Adam recovered and departed for the next village the same evening. The patrol squad drummed on their chests and cheered as their wargs sped through the gorge. The shamans didn't mingle with them, preferring to smoke Zul'Morak's defeated champion.
The journey under the mild sun was enjoyable. A bit too noisy, but not enough to distract him from his analysis of combat, how to integrate yin and yang, and surpass Cordelia's unpredictable yet elegant movements.
He divided his days between testing his understanding in the ritual duels, instructing the little Bao, and... avoiding Zul'Gora's weird desire to make him mate, or Zul'Morak's foul prophecies about his death in the next fight.
As he did, Diane paced at the entrance of the gorge. The teacher stood in the mountainous region overlooking it, one moment reaching for her hulking avian beast, the next shaking her head.
