Alphonse converged on Demund on the main road, as both of them walked toward the smoke.  They looked at each other, but didn't say anything.  Alph noted that the both of them were armed now.  He knew that Dem was interested in learning to make swords, and thought that this was perhaps a secret project of his.  It certainly looked new.  

The two slowed to a stop some five yards away from the source of the smoke.  Alph for one didn't feel the need to get any closer to the still smoldering ruins of what had been three of the townspeople.  He pulled his undertunic out from under the leather jerkin he wore and covered his mouth and nose with it.  Looking past the bodies, he saw that their house had been ransacked as well, someone had been looking for something, and apparently weren't happy that they had failed to find it.  The eggs?  Alphonse couldn't think of anything else worth having, or worth killing for, in Mashal.  It seemed a staggering coincidence, but at the same time, it wasn't particularly likely that all four of them had eggs hatch for them.  

[color=f26522]"Dem,"[/color] Alph said, looking at the younger boy.  [color=f26522]"We need to get back, and fast."[/color]  He put a foot in the stirrup and mounted his horse, then held a hand down for Demund.  [color=f26522]"Get up and hold on tight."[/color]  The horse was old and well traveled, but they didn't have far to go, and neither of them were particularly heavy either.