Together, you and the crown prince gather branches and twigs to build a makeshift shelter. As you work, you can't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with the crown prince, bound together by the events of the day.

As you and the crown prince finish setting up camp, the servants tend to the Hashi, making sure they're well-fed and rested. Meshnet, still unsteady on his feet from the arrow wound, collapses into a nearby pile of furs, shivering from shock.

Suddenly, a loud rustling sound can be heard coming from the nearby bushes. The servants freeze, their eyes widening in fear. The crown prince draws his sword, his eyes fixed on the bushes. You follow suit, your heart racing in your chest.

The bushes part, revealing a group of bandits, their faces twisted in anger. They are led by a tall, imposing figure, his eyes gleaming with malice. The crown prince readies himself for battle, his sword held high. You steel yourself, ready to fight alongside him. The bandits charge forward, their swords raised high.

The air is thick with tension as the bandits close in on your group. The crown prince signs to his Hashi, and they too prepare for battle, their eyes fixed on the bandits. You draw your sword, feeling the weight of it in your hand. The crown prince signs to you, ‘Use your wits and your weapons wisely.’

You nod in understanding, taking a deep breath to steady your nerves. As the bandits close in, you notice one of them trying to sneak around behind the crown prince. Quickly, you step in front of him, blocking their path. "Hold it right there," you say, keeping your voice steady despite the pounding of your heart.

The bandit stops in his tracks, his eyes darting between you and the crown prince. Suddenly, he lets out a bark of laughter. "You think you can stop us?" he says, his voice full of disdain. "We've come for your precious stones and your weak flesh. Nothing will stop us!"

You grit your fangs hard, your hand tightening around your sword hilt. The last thing you want to do is fight these bandits, but it seems they've left you no choice. As they close in, you see an opening and take it, lunging forward and aiming your sword at the bandit's midsection.

The bandit's eyes widen in surprise as your sword pierces his armor and lodges itself in his stomach. He lets out a gurgling sound before collapsing to the ground, blood pooling around him. The other bandits hesitate for a moment, their eyes flickering between you and the fallen comrade.

Suddenly, you hear a loud roar from behind you. Turning around, you see that the crown prince has managed to disarm the leader of the bandits, leaving him vulnerable to the Hashi's fury. The other bandits look on in horror as the Hashi close in, mauling their leader to death.

The remaining bandits, realizing they stand no chance against the crown prince and his loyal Hashi, begin to flee into the darkness. ‘Kekara, hurry up! Stop them!’ the prince signs, his eyes blazing with determination. You nod, readying your sword as you give chase.

You race after the fleeing bandits, your heart pounding in your chest. The night air is cold, and the sound of rustling leaves and snapping twigs echoes around you. You catch sight of one of the bandits trying to hide behind a large tree. Quickly, you dart forward, your sword at your side poised to strike.

The bandit sees you coming and attempts to make a break for it, but he trips over his own feet and falls to the ground. You approach him cautiously, keeping your sword at the ready. The bandit looks up at you, fear etched on his face. "Have mercy!" he pleads, his voice trembling.

You hesitate for a moment, unsure of what to do. Do you show mercy or teach him a lesson about the consequences of his actions? Ultimately, you decide on the latter. With a swift motion, you swing your sword, severing his head from his body in one clean stroke.

As you stand there, panting from the exertion of the fight, you can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction wash over you. The crown prince joins you, his face grim but his eyes alight with approval. 'Well done,' he signs, clapping you on the back. You nod, still catching your breath.

"Thank you, Your Highness," you say, bowing your head slightly. Around you, the servants have finished tending to the wounded Hashi and are now gathering up the bodies of the slain bandits. Meshnet, looking somewhat better after resting, helps to tie up the leader's body for transport back to the palace.

After a brief rest you take your supplies tied up in packs on your Hashi's flanks. You head toward Anok with a new resolve.

As you and your Hashi travel through the desert towards Anok, the moonlight illuminates and glimmers against your backs. The sand stings your eyes and gets into every crevice of your skin, but you push through it, driven by the knowledge that your journey will soon be coming to an end.

You and your Hashi continue onward, making your way through the unforgiving desert. The moon casts an eerie glow upon the landscape, highlighting the rugged terrain that surrounds you. Despite the discomfort of the journey, you remain steadfast in your determination to reach Anok.

As the night wears on, you begin to notice that the Hashi is growing tired. Their usually resilient spirits seem to be flagging under the harsh conditions of the desert. Meshnet, still unsteady on his feet from the arrow wound, is having an increasingly difficult time keeping up with the group.

Talos looks at Meshnet worriedly "You can't lag behind, if you do the prince will leave you out here to die, and I can't lose you Meshnet" 

Meshnet smiled at Talos weakly "I am fine Talos, I just need a bit more rest"

Talos sighs, knowing Meshnet was trying to be strong, but he could tell the older elf was struggling. 

He decided to help lighten Meshnet's load by offering to carry some of the supplies. "Here, let me take that pack for a while."

Meshnet nodded gratefully and handed Talos one of the packs. "Thank you, Talos. Your help is greatly appreciated." The two of them continued onward, with Talos supporting Meshnet as best he could.

As the moon began to rise higher in the horizon, you and your Hashi finally caught sight of Anok in the distance. The city was a breathtaking sight, its towering minarets and ornate domes glinting in the early morning light.

You and your Hashi push on towards Anok, the sight of the city spurring you forward. As you near the outskirts of the city, you notice a group of people heading towards you. They approach cautiously, their eyes wary. "Who goes there?" a voice calls out.

You raise your hand to show that you come in peace. "We are travelers seeking refuge," you say, your voice carrying through the dry air. As you get closer, you can see that they are a group of merchants, their caravans laden with goods from far-off lands. "You are welcome here."

One of the merchants steps forward, his face breaking into a warm smile. "You are welcome here. My name is Khalil, and these are my fellow merchants. We were just about to set up camp for the night when we saw you approaching. You look weary from your journey. Please, join us for some food and rest."

You nod gratefully, knowing that you and your Hashi could use some sustenance after the long journey. "Thank you, Khalil," you say, dismounting from your Hashi. "That sounds wonderful." He nods "The dungeon of Anok is a very dangerous place, you will need all the rest you can get, stay here a few nights before you enter its depths."

You follow Khalil to his camp, feeling a sense of relief wash over you as you see the array of tents and wagons. The merchants greet you warmly, offering you food and water. You accept gratefully, knowing that you and your Hashi need to replenish their energy.