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Finally you make it back to the main road.
"The Vistani take the Svalich road all the time," Ireena says, hiking up a slight incline. "Those who do it for a living know its dangers. We're sticking together; we will make it through, just like they do."
You've been on the road for almost two hours - about one hour and forty minutes, to be precise - when you finally come to the river that runs south of the village, and a bridge crossing it. The river flows as clear as a blue winter sky through the valley. On the other side of the bridge, the road leads into the Svalich woods proper. "This isn't the most dangerous part of the woods we're entering," Ireena says, "but we must keep our wits about us. That place the Vistani told you to go - Tser Pool is - it's within a day's walk, I think, as long as we move quickly. It could serve as a checkpoint before the more harsh stretch of woods leading up the hill, and to the main road that connects Castle Ravenloft to Vallaki and Krezk."
"I hope there are signs of my sister there, at Tser Pool," you say. "They said there'd be someone there who might know what happened to her. What if they're the ones who took her? I've gone so long without answers..."
"You will figure it out," she says. "You should tell me about your sister. When we camp, we will need to fill the silence with something. I can tell you some stories about Ismark, that's for sure."
"She was brave," you say. "Braver than I. This... is certainly a lot for me." You smile, holding back a laugh. Ireena stifles a chuckle as well. It's the least you can do in a situation like this.
Ireena does remind you of Joannus a little bit when you are here walking side-by-side with her - it's something about the way she carries herself, the confidence in her stride despite her current physical ailments. Your sister would be much older now, of course - she would have been about Ireena's age when she was taken.
All of this effort is hard work, but you know you are going to see her again, so it's all worth it.
(cont.)
