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I did not sleep that night and arose very early the nextToday I would leave my family home behind me I was suddenly aware, as I looked around my bare roo my breaks froain until Carsina and I made one for ourselves My narrow bed and ele wooden box remained on one shelf My rocks were in it I had started to throw them out, but found I could not Yaril had promised to take custody of them I opened the box to take a final look at all of ht of as Dewara’s stone, the one frolinted as I opened the box I stared at them all for a moment, and then selected that one to take with me I slipped it into ht breath this side of death It was a thought toman seize his life in both hands and live it to the full Yet when I closed the door to my room behind me, the snick of the door catch seeeant Duril were to accoe of my journey My chest of fine new unifor with a smaller chest that held my father’s wardrobe for the trip I wore a white shirt and blue trousers, a blue jacket to ht I looked rather fine My father and I wore our tall hats I recall that I had only worn mine twice before that, once to Colonel Kempson’s anniversary ball at his hoeant Duril was attired as humbly as ever, for he was to accompany us only as far as the flatboat to see us loaded

I had ht before I had tried to have a private ith Yaril, but I suspected that she avoided giving me the opportunity If Re of it, and dared not ask race with him I had not expected the rest of my family to rise with the dawn to bid own, descended to kissbefore I departed froht a lump to my throat I did not want to leave my home with boyish tears onso

The rains of winter had not yet swollen the river I was just as glad that ould not be traveling when the current was full swift and strong aes Instead, it was a ti families back west to visit relatives and buy the latest fashionable attire for the winter season to come I confess that I rather hoped our flatboat would hold soht it would be pleasant to let theeant Duril loaded our trunks on was a siers and o The captain and his two crewmen quickly erected the temporary stall walls that alray gelding Steelshanks were put up side by side in roomy boxes on the deck The crews of the flatboats were very familiar with cavalla men and their needs when they traveled Some had become alh my father was retired, they treated him with the respect due his former rank, as well as the courtesies owed a "battle lord," as the newer ranks of the king’s nobility were sometimes affectionately knoo of the deckhands were Plains before, and I think Captain Rhosher knew my father disapproved, for he took the time to point out that both of then that they had voluntarily given up all association with ic My father pointed out to the captain that there were many Gernian men ould have welcomed the work, and that he could have allowed the Plainse on the matter, but in our cabin my father later co the deck, he’d have booked passage on a different flatboat

Despite this, our journey soon settled into a pleasant routine The river was low, the current calm but steady, and the steersman knew his business He kept us well in the channel, and the deckhands had little to do other than keep a watch for snags The captain was brave enough to keep us traveling at night when the moon was full, and so we entle nobles were returning home with several crates of antlers, horns, and pelts as souvenirs of their wild-lands adventure I envied the jackets and glea boots They were both first sons and heirs to old names and fortunes I was a bit shocked to see the it all their oay, but they both gaveheirs were expected to go out and do a bit of adventuring and sowing of wild oats before settling down in their thirties to the serious business of inheriting the family name When I compared the