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Kaito blinked at Lin. "Naida? Feng and Ryu? They're coming along, too?" He chuckled. "I meant Arwen and Roydon and Leyenda. They're coming with us, of course, and Shiro would be able to ask all the questions he wanted there. Instead of having to stay here for a while first."

Kaito laughed. "Yeah, knowing him. Still, it would take some extra time before we could leave, they can't have food all packed and everything, just waiting for us. That would have to be gotten all fresh. There would be probably several days for that."

Earendil chuckled and ruffled Lin's hair gently. "I think you need some sleep," he grinned at her. "It's been a long day for all of us."

"To bed," Earendil agreed. "For all of us. See you in the morning, Lin." He waved to her before heading to his own room.

They spent over a week in Namonuito, visiting the sights and having fun with Arwen and her family, but at last the day came when they had to leave. After all, they couldn't stay forever - they had further destinations, and other trips that they would be taking in the future.

And so it was that by noon, they were already out of the city and well on their way west towards their next destination. They were following the river, and the air, though hotter out in the desert, was not as hot as their first few days of travel had been.

"This isn't bad," Kaito commented as they rode. "I think even Ura would be all right traveling like this. We really did do the worst part of the trip first, didn't we?"

Aranel nodded. "That was the only stretch without water, which of course makes it hotter, too," he affirmed. "The rest of the trip will be like this. We follow this river to Phoenix Falls, and from there we head up the Phoenix River back to Tor Karad."

"Easier than the way down, that was for sure," Earendil chuckled. "Still, I like this. I can see why Daeron chose a life of travel instead of a life at the palace."

Tinuviel glanced at Aranel. "This is nice," she murmured, "but with a family ... I think I would prefer to live in one place, and just travel occasionally."

Kaito grinned. "I like the ships. I can't wait until we go on our voyage."

Earendil grinned. "Well, Roydon said that being on a big ship is a lot better than being on a small rowboat," he offered. "Though it's definitely going to be something to get used to, the way it moves under your feet ..."

He trailed off, staring off into the distant south. "What's that?" he asked, raising one arm and pointing into the sky.

Kaito turned his head to look, and he couldn't help but chuckle. "That's a cloud," he grinned, turning back to his cousin. "I guess you don't get them in the desert, do you?"

Aranel laughed. "The only place in the entire Southland you'll see clouds is when you're near enough to the coast."

Aranel shrugged. "A light sprinkle once every few years, but that's about it," he replied. "Nothing substancial. Namonuito might get a good soaking once a year or so, but other than that you really have to be right on the coast to get any real weather."

He paused and looked at the cloud. It was still quite a distance away, but something about it was bothering him. "Though ... I don't believe that's a rain cloud," he murmured softly.

"I just hope it's not a wind cloud," Aranel murmured anxiously. "If we're caught in a windstorm ..."

He let the sentence hang. He didn't want to describe it.

"Maybe we should press on?" Earendil suggested. "Try to outrun it?"

Aranel nodded. "We won't reach any shelter by nightfall," he said, "but at least we will be further inland. It might not survive this far." He clucked at his horse, picking up the pace.

"They can be," Aranel replied. "They're incredibly dangerous ... if you're caught out in one without any protection ... well ... let's just say, I've found skeletons before, and not due to peopel starving or missing water."

Tinuviel held Regan closer. "Are you sure it's a windstorm?" she asked anxiously.

Aranel shook his head. "A fear, nothing more," he answered. "But if I'm right ... well, we better just hurry."