Go and look for Crawford with Alice.

“I suppose that we better go look for Crawford then,” you tell Alice. “We have been waiting by this fire for a while now. We don’t know where we are, and I don’t think that Crawford is coming.”

“Yes Sir… I mean Ma’am.” Alice stutters out, her face turning read before she looks to the ground. For Alice to stumble over her tongue like this, well, the giants and the portal must have set her nerves on edge. You wish you could say something to calm her down, but she seems to take comfort in your authority. You decide to try giving her an order, to see if it helps.

“Douse the fire, Knight, and then we’ll head out.”

Alice jumps immediately to her task. It seems that having something to do really is helping her. Doubtless she is also happy to have someone else responsible for the situation. You feel the weight of Alice’s life in your hands. You think of all her sisters in the order, all of your sisters too, all waiting back home. You vow to yourself to get Alice home alive.

Once Alice has the fire out, you start walking. Alice follows at your heels, walking in step with you as you trace your path back. You remember that when you came through the portal, you were by a road. If you can find a road, at least you can find some people, some sign, something to tell you where you are.

“Alice,” you ask, mostly to pass the time, “I’m afraid I’ve been out on duty so much, I haven’t had the chance to get to know you well. I’m afraid I was out when you were raised a knight. When you were a novice, I was still often on duty. If nothing else, this hike back gives us a chance to get to know each other. Why did you want to become a Knight in our order?”

“Ummm….” Alice begins timidly, “I guess demons.” She says, and then falls into a pensive silence. You wait for her to finish her reflections, hoping for elaboration, and you are soon rewarded. “Most people, as you know, dismiss the demons because the veil between our two world has been stable for some time now. Chasing demons is as fruitful these days as chasing rumor. But I grew up in the country, under a cruel baron. He dabbled in dark arts. He decided he wished to woo my mother, father having been killed in a war which the baron waged. He tried to court my mother, but when she refused his advances, he imprisoned her. Her and our family.” Alice grows silent again. You already regret bringing up such a painful topic, you were just trying to pass the time as you walked. Alice doesn’t remain silent for too long though. “He used my mother and my sisters as sacrifices in his dark magic. Knights found out about his activities and attacked. I was rescued, and they took me back as a novice.” You remember hearing a story like this years ago while in training yourself, you had just never connected it to Alice.

“I’m sorry” is all that you can think to say.

Alice shrugs, but she says “Wherever we are, this place is as hot as can be. I don’t suppose we can take off our armor while we hike through this forest. It’s really heavy”

“Tighten up Knight.” You command her. “Better not to take it off until we make camp, or at least know where we are.”

Alice doesn’t offer another word of complaint as she falls in line again behind you. For a while, you walk on in silence. The leaves on the ground offer a gentle crackle as you traverse your way back.

“What do you think of Crawford,” you ask, again to fill the silence, but also because you are curious how your partner responds to the overbearing dufus.

“Well, I don’t want to speak bad of a fellow Knight, but he does seem full of himself.” She responds. “Still, he can be rather dashing. Do you think he is handsome?”

You were going to protest, tell Alice that you find Crawford disgusting. However, at that moment a loud CRACK in the forest drew your attention. A dreadful thought crosses your mind.

“You don’t suppose that the giants….” You trail off. Three humongous silhouettes already crashing through the forest toward you.

Alice looks to you.