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Estora, as so accustouilty as she had not before that she wasn’t helping, but Karigan and Fergal appeared to have a routine worked out and she did not wish to disrupt it Of late, she was discovering just how very useless she was

When they finished, Karigan planted her hands on her hips and gazed steadily at Estora and Fergal

“Fergal,” she said, “avoid towns as much as possible Use the waystations” She handed hie satchel “Maps are inside if you need thees we’ve collected Your job is to return the, but your most important duty is to return Lady Estora to him safely Do you understand?”

Fergal reached out to receive the satchel with some hesitance “Aye I do What about you?”

“I’ll make my way back to Sacor City as best I can,” she replied “Don’t worry about me Just worry about Lady Estora Get her hoer a trainee Do you understand, Fergal? You’re a true Green Rider, and I know you can do this”

Fergal nodded, looking daunted by the task Estora would have preferred Karigan to ride with theainsaid

Karigan then said to Estora, “Don’t draw that sword until Fergal shows you how to handle it” She smiled “It was F’ryan’s, you know”

Estora’s voice caught in her throat “I know”

Karigan nodded, lifted her skirts, and walked over to Condor She spoke words to him no one else could hear, and kissed his nose Was it Estora’s ilum?

“I told hian said to Estora “And he will Trust hi at the sidesaddle rig with trepidation “It’s been a while since I’ve sat a sidesaddle…” She stepped up on a rock to mount

“Wait,” Fergal said

Karigan turned, and the young man removed a knife froazed down at him with a startled expression

“Are you sure?” she asked “I haven’t practiced of late…”

He nodded “Aye Take ’em”

“Well, then,” she said, “those villains will get a surprise if they come too close”

“They’d have to be real close,” Fergal said

The Riders laughed at soling the skirts of the habit in the process

“Um…” she said

Estora helped straighten everything out, but Karigan couldn’t quite get the seat right

“Don’t sit to the side,” Estora instructed her “Sit atop You will be secure”

“Then why do I feel like I’ wobbly