Ridahne nodded, some secret oart of her relieved that Darin had agreed to take her on. She wasn’t lying when she said that she had nothing to go back to, not really. But she wanted the dignity of returning without additional shame. She wanted to redeem herself, and she wanted to see this task done and, looking At Darin, she wasn’t sure she trusted anyone else to be a protector.
“I do have a map. I can show you where you came from and that will give us both an idea of where you’ve been.” Shoving the last bit of bread into her mouth indelicately she stood. “Go and learn how to saddle Talbot, I’ll meet you there.” Ridahne went upstairs, collected her things, settled with the innkeeper and went off to the stables. Mitaja was happy to see her, giving a pleased yowl both when Darin showed up, and then Ridahne. Tsura seemed glad of Talbot’s company and greeted him with pleased knickers and friendly nuzzles. Tsura, it seemed, recognized what Ridahne had guessed from the start, that this magnificent beast was likely a long descendant of legendary horses.
Ridahne was wearing her traveling clothes again: a loose, sleeveless indigo shirt with only some silver embroidery around the collar, and grayish pants tucked into well worn leather boots. There was no evidence of the blood from the day before. She had her dark hair tied back, though as always, she left the two bone-beaded braids near her ears, one on either side, down. “Make sure you go through all of your gear before you mount. Failure to do this might cause trouble later on and as you’ve already discovered, you don’t want trouble on the road. I got us some good traveling food though Mitaja usually provides meat and in this region we’re likely to find wild roots or nuts or things. But I like to be prepared. There’s water and even a little whiskey. Before we go, is there anything else you need? A proper knife, maybe?” Ridahne smirked and folded her long arms. Really, Darin should have two. One for regular use and defense, and another, very small one to go in her boot…just in case. “You might want a cloak, if you don’t have one.”
Ridahne mounted Tsura, and though she’d previously shown that she was smooth and quick getting in the saddle, she purposely took the motion slow and deliberate, looking back at Darin to see that she was paying attention. “Riding will get easier for you very quickly,” she assured. “Especially with such a fine steed as Talbot. He won’t let you fall, I think, and will be willing to listen to you. Unlike Tsura. I had to break him myself many years ago and he took a lot of work.” She patted the tan and black animal’s neck affectionately. “But get ready, you’ll be sore tomorrow morning.”
She urged Tsura out of the stables, her body moving with his, though once outside she stopped and waited. Tsura did not like this idea and tossed his head, stamping his black feet impatiently, but Ridahne reined him in quickly. “If there’s anything you need before we go, then let’s get it. If not, then you lead and I will follow.” Ridahne would be her shadow, though if she felt she had something to contribute to the subject of navigation, she would offer it.
LadyAnnaLee