"I was surprised, to say the least," Lillian huffed irritably, "but you can't erase a history of [i]stoic[/i] disrespect with a [i]stupid[/i] feat of heroics." Lucas jabbed at the back of Lillian's neck with two fingers and shook his head. She ignored him and set her eyes back on the road. But the sound of steel against her wooden seat pulled her gaze. She looked at the sword with a worried expression, and then at Mikhael. Her eyes narrowed angrily and she pulled at the horses to keep them en route. "I've slayed monsters before. Give me a reason, and I won't hesitate if you find yourself at the receiving end of my blade, [i]or yours,[/i] likewise," she said sternly. Lucas shook his head and wandered back into the cart in response to his sister's stubborn reaction. Lillian sighed and pulled the horses to bank left down a particularly ill-treated pathway. After an uncomfortable silence, Lillian spoke again, her tone sullen and soft.

	"We're headed for a city known as Maple," She croaked, "Maya spoke little of its origins, but it's a ways away. She's confident that we'll be able to find [i]something[/i] there, assuming we can even [i]find it at all.[/i]" Lillian glanced at the horizon as the rocky uneven landscape began to flatten. Grooves in the stone, and the silhouettes of trees were softly highlighted by the moon's glow for miles. The direction they'd chosen had been leading them out of a terribly dangerous environment after all. Some of the trees were even sprouting leaves, albeit sparingly and with strange discoloration. "We weren't supposed to tell you, Maya made that clear. We're only ordered to keep you safe. You're our- Maya's precious cargo, rather." Lillian pulled one of her arms back and picked up Mikhael's sword by its handle. She raised it back towards him and nudged his shoulder with its hilt. "I see you as a tool for the Queen, but I will not treat you the way she does. And if it comes down to it, I will not need [i]your[/i] sword to kill you."