"[color=gold]Doctor? Remember where I told the Inn was?[/color]" Abel nodded at the old man's directions. 

Then looking at Abel the old man said "[color=gold]If you hurry, you can borrow my horse. It will be faster than running. The doctor is not as strong and fast as your friend here.[/color]"

Abel withheld the urge to scoff. [color=bisque][i]Strong and fast maybe, but not very smart[/i][/color], he inwardly muttered to himself as he shot a glance at Steven before turning to start unhitching the cart. But then--

"[color=coral]You know... a horse sounds like a good idea.[/color]" 

Before Abel even got a chance to lay his hands on the ropes, Steven had miraculously overcome being out of breath within the few seconds they'd been conversing, forwent finishing his cup of water, and began unhitching the horse. Slightly frustrated, Abel shrugged it off. [color=bisque][i]That's nice of him, I guess[/i][/color], he grudgingly thought as he stepped to one side of the horse. Again, before he was able to mount the beast, Steven's foot came careening towards his head as he quickly mounted it from the other side. The bottom of Steven's boot managed to graze Abel's nose as he tried to get out of the way, leaving a scuff of mud and lingering soreness. 

"[color=coral]Your horse is very well trained,[/color]" Steven said to the old man-- completely ignoring Abel as if to rub it in that, in spite of the fact that the old man had very clearly been speaking to Abel, he had insisted on going into town on the horse in his own Steven-y way. What a belligerent asshole! Abel had been wrong about accusing Steven of being stupid! He was indeed actually just a glory-hogging ass! He got Abel to leave so he could play hero with the girls! He'd probably seen the lion before hand and that's why he was trying to annoy Abel to the point of leaving! And now [i]this[/i]! 

[color=bisque][i]I hate you. So. Much.[/i][/color] Abel mentally seethed, rubbing his nose. Even so, if someone really was injured, it would do no good to make them suffer because of Steven's insolence. 

"[color=bisque]Further down the road[/color]," Abel answered before the old man curtly, "[color=bisque]Across the bridge, into the town. Take a sharp left after a few houses and an alley. Town square will be right there.[/color]" Boy, Steven sure loved making people repeat things they'd already said for no reason. Almost as much as he enjoyed repeating himself, he reckoned. Or maybe he just liked the sound of his own voice. 

"[color=bisque]You should really take Säätur here into town with you, by the way. His mother is worried sick about him,[/color]" he gestured to Säätur, who was looking quite forlorn from his seat on the ground. Abel gave the kid a sympathetic look. [color=bisque]Yeah, I'd feel that way too if I was forced to go anywhere with this idiot,[/color] he inwardly sighed. But it couldn't be helped. The boy needed to be taken home right away. Witnessing someone being mauled by a lion was no doubt a sore sight for a child to see. He needed to be with his mother.