"An- Uhm... Which storm would we be talking about?"

It was interesting, talking to someone who seemed to genuinely enjoy life on the road. Charles had always been a man of the city, Alexi much the same, were only necessity managed to force either out from the walls and onto the dusty roads. As enjoyable as this trip had been so far -barely started as it was- he couldn't help but look forward to their arrival in Avantshire.

Was it because he'd then have the opportunity to embark on the longer journey had had long been looking forward to? Perhaps? But again, it was the towns, the villages, the little pockets of civilization and the stories they held that attracted him. From this place to that place, these people to the next people, it was never the road, the travel itself, that entered his mind.

While, as far as he could tell from their conversation, Katherine felt just the opposite.

It was a difference that intrigued Alexi, made him wonder just what her view might be on this or that, how much it differed from his own. Her comment on the shore, how she seemed to enjoy the idea of having been near the ocean, excited the Scribe even more. The things he could say about the waters, memories still dear in his mind, ones of Einfeld he still enjoyed to recall...

But then a tree appeared across their path, Katherine's pithy comment causing Alexi's mood to drown into panic as she fell silent and drew her blade.

Was this an ambush? Longs over the road- it was a typical setup, right? Stop the travelers, wait until they try to struggle past, that's how it always went, didn't it? If that was the cas- Wait- Didn't a courier pass them by before? Had he turned off? If he had gone this way, he would have been attacked, right? No blood was visible as he shivered atop his horse, so was it just a fallen tree?

"Is.. ah... Is something wrong?" He hoped no. He prayed it was fine. Just a small delay, slowing them a little as they carefully moved across, right? They'd have to hurry later, to ensure they made it to Avantshire in time... but that wouldn't be too bad. Not when compared to Bandits.

So... everything was fine, right?