Rudsis was surprised at the amount of time they had to travel to reach Crown. He had not been conscious of the staggering distance when it was broken up in different parts. From the city to Afena's cottage, to the garrison with the obsidian, to the alev grove, and then back again. Had it not been because they made the journey without detours this time, he never would have gained perspective on it.
At night, they were camping in the woods for the last time one day before reaching Crown. Things would soon come to and, and he couldn't help the anxiousness assaulting his nerves. The former guard plucked single blades of grass from the ground, and kept blowing air out of his mouth in small, repetitive, continuous bursts.