"A sun's march to the south."
Tharn nodded. "You may return to your friends," he said. "If she is still alive I will find her. If she is dead, or if I find her alive and learn that you have harmed her, I will come back and kill you!"
Jotan shrugged. Not for an instant did he doubt that the young giant meant exactly what he said. Somehow his own life seemed unimportant with Dylara gone. He knew that, alive or dead, Dylara was lost to him and that he would never see her again.
He shook off his thoughts. "Then I am free to go?"
"Yes."
"Where will I find my friends?"
"The trail where I found you is directly below. They have discovered your absence and have backtracked in search of you."
Without another word Jotan rose to his feet and began the long descent groundward.
Once the intervening foliage hid the Ammadian from view, Tharn said to Trakor, "A sun's march to the south," he said. "We should make it in half that time—perhaps less. Come."
Side by side the two Cro-Magnards set off through the leafy reaches of the trees.