Skandi sighs. Takes three deep breaths.

"If it wasn't for the creatures of darkness, I wouldn't think there was any chance we wouldn't have to fight before we meet the Mask. If he doesn't intend to send skirmishers and light troops and mercenary allies to slow us down and prevent us from reaching Lookshy, it's only because he intends to pull extra supplies out of thin air using his sorcery so he can swing his main army down on us, to crush us before he turns on the city. But we can always listen to her briefing, meet up with our allies again, and then decide with all of us in council."

"But I don't know about the Creatures of Darkness. They may be demon- or ghost- bloods, or they may have their clothes haunted, but if your theory is right, and if he intends to let us arrive as part of his plans - we should find somewhere else in the region to look for allies and abandon the army in the middle of the night, vanishing as quickly and carefully as possible. If that wasn't just a flash of rage, and she does intend to shut us down completely, and we aren't going to have a chance to prove ourselves, it will only be because the Mask of Winters or his allies control her, and we want to be as far away from her as possible."