Andrew listened carefully. He heard birds overhead, the river in the distance, and his own footfalls. Nothing he hadn't heard before. He settled into an easier stride. The river meandered closer to the road, wide and shallow, an easy crossing on foot or by horse. Carts had to be driven further down stream to the bridge beside the mill; there the watercourse grew narrower and deeper.

Andrew took the familiar shortcut out into the river. The cool water felt marvelous, he rolled the tension out of his shoulders. He breathed a heavy sigh and let the gravel he'd carried plopp into the river. "This is exactly what I need" he told the river.