i have my reasons

[Filter: Davan]

... I'd hoped to never see that again.

Idiots. Didn't we try and tell them? Tell all of them? It never hurts to believe something that could hurt you is real. What's the worst that could happen?

Idiots.

Do you remember crossing that bridge?

[Filter: Davan]

I don't know what's been wrong with you lately, but in case you care -- it looks as if my sister and her spawn are going to continue being alive for the time being. The Dentorians have taken her under their lovely martial wing.

You probably don't care, but fine. -- I'm relieved, I suppose. A little. And I wanted to tell you that, whatever has been eating you aside.

I hear we're actually arriving at the base soon. Thank Dragons. I couldn't tell you where we actually were right now if my life depended on it.

[Filter: Leila]

Are you dead?

[Filter: Private]

Leila ...

I really thought that she was dead. I quite honestly did. With the sort of things they say about the west, it was such an easy thing to suppose. All of them, dead and gone. What's why I really let us get drawn back into this instead of going there and throwing myself down on Mother's mercy.

... Mother.

Leila was ... gaining a spine, the last I heard from her. Not letting Mother do just what she used to. Dragons, when she trapped me there, betrayed me, and smiled all the while --

A bit like Mother, yes, but at least she was thinking for herself.

... I want to ask so badly, what's going on at home. Leila ... she always was a particularly strange girl, and I always did feel ... particularly strange about her. Do I love her? Hate her? Or do I just not care at all?

It would have been very convenient, if she were dead.

[Filter: Davan]

This is so frustrating. If they want us to trust them, why are they still withholding so much information? It's absolutely ridiculous, that we have to be skulking about with our eyes and ears peeled if we're going to have any idea of what we're even doing out here.

In any case, I finally overheard something at the fire last night. They thought I'd drifted off when I hadn't. They think we might be headed somewhere in particular. "Aartyn," they said. That's a House in this general area, isn't it?

These men we're following seem like no more than bandits, don't they? Why would they be headed towards a House?

[Filter: Private]

Freezing to death in the midst of Korin again. After this long, it's becoming increasingly obvious that there isn't any rebel presence in this grubby little town, and we're just wasting our time casting out feelers for them. Or worse yet, drawing negative attention to ourselves. I swear I saw one of those "militia" thugs glaring at me, today. Shouting into a canyon -- more like shouting into an avanlanche.

Dragons, why are we even here? We came to Korin so that he could somehow prove to me that Eve would take him back, and that's a cause lost for years. It seemed like such a noble idea, weeks ago. Find the rebellion. If you hate Korin so much, sign on with the people trying to change it a bit. I certainly imagined it considerably less ... futile.

Ugh.

I'll turn in early tonight, and perhaps talk to Davan about moving on, tomorrow. Moving -- south. Why stay in this damned country? Nothing will ever happen to change it. It was ridiculous to even --

[a long pause]

[Filter: Davan]

... Dragons.

I think I actually might have something.

[the writing is stilted, as though written with stiff hands]

Well, would you look at that. And here I thought the journals had decided to follow in the direction the rest of the continent has been traveling in, lately.

Surprise, surprise. Now if we die out here, I'll be able to let the world know, after all.

[Filter: Davan]

Your beloved is looking quite distraught, on the last page. You should come to her rescue. Whisper some sweet words of comfort.

[Filter: Davan]

Where are you?!

You have the confusion you wanted! Everything is a mess, can't you see that? They've -- they've already started the march. The traitor on the Hanmor side has given the signal and everything is moving. They're going to come looking for any moment, Davan.

If we're going to leave, it has to be right now. So -- so where are you?

I swear, if they pull me off into this ...

[Filter: Davan]

I just got new orders.

[Filter: Davan]

Is that Lord Simon writing? As in, the second-in-command of the opposing army?

My, that's delightfully awkward. I feel as if I should say something to the man, but what? There are so many ways this could turn uncomfortable, and I was never taught how to avoid the social pitfalls of this sort of uniquely delicate situation.

I don't suppose you have any suggestions?