and tried to find Rotapan and Saelin through the mountain mists. For some time, she had been able to follow them up the craggy sides of Drufalden's stronghold, but now she had lost them.
"I don't like this one bit."
She collapsed the glass into its casing and ate another banana. It was getting a bit lonely in the warm spring's bower. Riolla shifted her deep blue eyes over the tropical foliage, checking for movement or intruders. It had not been the best of ideas to stay there alone, but she could not risk putting herself on Drufalden's home soil without more protection.
The steady dripping of the condensed steam from the plants had begun to annoy her. Her hair drooped and her clothes were soaked through. She so hated wet places; full of noxious mold and mildew. She stirred the little fire at her feet, trying to get dry, but the heat was making her sleepy. The steamy spring gurgled invitingly a few feet from the fire. If she were already wet, she might as well enjoy it and stay awake at the same time. Riolla looked around one more time and then began to undress.