Having crossed the east fork of the Uedama River and continuing their journey to the Jewell Cities, where “diamonds as big as a man’s fist lie on the open ground ready to be picked up”, Rekha Mar’Khabazza and the stranger continue heading eastwards.
Mar’Khabazza’s plan, such as it is, is to head east until they bump into the west flank of the Thelan Mountains. At that point they then veer northwards while keeping the mountains on their right to the gap between the the Thelan Mountains and Akin’s Ridge, turning east once again until they reach the lower Inaro River and the Great Road. This is the road that begins at the Jewell Cities and continues uninterrupted for several thousands of miles to the south where it terminates at the steps of the Silver Hall of the Khizdushaz Empire.
It takes three days of travel until the Thelan Mountains come into view, at which point Mar’Khabazza and Feldspar turn northwards.
Three more days of travel brings the travelers to the gap between the Thelan Mountains and Akin’s Ridge. While still a hundred miles away, the mountain’s of Akin’s Ridge are clearly visible, standing four miles above the plains. They loom overhead but they are far to the north and the journey lies eastwards.
After about a hundred miles, their journey takes them to the Inaro River valley. It takes them several days search to find a suitable crossing point that will bring them to the Great Road. While searching, Mar’Khabazza and the stranger see a five wagon caravan heading north along the road. It’s the first signs of humanity that they’ve seen in weeks and, spooked, they decide to let the caravan pass by on their journey.
Then many days’ travel north along the road into an unnamed forest. While the air has been crisp and clear for several weeks now, as they approach the forest it turns wet, damp and cold and finally snow begins to fall.
At this point they are generally following the tracks of the earlier caravan though the forest. Mar’Khabazza, realizing he had failed to give thanks to the Spirits of the Frontier is now spooked by the spirits of the forest and begins to speed up from their normally sedate pace, cajoling Feldspar for more speed.