There was a blizzard coming from the north. Though it was still some hours from fully reaching the small group of wagons Alethea and Baego were traveling with, the winds were picking up and the snow was coming down heavier than in the days before. The biting cold had been causing Alethea’s face to ache, but as the temperature continued to drop, as did the sun in the sky, her entire body had started to feel numb. She held Baego close to her side inside the wagon as it rolled along the Great North Road. Instead of waiting for the storm to pass, the traders had decided to plough onwards and try to reach the north’s capital before the storm reached them. Apparently there was no point in waiting for the storm to pass as blizzards this far north could last for days on end. Furthermore, they were unsure if any help from the castle would come to them if the wagons became snowed in. They had sent someone on ahead, but there was no guarantee of help.

The pace the company of traders was setting was unforgiving and as Baego shivered uncontrollably next to her, Alethea found herself worrying for the young boy’s health. Having lived his entire life in the south, he was not used to such harsh weather. Even though he had spent time living without a roof over his head, Alethea knew that the boy had never experienced such extremes in climate and she once again questioned the decision to allow the lad to accompany to the Great White North. She hadn’t asked Baego along, but she hadn’t stopped him either.

”They grow up so fast, don’t they?”

Alethea looked up at the sound of the woman’s voice. The woman was glancing before her and the shivering form against Alethea’s side, meaning she was talking about Baego. Alethea felt her throat constrict when she realised the woman was address her and she had asked her a question. The thief’s mind was sent into a whirl, scrambling to come up with an answer. A few moments passed and the woman was still looking at her expectantly.

“I, um, I do not have enough experience with children nor do I have any offspring of my own to be able to give you an adequate response.” Alethea’s response came out rushed and as soon as she saw the slightly confused and surprised look on the woman’s face, knew she had said the wrong thing once again.

The woman merely nodded uncertainly, before turning to talk to someone else. Alethea let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding, glad she would not have to engage in conversation with her fellow traveller any more. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the woman and her companion shooting her glances as they spoke to each other. Clearly they were talking about her. Alethea ignored them. She was used to it.

“You could have answered that one,” she muttered quietly to Baego.

The lad raised his head to look at her. “It was a statement and a question. All you had to do was agree with her.”

[i]Oh.[/i] Alethea hadn’t known that, but filed it away for later use.

“And 'offspring’? Don’t call children that.”

Again, the unknown snippet was filed away.