Dorin needed to know where he was. The spotty map that had formed in his mind over the past few days was useless if he didn't have any references to go off of. The only thing he knew was that Eki had carried him for at least a couple hours, as the sun had only just begun setting when they left.
Looking between the sources of light, it was likely that the larger of the two was another city. Dorin didn't want to get caught, but he needed information if he was going to be able to continue evading his hunters.
'Stay here.' Dorin rubbed behind Eki's ear, trying not to look in his eyes. His companion pulled against his order, and that made Dorin confused. A trail of drool from Eki's mouth dripped to the floor, and Dorin suddenly understood. Eki was hungry.
'Okay then, just stay safe and don't follow me.'
Dorin went as fast as he could through the swamp, keeping his vital sight active in case something dangerous came his way. His ego was inside his cheek, ready to be used at the first sign of trouble.
All he saw on his path were harmless blue and yellows as long as he stayed out of the various pools of murky water. They were filled with red auras, devouring anything that came near. Compared to the first night he spent in the forest, this was easy.
Dorin could see a lit up tower in the distance, and it was so tall that he wasn't sure exactly how far away it actually was. The drooped trees all around him blocked anything else from his view.
Eventually the vegetation cleared, and he could see the city in full. Dorin had only ever been told of Murad, Liranel, and Tur. He had seen Liranel during his escape, so this could only be Murad.
The map in Dorin's head got a little bigger, and the world began to lock in. The three cities made a triangle, with different kinds of environments between them. Their world was an island, surrounded by the ocean similar to the great river around the boundary of his original forging.
Dorin heard screams coming from the city, along with people in the distance running towards him into the swamp. Dark shapes followed them, and Dorin spat out his ego.
Five strands of black tailed stars swirled around Dorin, and a dark trident with red tips manifested in his hands.
A grisly chittering filled the swamp, and Dorin saw various small red auras peek into the edge of his vital sight, including a familiar blindingly white aura.
'Ara?'
Dorin prepared to run away, he didn't believe he would have a chance against her now that she knew he was partially immune to her blinding light. Around her there were dozens of red auras, and every couple seconds an aura would disappear. 'She must be fighting against whatever those aura's belong to.'
One of the aura's rushed at Dorin, and he saw what they belonged to. It was a purple beetle with sharp black pincers, six legs pushed its low-riding shell that left no clear openings.
Dorin readied his trident, and the beetle launched itself at his face. Barely having a chance to react, all Dorin could do was swat it away. The beetle tried to hang onto his weapon, but Dorin threw it as far away as he could and began to run back towards Eki.
'I need to get out of here before I get in the middle of this swarm.'
Screams petered out around him as the red auras flared. To Dorin it seemed like they were only getting stronger.
Another beetle launched itself at him, but he was prepared this time. He skewered it with all three prongs, but its aura didn't die. Dozens of smaller beetles exploded from inside, but the black liquid that covered Dorin's weapon devoured them all.
'These are not mortal beasts.'
Dorin knew he had to get out of the swamp as fast as possible. He called Eki, suddenly wishing he had brought his companion along.
Ara was still alive, but there were dozens of beetles surrounding her. Dorin wasn't sure if she would make it, but he wouldn't risk his life for her. Her aura was shooting out in tiny arcing balls, growing stronger just like the beetles. If anyone could survive this, it was her.
Dorin felt the connection with his companion again, meaning that Eki was close.
Suddenly Ara's aura exploded, and Dorin had to shut off his vital sight for a moment. When he was able to turn it on again, her aura was like a burning flame, and there was a second smaller white aura right beside her.
Eki arrived with a beetle in his mouth, and Dorin heard small pops as he chewed. Dorin pulled himself up Eki's back, and they began to ride away from the swamp.
Dorin swung his trident to bat away any jumping beetles as they sped away. Every so often he saw a creature jump up from the murky swamp water and devour a beetle that he had swatted away.
'I'm won't be coming back to Murad any time soon.'