. Would rather stay, but I understand.”

  “Good, lets stop arguing about this. Another reason I haven’t shared. We have one or two people out there that want me dead, or to wish I was. I need to see that through, which means not staying up here and ignoring the issue. Kind of running away if we didn’t go back.”

  Skwilly cocked his head, “That makes the most sense. Okay, I won’t complain anymore. Surprised me that you wanted to leave Altayna.”

  Valgrin's neck flushed crimson as he whipped around. "What are you talking about?"

  “We’re bonded.” Skwilly held Valgrin’s gaze. “I felt something that sure seemed like attraction. And based on your reaction now, I would say that is confirmed.”

  Valgrin ran his thumb over the wolf design etching his katar, avoiding Skwilly's gaze. "She's…um…competent. Quick with that blade. Good tactical mind. And I’ll admit I did find her attractive. But you know I’m trying to get back home to get to Kara.”

  “Yep, I know. But there was a spark there.” Skwilly teased.

  “I’m going to look at my character sheet,” Valgrin responded tersely. “I might talk to you before we finish the trip, might not.”

  Character sheet.

  << INFORMATION: Your Trancing ability has been altered and used for the changes in your Ice Magic, Trancing is no longer available to you. The snow arrow absorption along with the changes have significantly increased your Ice Magic outputs. (Undisclosed how much the total impact is, though it did increase your Magic Pool by twenty.)

  You also have fifty unspent points due to gaining a level. Three points added to Charisma as a gain without you spending points, you handled the clutch meeting rather well.

  >>

  Thank you. Based on this White Death stuff, think I should throw fifteen to Strength and Endurance. Lets even out Charisma, should take two. Evening out Intelligence should take three. Five points to Wisdom, Endurance, and Resistance should round it all out.

  << STATUS — character sheet, with recent changes