CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
They rode the horses hard and steady, each day and in their five days of travel they managed to cover over seven hundred kilometres.
The last five days, since they left Palatka were the safest and easiest five days of travel since the day they had left Besten.
The horses were strong and they made good time. The few rests that they had along the way were enough rest for the horses, too.
Boyce was pleased that Pomperaque was soon within his grasp and Lloyd was pleased that Manguino would soon feel his death, like the common man that he is.
Ahead of them stretched the lush and friendly Joenine Forest.
Each man could still remember the glen from which Empal helped them escape to Virune, then on to Besten.
The beauty of Upper Phoride was just as Boyce had remembered it.
"I know my way from here!" he said to Lloyd as they slowly rode through the forest. "Shall we go to the entrance of the Blue Mansion's underground passage?"
"No!" Lloyd answered quickly. "It would not be safe and it may draw unnecessary attention to us."