"Yes, I think you're right." Asher grunted as he hefted himself up on to the horse, with Johanna's help. "Thank you," he hissed, still cursing at the internal aches and pains. Hopefully they would fade, but he would be damn uncomfortable until then. "Let's bring him along. One of these horses may get tired, and we also might be able to make use of a pack horse." Then he realized something: the Magi weren't moving.

The idea that Asher had suddenly burst to the surface. He slid off the horse again. "Let's try to follow these Magi. For one thing, we'll be safe while we're near them. But I think..." here Asher tapped his chin. "I think they might be heading in the same direction as we are. They also might know a whole treasure trove of information." He paused. Appropriate words, 'treasure trove'. "If we work at it well enough, we might be able to find something useful for [i]our[/i] ordeal."

The night was only just beginning, and it didn't seem like the Magi were going to be leaving any time soon. "Here's what we'll do, for now." Asher chose his words with care. At the beginning of the venture, Johanna had been a tagalong, with him calling the shots. But now, having save each others lives, and spoken at great length, they were friends, and comrades. Asher didn't want to overstep his bounds. "Sleep in turns, keeping watch for either more bandits, or the Magi's departure. If they're still here in the morning, excellent. We'll begin following them whenever they decide to move, and see what we can find out."

He grimaced with pain. "If you don't mind, could you take the first watch?" Hoping she'd agree, Asher limped back to their campsite, reignited the fire after a few failed attempts, and promptly fell into the tent he had hastily pitched, drained and exhausted.