Chapter 19: The Journey Continues
                     ---------------------------------

Upon the fight, Akfek telepathically sent a message to Sascha.  "Sascha,
this is a ripe opportunity to leave the invisible presence that was spying
on us. We will leave immediately."  The two left the scene and headed for
the ship where Pukcus and the sailors were preparing for their arrival.

Akfek and Sascha boarded the ship where the sailors were ready to set sail.
There, Akfek found Pukcus and demanded, "Pukcus, set sail for the forest
south of Mobliz now."

The ship sailed for the forest south of Mobliz, and on its arrival, Akfek
and Sascha departed the ship.  After a short journey, they arrived in the
middle of the forest, where a small tree was standing in a clearing in the
center of the forest.  They approached the mini tree and heard a yawn.  It
was not a tree but a treelike figure.  The treelike figure opened its
pointed eyes and shook the leaves among its head and two small arms
extended from its body. "I am Dryad, the elemental of trees and plants.
Who are you?"

"We are here to study plants," lied Sascha, "and we have never seen a plant
like you before."

"If you are here to study the source of all beauty and the greenery of this
planet that provides life to..."  Dryad went on similarly for a while, and
concluded, "... then you are my friend.  I would like to come with you, for
my powers with the green may prove useful for your studies."

"We would be most grateful if you journeyed with us," acknowledged Sascha
and then pondered, "this elemental is a sucker indeed."

"Dryad, your presence may scare people and animals when you travel with
us," Sascha continued.  "Nobody has ever seen a moving plant before.
Fortunately, I have a way of disguising your appearance.  You wouldn't mind
if I turned you invisible for the sake of safety, would you?" questioned
Sascha.

The elemental of trees' response was, "If my appearance compromises our
safety, then I have no objections to that idea."  At once, the elemental's
figure disappeared into the thin air.

Meanwhile, Akfek was telepathically conversing with Shade.  "Shade,
continue to cloud the other elementals' minds.  Do the same with Dryad.
She will be a very significant asset in the future."

Then they departed the forest and boarded the ship again.  Aboard the ship,
Akfek questioned Shade telepathically, "Shade, where is Connor now?"

"My senses tell me Connor is on an island south of Maranda."

After Akfek was notified of Connor's location, he issued his next order to
Pukcus, "Pukcus, there is an island south of Maranda called the Solitary
Island.  That is our next destination."

The ship headed south-east to the island south of Maranda.  Time passed
slowly but they eventually arrived at the Solitary Island.  Again, when the
ship arrived at the Solitary Island, Akfek and Sascha left the ship with
the crew remaining on board.