Danir's Journey: A Friendship Ends

Gregor's trail proved to be taking him back to the Cave of Tears as he'd expected, and that worried him.
Within a few hundred yards of the cave entrance, Danir pulled Yuri to a halt, dismounted, and drew his sword.
His keen hearing picked up Gregor's maniacal laughter.
Warily, Danir moved on through the brush.
The entrance came into view, and before it, stood Gregor, and his golem.
"Stay back!" Gregor called. "He will kill you without hesitation."
"What do you care? You've already damned yourself!"
The diminutive, cloak-clad Gregor cackled derisively. "Goodbye, Danir!"
Gregor disappeared into the cave.