Midnight Quest Read Free

case, he reckoned it best that he go. If herself did tell him no, well, a little traveling never hurt a man. And if he saved the priestess afore he got an answer, it would just be a good opportunity to give the woman an earful for leaving his people out of the barrier six months ago.
    He had no bothered to unpack his gear, so it was an easy matter of switching out a few things that he wouldna need, and putting in a few things he thought he might. Then he went and saddled up his second favorite stallion, seeing as his favorite was worn out from three months of campaigning, and turned for the road.
    ~*~*~*~
    Sarvell reached the outskirts of Belthain roughly an hour and a half before dawn. He’d been slowed a bit due to the poor condition of the road. Probably just as well. He couldn’t do much in the wee hours of the morning anyway.
    There remained a lot of preparation that he needed to do this new day, not the least of which was to prepare for a quick escape. If he managed to get her out of that castle as smoothly as he hoped, they’d still need a quick get away. Two fast horses and good travel food that wouldn’t need cooking should do the trick. Sarvell, as a merchant’s son, knew exactly how long it would take to do all of the shopping necessary to prepare for a trip. For travel like this, where he had no fixed destination, it would take more than the usual preparations. He had to balance fast and light travel with preparing for possible situations they might encounter further down the road.
    The logistics of the problem set his temples to throbbing.
    Not willing to try and talk his way past the city guard at this ridiculous hour of the morning—guards were known to be cantankerous in predawn hours on just general principle—he decided to stop and catch a few hours of sleep. From his mounted vantage point, he could see a small clearing off to the side of the road. He aimed for it, weaving his way in and out of the tall shrubs that passed for trees in this part of the country.
    The clearing was apparently often used by travelers, as it had the remains of a fire pit and the scuffed marks left by bedrolls. Sarvell dismounted, loosened the girth of the saddle, and hobbled the stallion’s legs. Dan blew out a weary breath, no doubt glad that his insane rider had finally stopped for the night. Sarvell gave him a pat on the neck, wishing he had some grain on him. Well, the grass here looked edible enough and Dan had never been shy about eating things.
    He made do with just his cloak and curled up on the ground, not particularly worried about being attacked. Dan, as a former warhorse, didn’t like most people and wasn’t shy about letting them know it. He’d keep watch while Sarvell stole a few hours of sleep.
    The ground was pitted with small rocks, wayward twigs, and random dips so it wasn’t exactly comfortable. Despite the minor discomforts, Sarvell quickly fell to sleep. He’d worked a full day and had only gotten two or three hours of sleep before being dragged out of bed. He was more than tired, his body willing to take any chance of reprieve offered.
    It seemed he’d barely closed his eyes before he heard Dan letting out a warning neigh. On sheer instinct he snatched the sword lying beside him and rolled up to his feet, eyes snapping open to find the source of the threat.
    Not ten feet away another man sat calmly on horseback. His stallion pranced in place, wanting to answer the challenge Dan gave, but stayed back because of the silent command on his reins. It took Sarvell two blinks before his eyes could focus well enough to properly look at the rider. He was tall—tall enough to make Sarvell appear a bit short, which was difficult to do. His dark clothes were roughly made with leather and coarse linen and did nothing to hide the obvious strength in his shoulders and legs. There wasn’t enough light to see his face, only the impression of a beard and sharp eyes.
    Sarvell felt his heart lift a bit at the