On the outskirts of R'iliegh.
The group gather around each other, their materials, armor and loads sitting in the middle. Everyone turns to Arryn.
"So, you're not gonna tell us why we didn't go in the other direction, towards the port, Arryn?" Lyse asks sarcastically.
"Yeah, we're meant to be in Valkenburg by the 28th. The Church is getting more and more suspicious of us, Ari." Montie replies.
"We all got the memo, right? Viscount got his daughter taken away, his guards give chase and turn up dead on the bluff of Carnegie." Arryn begins. "Ely got a fair bit of information from him but there's a problem in the description."
"A problem?" Elyra gives a puzzled expression.
"Yeah. He said he'd have to get help from Elios, but that would take too long, but one has to pass through Elios to get through Carnegie. A feat that wouldn't exactly be possible for regular kidnappers looking to get leverage on an average nobleman."
"Yeah..." Gavric interjects "but one can also get to Carnegie by going around Elios through Dusk Valley, though it'd take longer."
"Which brings me to the second problem. He specifically requested for the Band of Roses. meaning, he knew the kidnappers aren't a large force, and they could have easily been caught by his own men, but since they failed at that, and only one returned alive, he knew sending a large force would be simply suicidal."
"And the third problem?" Montie asks.
"I assume you knew this already, but the bluff of Carnegie is close to The White Woods, a place notorious for its Night Creatures."
"Those nasty fuckers." Lyse says. "Persistent, annoying things."
"So, what's your point, Ari?" Montie continues.
"The Stones is a straight path from Carnegie, and the Woods do not overlap its path."
The realization hits everyone.
"The White Woods head straight into Nuwait. and what important structure is in Nuwait? A structure that would allow the kidnappers a guaranteed escape?"
"The Red Sun Bridge!" Elyra says.
"Right. The bridge is safest to traverse in the daytime, and the Gold Gate is closed at night, so anyone entering Ruffield by bridge is bound to wait overnight."
"...and the Night Creatures would attack them then. But what does that have to do with the kidnappers? This means they're not in Grimeford anymore, right?" Gavric says.
"Oh no, they're still here. They're just simply untouchable to the average person."
"You don't mean..." Montie says.
"Yes. Better rest up, we're up against the White Woods in two days."