The sun was already sinking beyond the western hills when Sage finally called for the expedition to stop.
They had been traveling since dawn, following the southern route Rowan had selected, and although everyone was capable of continuing for several more hours, pushing themselves into exhaustion before entering an unknown dungeon would accomplish little.
Rowan located a sheltered clearing beside a narrow stream, where the six settled down for the night.
Yet despite the long journey, nobody seemed particularly interested in sleeping.
Earlier that morning, they had witnessed an enormous pillar of golden-white light rising into the heavens above Greyfen. Even from their considerable distance, the phenomenon had been impossible to overlook.
The radiance had pierced the clouds, remaining visible long enough for travelers along the road to abandon their journeys and stare toward the distant wilderness.
