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“Have you had breakfast yet?” She asked hiet some, and wash up”
She watched hian was not gifted with Captain Mapstone’s ability to read truth or falsehood in another person’s words, but her years growing up in aZachary had s with petitioners As far as she could tell, Fergal was being honest with her and would not repeat his ized unbidden was another point in his favor
She also ad Condor and Sunny Not only did it result in a pair of glea horses that looked e errand, but his efforts also served as a peace offering A peace offering to her? To Sunny? Hiesture she appreciated very much
She patted Condor on the ruuess we’re stuck with him”
A SHIMMERING IN THE WOODS
After breakfast when Karigan told Fergal that he was to continue riding west and that she was not going to return him to Sacor City, his relief was so palpable that she aluilty about her previous plans
He remained quiet as they rode, and followed her instructions to perfection, not pulling any of the previous day’swalks with long trots It was a fine autu down around the the road Brassy blue jays could be heard bellowing above the clip-clop of hooves
They encountered a few travelers heading east, the wheels of carts folloell-established ruts in the road During the reign of Queen Isen, way had been paved with cobbles, but since the as left to local authorities, there were long stretches of road between towns and villages that reh the woods
By an called a halt so they could rest and have a bite to eat She found a grassy carriage turn-around next to a streaal pleased her by iirth, and replacing her bridle with a halter so she could graze and drink
Karigan couldn’t say whether he cared for her out of growing affection or duty She hoped he at least began to view themore than “meat,” but it was probably too soon to expect too much
She tended Condor, then led him to the stream for a drink When the horses were all settled, the Riders res strips of dried meat and fresh-baked bread Innkeeper Miles had supplied theiven to them by the farmwife the previous day
They sat in silence on boulders, the only i strea their tails Karigan found she could no longer abide the silence, and after sloshing so ride? Are you sore?”
“It’s not bad,” he mumbled
“That’s good” Karigan racked her brain for another way to initiate conversation “Where are you from?”