Caroline looked back at the healer. "You're persistent, I'll give you that, but my course will not be swayed. If you want, you can walk beside me, so you can be the one to toss me in a wagon if I fall over again." Turning back toward the exit, her next words were barely audible. "I could use such a strong will by my side anyway, Diana."

----

Elizabeth took advantage of the short break to unroll the leather bundle she had under her arm. With what little time she had had to herself before the evacuation, she had managed to dissemble the weapon and make a traveling case for it. laying it on the ground, she examined the device. The long metal tube seemed to serve only to direct the projectile. Now that she had it apart, the weapon was actually quite simple. The parts could be easily replaced if necessary. The complicated part was the powder. "I wish I had my lab equipment." She said to nobody in particular. Rolling up the bundle again, she suddenly felt a familiar presence. Whipping her head around, she thought she saw something moving in the trees, but maybe it was just her imagination.