Chapter 435

Andrew and Damarion set out at dawn. Andrew had an instinctive alertness to danger, and as they traveled, he managed to steer them away from many perils. Meanwhile, Damarion had brought along an impressive assortment of medical supplies—repellents for insects and snakes, as well as poisons and sedatives. These proved useful when they encountered wild animals. Despite their precautions, the journey through no-man's-land was grueling. Getting in was hard enough; getting out seemed nearly impossible. At one point, Damarion misstepped into a swamp. Before he realized what had happened, he was sinking rapidly. It took all of Andrew's strength to haul him out of the muck. Gasping for air, Damarion muttered, "Maybe we should just give up. I don't think we're making it out of here alive. "Even if we somehow survive, the only person who truly cares about you is going to die anyway. Maybe it's better if we all just die together. Who knows? We might be reunited as a family in the next lif