Serpent Lake stained glass and marble

@Senmut or @Zaahira, or anyone from AK! @Qiao maybe? @Toula @Rashepses.

Glaukos marched a while longer. He knew the way to the palace, but he chose to seek out other things first: the river running to the south was a good start. Whether the young witch's familiar followed or not, he would seek the shallows of the Serpent.

Once there, he waded in to the river. The flow lifted bits of grass seed and pollen from his time crossing the meadow, and in time would rid Glaukos of the scent of the valley. He drank when thirsty, and after pulling himself to the embankment he let the sun warm him. A few shakes, some rolls in the grass, and the bear of a man was ready.

Hunger still nagged at him, but Glaukos figured he could withstand a few more days of travel—and so he followed the river north towards the mesa, knowing the way well enough, and when he saw the rising stonework of the steppes and the red rock, he knew he was close.

The man did not want to call out—although he was far enough from the valley now to be safely removed from danger, silence held a tactical advantage that could not be ignored. Glaukos sought the most obvious and well-used path (as it might have been a frequent patrol route by mazoi) and watched for signs of life.