บท 255: Gone (2)

The remainder of the journey to the mountain did not take long. After another two hours of hiking and the group was finally in the first lot of tunnels beneath the palace, sheltered from the wind and snow. They weren't quite deep enough for the Lyvarian magic of heating to kick in, but to the weary travellers, this was enough. 

With practised efficiency, camp was swiftly and quietly set up with the tents equipped with that underfloor heating. They were weary from the travel and the beast that claimed one of their own, but the mundane routine of setting up camp was a welcome distraction. It allowed them to momentarily set aside the pain of losing one of their own and the hardships they had faced on their journey. The rhythmic tasks of securing tents, unrolling mats and furs, and arranging supplies provided a sense of normalcy in the midst of their sorrow.