"And I am telling you that you're going the wrong way, east is that way." Sarah pointed, annoyed. They weren't even out of the Labyrinth yet and already, Hoggle was messing them up.
"I think I've been here a bit longer than you," said Hoggle was firmly standing his ground.
"Look, Hoggle, I know we're friends, but if that is north," She pointed forward, "Then that is east." She continued, turning to the right.
"Sarah, I'm a dwarf. I know my way around the Labyrinth. Have I ever steered you wrong?" He looked ashamed for a moment. "What did I tell you about assumptions?"
Sarah put her hands on her hips and stood her ground. "We're going right Hoggle, and that's final." She fumed and marched off, Sir Didymus in tow. Ludo looked back and forth between Sarah and Hoggle, but followed the girl. He wanted to get home very much, but Sarah was his friend.
"Alright," called Hoggle. "But from this moment on, don't come crying to me for getting lost. Stupid human girls," he mumbled under his breath.
"What did you say?" Sarah asked, incensed, but they went right, going farther and farther northwest.
***
The Queen of Carn was sitting in front of her desk, writing a letter to Avery, the King of Triswald. Now that her agreement with the King of Goblins was broken, she could form other alliances. She knew that Triswald was long antagonistic to the Labyrinth, on account of its unfortunate location. The medium sized kingdom was situated directly north of the Bog of Eternal Stench, and everybody knew that smells traveled up. There have already been several reported deaths from arsenic poisoning. Carn would continue to supply chickens to Goblin City, for now. But Judy knew that Avery would still be glad to be allied with her.
***
Sarah pinched her nose as they approached the Bog of Eternal Stench. Ugh. Her memory didn't do the stench justice. "Can't we go around it?" She asked petulantly, with a nasal voice.
"You picked this path, you choose where to go." Hoggle.
"Remember, our adventure doesn't start until we exit the Labyrinth," Sarah reminded the group. She looked around for a shortcut through the Bog, and pulled her shirt over her nose. "There," She said, her voice muffled, "There's a trail of stones, over by that tree. She pushed a bunch of cattails out of the way as she stepped onto the short stone, hands holding on to a branch. Hoggle and company did the same, and on they went.
Only Sir Didymus was content, although there was something in the back of his mind... And Ambrosius was more skittish as usual. He was running back and forth along the edge of the bog, reluctant to go across.
***
Finally, the group approached the forest. It was afternoon by then. They kept on walking, and Hoggle was refusing to help them out, much to Sarah's chagrin. By early evening, Ludo was looking around anxiously. They picked berries to eat, and made fast conversation in order to fend of the boredom. Sarah even suggested singing songs, but somebody's voice was a little too high. Suddenly, Sarah heard a noise.
