Four weeks had felt like forever on the road. There wasn't a muscle or bone that didn't ache and Willa longed for a hot bath and a decent meal. The trio had been silent for hours, and the woman's shrouded head was bowed as exhaustion threatened to drag her from her grey stallion's saddle.
"The crossing is only another day and a half's ride, My Lady. We'll set up camp soon." Rand, an older man with kind eyes rumbled assuringly at her. He was the most skilled warrior her family had ever known, and he'd been in their service since before Willa was born. He thought of her like a daughter though he'd never say so, but she knew. The younger man at her other side smiled and passed her a water skin and she managed a soft smile that she was too tired to hold onto for long.
Willa straightened up a little and they ambled along the dimpled road for a while longer, the sound of the Cairou river leading their way to Elbion. They found a clearing sheltered by a thick copse of trees and the two men helped her down from her saddle and set out her bedroll, blankets and a pillow which she gratefully settled into as they set up a small fire. She stayed awake long enough to eat a little of the dried venison she was quickly becoming sick of, but it was sustenance.
"When we get to Elbion.." Willa's words tumbled out in a sigh as she pulled her blanket around her shoulders that were forever cold. "First thing we're doing.. is finding a warm inn.. and getting three fat chickens..." she yawned... "With roasted potatoes.. " her words drifted.. "And.. carrots.." she sighed... "Gravy...." she slept, and the two men grinned at her and shared a skin of wine before falling asleep by the crackling fire.
"The crossing is only another day and a half's ride, My Lady. We'll set up camp soon." Rand, an older man with kind eyes rumbled assuringly at her. He was the most skilled warrior her family had ever known, and he'd been in their service since before Willa was born. He thought of her like a daughter though he'd never say so, but she knew. The younger man at her other side smiled and passed her a water skin and she managed a soft smile that she was too tired to hold onto for long.
Willa straightened up a little and they ambled along the dimpled road for a while longer, the sound of the Cairou river leading their way to Elbion. They found a clearing sheltered by a thick copse of trees and the two men helped her down from her saddle and set out her bedroll, blankets and a pillow which she gratefully settled into as they set up a small fire. She stayed awake long enough to eat a little of the dried venison she was quickly becoming sick of, but it was sustenance.
"When we get to Elbion.." Willa's words tumbled out in a sigh as she pulled her blanket around her shoulders that were forever cold. "First thing we're doing.. is finding a warm inn.. and getting three fat chickens..." she yawned... "With roasted potatoes.. " her words drifted.. "And.. carrots.." she sighed... "Gravy...." she slept, and the two men grinned at her and shared a skin of wine before falling asleep by the crackling fire.