When Arlen and the others made it back to their camp, night had fallen. Herbst was there waiting for them, cooking up some stew. After dinner, Arlen brought up a most important thing. "Lynde and I found out that she and Artsanna would be welcomed in Surda," he said to Rose. "Perhaps we should go."

Rose frowned. "How?" When Arlen finished explaining, she said, "And you trust your source?"

"Yes," Arlen said. "I trust him like family."

Rose sighed. She probably didn't know what he referred to, but if she did, she didn't show it. She took a stick out of the fire, spoke a spell that put out her makeshift torch, and used it to draw a map of the Empire "Let me show you how impossible this is." She pointed to a norther point near the Spine. "Here we are," she pointed to the south, "and here's Surda. Going through the core of the Empire would be near suicidal, the Hadarac desert would be too obvious and Gil'ead's in the way, and we can't go through the Spine because of the possibility of hostile Urgals. We can't get there."

"Then we'll go by boat," Lynde offered.

Artsanna make an unpleasant face. Can you imagine me on a boat?

"And along our way, we'll probably end up stopping at Teirm, and if you'll remember, I cannot go there due to my oath," Rose noted. Arlen wondered why she gave that oath, but it was a question for another day. "In any case, it would be an impossible undertaking to go by the coastal route."

Herbst, who had been quiet for most of the conversation, spoke up. "Why does it have to be us traveling?" Just about everyone looked at him, bewildered. "How about a group of traveling circus performers?"

Rose nodded. "It sounds like a good thought. We disguise ourselves as performers and it doesn't matter which way we take as long as we stay away from Ilirea or any other Rider outposts."

"So we're going?" Lynde said.

Rose crossed her arms. "I don't know about that. I know little of Surda or this King Orrin. I would avoid a risk this large if I can help it."

"We'll put it to a vote then," Arlen proposed. "How about that?"

Rose shook her head. "This isn't one of your village meets. I have wisdom granted to me over centuries that you four could not have. I make the decisions around here."

"I'm the Rider!" Lynde said.

"In training," Rose corrected. "I'm the master."

"And I'm her father," Herbst noted. "I say where she goes, and I think it might be safer to remain here."

Lynde frowned. "I don't need either of you to tell me where I can and cannot go!"

Arlen raised his hand. "Can I say something?"

Rose looked at him. "What?"

"That Rider, Volyeth, how dutiful is she?" Arlen asked.

"Very," Rose answered. "She tried to go to war with the others, but she was too young. She even tried sneaking in, but she was found out. Why do you ask?"

"I wanted to know if she would report us to the Riders," Arlen said. "So would she?"

Rose frowned regretfully and said, "Yes, she would do that, even with me involved."

"Then we need to go," Arlen said. As much as he didn't want to abandon their good work in the north, the Riders would probably put it to an end anyway.

"Very well," Rose said. "I give my blessing to this doomed endeavor. Herbst, what about you?"

Herbst frowned. "I still don't like this, but I'd hate for you to be taken away, Lynde, so we'll go."

It is troubling that you four do not even ask for my opinion, Artsanna said.

Lynde turned to the silver Dragon and said, "Alright, what do you think?"

I say what would be so bad about being among the Dragon Riders? They would undoubtedly let us continue helping people, and give us better support than we can provide for ourselves.

Lynde was simply shocked. "Artsanna, I can't believe you! You would give up just like that?"

If we keep doing this, it will draw Riders away from what they are truly needed for. It would benefit everyone to stop this before someone is killed.

"Artsanna!"

"Lynde," Arlen said, trying to calm her. "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and even if Artsanna has one different than us, that doesn't warrant your anger." Really Arlen thought that there was some wisdom in what Artsanna said. Lynde couldn't be a rogue forever, so she'd either have to join eventually or die—or wait for the order fall again, whichever came first. However, he was more interested in mediating this argument than correcting opinions, so he wouldn't admit to liking the Dragon's ideas yet.

Lynde reluctantly gave into Arlen's words. "Alright, but you'd better not to try changing anything in my head while I sleep," she said.

Artsanna was offended. I would never do that!

"Let's just try to get some rest," Rose said. "I want to get up early tomorrow to work on our disguises."

They agreed and went into their separate tents. Arlen's tent was shorter than he was and not particularly wide. He could fit in it, if he crouched anyway. They got these tents from Roran Stronghammer after they fought Raud for the first time, and he had to admit that it was better than sleeping in the open when it rained.

Arlen laid down to rest, and soon enough, he did.