Although the wolf's bite and the muscle tearing is mostly healed, the new muscle in Kellon's leg tugs and sends sharp pain shooting up. It is not long before he is hobbling alongside the others.

"We can't keep going like this," Kellon finally admits. "If we keep up the pace at this rate, it'll just slow us to a crawl."

Ahead, they can see the black coach. Kellon feels trepidation as he whispers to Ismarck, "Strahd sent us a personal letter, told us that the coach would be waiting here. I've no intention of going along, but it's impossible for them not to recognize me. If things go belly-up and they take me up to the castle, just keep going. No sense in Strahd getting all of us."