Robert swung over the branches and jumped to the ground. The others snuggled together, the glow of the streetlamps above the dodgesters. A cold wind blew from the north. Robert looked back and found the light, the search party's lights. He quickly put his hood on and walked briskly forward.

"The wind has changed," he said. "It's going to rain tomorrow morning. ”

Shrouded in the eerie lights that swayed in the wind, he looked around at the small group of adventurers. Scarlet Moon's face was tired, the river breeze seemed strong, but his shoulders were no longer as tall as before, and Rodrith leaned against the trunk of a tree by the side of the road, shivering and gasping.

Robert couldn't help but shrink his neck in the face of the cold wind. "We had to find a shelter from the elements. He said. "Gotta find a place to rest. ”

"Robert," Vedra tugged at the half-elf's cloak, "we can take the waterway, and the Crystal Lake is the shortest. There are many caves on the other side of the lake to hide, so we can walk a little less tomorrow!"

"Good idea! But, Wade, we don't have a boat!"

"Wrap it around me. The Kander smiled. The small face and pointed ears made him look a little evil in the faint light. Robert knew that Wade was only interested in all this. He really wanted to teach him a good lesson, so that he could understand how dangerous the situation was. But Robert knew that it was only in vain, and that the Kanders would never feel afraid.

"It's a good idea to take a boat. Robert finally replied after thinking about it for a moment. "You lead the way. Also, don't let Flint know," he added, "I'll take care of that." ”

"Okay," Wade chuckled and ran back to where everyone had gathered. "Everybody come with me. He whispered, and strode forward. Hubble muttered under his beard and staggered along. Crimson Moon followed the dwarves as well. River Breeze's sharp gaze glanced at everyone, and then quickly followed Crimson Moon.

"I think he still doesn't trust us. Calamon observed.

"If it were you, would you?" Robert asked the big man rhetorically.

Calamon's golden helmet reflected a faint light, and the wind blew through his coat, revealing the chain mail inside. A long sword was fastened to his sturdy thigh, a short bow and quiver were hung from his shoulder, and a dagger was stuck in a large thorn in his belt. The shield is covered with traces of battles large and small, and this strong man is ready for any challenge.

Robert looked to the side and looked at his friend Stone, who wore the knightly insignia that everyone had spurned three hundred years ago, but was still proud and proud. Suffering from poverty, and the difficult journey of searching for his beloved father, Stone, who was only four years older than Calamon, seemed much older than he really was.

Although he was only twenty-nine years old, he looked like a middle-aged man of forty.

Robert thought to himself, maybe even we can't trust each other.

"What's the plan?" asked Stone.

"We're going to take a boat and go by water. Robert replied.

"Oh no!" Calamon chuckled softly. "Did you tell Hubble?"

"Not yet, let me do it. "How are we going to get a ship?" Ston asked, skeptically. ”

"It's better that you don't want to know. The half-elf said.

The knight frowned, his gaze on the Kande, who were walking in the shadows not far ahead.

"I don't like that, we became murderers in the first place, and now we're stealing again!"

"I don't think I killed 'people'. Calamon said disdainfully. "Goblins aren't people!"

Robert noticed that the knight was glaring at Calamon. "Stone, I don't like that either," he said quickly, hoping to avoid a dispute. "It's a last resort!

Look at those plainsmen, pride is the only reason to barely stand. Look at Rodrith......" They looked at the mage walking on the dry leaves, his weight almost supported by his staff, and the occasional cough erupted from his fragile body.

Calamon's expression suddenly darkened. "Robert is right," he replied softly. "My brother can't hold it anymore, I have to help him. With that, he quickly left the remaining two and hurried to his twin brother, who was dressed in a robe and hunched over.

"Brother, let me help you. They heard Calamon whisper. Rodris shook his head and stood a little farther away. Calamon shrugged and withdrew his hand. But the tall warrior man remained by his brother's side, ready to hold him up.

"Why did he sacrifice himself like that?" asked Robert softly. "Brotherhood, blood is thicker than water!" said Stone meaningfully. It seemed like he was going to continue, but when he looked up and saw Robert's face, he suddenly closed his mouth.

Robert saw that look and knew what he was thinking. Sibling affection is a feeling that Robert, who was born an orphan, cannot appreciate.

"Let's go!" Robert broke the deadlock. "We're already a lot behind them. ”

Soon, they left Willow and entered a large pine forest that surrounded the crystal lake. Robert faintly heard a low shout behind him. "They've found the body. He guessed, Stone nodded solemnly. Suddenly, Wade appeared in front of his eyes from the darkness as if by magic.

"The trail that leads to Crystal Lake is about a mile long," Wade said. "I'm waiting for you at the camera of the path. He made a general direction, and then disappeared before Robert could reply.

The half-elf looked back in the direction of Willow again, and saw that more and more fires were moving in this direction, and depending on the situation, even the road had been blocked.

"What about the Khanders?" asked Hubble as he squeezed out of the woods.

"Wade is going to wait for us at the lake. Robert replied.

"Lake?" Hubble's eyes were alert. "What lake?"

"Hubble, there's only one lake around here," Robert said, trying to hold back a laugh in front of Stone. "Hurry up! let's go!" the elven vision allowed him to see the emaciated figures of Calamon and his brother disappearing into the woods ahead.

"I thought we were just going to hide in the woods for a while. Hubble pushed Stone away and complained to Robert.

"We're going to cross the lake by boat. Robert began to move forward.

"Never," said the dwarf through gritted teeth. "I will never take a boat!"

"The last accident was ten years ago!" said Robert, exasperated, "I'll tell Calamon to sit down this time." ”

"Absolutely not!" said the dwarf, unmoved. "Never on a boat, I swear. ”

"Robert!" came Stone's voice behind him. "There was a fire. ”

"Damn!" the half-elf stopped and looked back. It took him a moment to get used to the flickering fires in the forest, and the desperate search party had begun to search beyond Vero! He hurried ahead to catch up with Calamon, Lodlis, and the two Plainsmen.

"There's a fire!" he shouted as low as he could. Calamon looked back and began to curse. River Breeze raised his hand to indicate that he had heard the news. "I think we'll have to hurry up, Calamon. Robert began to call the shots.

"We'll do it as soon as possible," Calamon said unhurriedly, as he held his brother in his arms, his thick arms wrapped around Rodlis's emaciated body, almost as far as he could carry him forward.

Rodrith coughed incessantly, but barely managed to move on. Stone followed Robert. As they pushed the branches along, Hubble's angry muttering could still be heard behind them.

"Robert, he's not coming. Stone said. "Hubble has been terrified of water since he nearly drowned in Calamon last time. You weren't there last time, and you didn't see his face after he was salvaged ashore. ”

"He's going to come. Robert gasped. "There's no way he can leave us juniors on an adventure alone without him to take care of them!"

Stone shook his head, still not believing what Robert said.

Robert looked back again, but this time there was no fire. This is because they are already in the depths of the forest, and the light of the fire is obscured by the leaves.

Although Shumath Tode's head was not very bright, he must have guessed that they would escape by water. Robert stopped suddenly, careful not to bump into the others. "What's going on up ahead?" he whispered.

"Here we are. Calamon replied. After seeing the vast surface of Crystal Lake, Robert finally breathed a sigh of relief. The wind rippled on the surface of the lake.

"Where's Wade?" he asked, lowering his voice.

"There it is!" Calamon pointed to a floating object in the dark spot. Robert could barely see a small, red, hot figure sitting in the middle of the boat.

The clear night sky shimmered with stars, and the blood-red moon Nurintari had just risen from the lake, and its companion in the night sky, Sorinari, had already hung high in the sky, sprinkling a silvery glow on the lake.

"Under such moonlight, our figures are clear and invisible!" Ston complained.

Robert could barely see Wade turning around for them. Robert looked down and groped for stones in the darkness, and he threw the stones he found into the lake, landing just a few yards in front of the boat. Wade saw Robert's signal and quickly pushed the boat to the shore.

"What! you want us all to get on this ship?!" Hubble said fearfully. "You half-elf must be crazy!"

"This ship is big enough. Robert said.

"No, I'm not on board. Even if this is the legendary white-winged ship of the city of Tassis, I won't take it. I'd rather stay and fight with the Grand Priest!"

Ignoring the dwarf's anger, Robert said to Stone, "Get everyone on board, and we'll come right over." ”

"Don't delay too long," Stone warned. The voice of the pursuer was close. ”

"I can hear that," said Robert, gravely, "and you go quickly!"

"What's that sound?" asked the knight walking towards them.

"The goblins' search party. Stone replied. "They used the whistle to keep in touch, and they were already in the woods. ”

Scarlet Moon nodded in understanding. Turning back and continuing to talk to River Wind in the language of the clan, continuing the discussion that had just been interrupted by Stone. The tall plainman frowned and pointed in the direction of the woods.

Stone understood that he was trying to convince her to leave the adventurers. He might have the ability to take her out of the woods from the goblins, but he didn't have much chance.

"River Breeze, don't say it!" Scarlet Moon said categorically. With anger on his face, River Wind walked back to the boat without saying a word. Scarlet Moon sighed and looked at his back with a deep sadness on her face.

"Ma'am, is there anything I can do to help?" asked Stone thoughtfully.

"Nope. She replied. Then she said to herself, "He has my heart, but he has to obey me." When we were young, we thought we could overcome it all. But I've been the chief's daughter for too long......"

"Why won't he trust us?" asked Stone.

"He has the same deep preconceptions as my compatriots. Scarlet Moon replied. "We Plainsmen do not believe in races other than humans. She looked back. "Robert's beard can't hide his elven blood, not to mention the dwarves and kanders among you. ”

"And what about you, ma'am?" asked Stone. "How can you believe us? Don't you have those prejudices?"

Scarlet Moon turned to face him, and Stone noticed that her eyes were as dark and deep as the lake behind her. "When I was a child," she said in a low voice, "I was a princess of the clan and a priestess. They worship me like a goddess, and I think so myself, and I cherish their love. But then ...... "She quieted down, her eyes filled with memories."

"What happened later?" Ston asked softly.

"I'm in love with a shepherd. Scarlet Moon replied, her eyes looking at the river breeze. She sighed and walked in the direction of the ship.

Stone watched as the river wind waded to pull the boat closer to the shore, while Calamon and Rodrith walked right to the water's edge. Rodrith clutched his robe, trembling all over.

"I can't get my feet wet. He said hoarsely. Calamon wasted no time in speaking, he gently picked up his brother as if he were a child, and put him in the boat. The magician shivered at the back of the ship, not even a word of thanks.

"I'll hold it up," Karamon said to River Breeze. "You go in first. The river breeze hesitated, then climbed into the boat. Calamon helped Scarlet Moon into the boat, and the river wind took advantage of the rocking boat to hold her steady so that she wouldn't fall. Two plainmen sat at the front of the boat, behind Wade.

Calamon turned to look at the approaching knight, "What's going on behind that?"

Hubble said he would rather burn to death than get on board, at least to die would feel warm rather than wet and cold. ”

"I'll go get him on board. Calamon said.

"You're only going to make things harder, and don't forget that you almost drowned him last time. Let Robert figure it out, he's better at communicating than we are. ”[.]