Clove (bladeslinger) wrote in heretherebe_ic, @ 2011-07-15 03:24:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, lilian raleigh |
An Escort
Characters: Lilian
When: Thursday night/Friday morning
Location: all over / outside the walls
Warnings/Rating: None
Summary: The adventure begins
Status: Complete; narrative
The word had come that they were to leave at dawn. Well, she had told Griffin it would be soon, and that they were essentially on call … and there was the call. The ones who’d had plans to do some drinking at the tavern had put those plans in an early grave; no one smart would want to be anything less than 100% on this adventure. Lily’d had no such plans, so the evening found her going over her packs to make sure she had only what she needed -- and enough of it to last a week. Three days there, one night staying, and three days back. Others, she knew, were traveling farther afield, and there was even talk of crossing the chasm to see if anyone still resided there who might be interested … but if anything had come of that talk, she’d never heard it. It wasn’t her assignment, so even if it existed it was of very little interest to her. She’d also ventured to the stable to make sure her mount and the pack horses were sound. She checked on a few of the others as well, but some people -- like her -- didn’t like anyone else messing with their horses. Those she left alone, trusting their riders to have taken care of them already. She then made sure the tack was in order and that the complete sets were ready to go. Again, nearly everyone had their own stuff in their own racks, but a quick glance showed everything to be on order. She double checked Alex’s bit, making sure it was the one with the copper on it. She knew she was going to be nervous, and having something for him to play with kept him from getting nervous too. With nothing else left to do, and knowing she’d drive herself crazy if she simply went over again what she’d already done, Lilian retreated to the barracks in the palace. Her roommate was already asleep and snoring, and a slight smile tugged her lips. Lily wondered when the other girl was going to be called out on an mission of her own, and decided not to think about it. That led to wondering how many of them were going to come back. No, it wasn’t like going off to war, but at the same time, the king had just dropped a boulder in a pond. Waves were being made, and there were always those who fought the waves. Sometimes to the death. Lily simply hoped her death wasn’t among them. _______________ She’d managed to sleep soundly, and her body woke her up just before the bell summoning them to breakfast sounded. After washing her face with water from a basin and snagging her pack, Lilian made her way with the others to the main hall. She had a quick breakfast, and when the captain stepped into the hall, she knew it was time. She left her plates for the servants to tend to as was the custom, and she made her way from the palace to the stables. The aisleways were crowded, but that was no surprise. They were one of the small groups to go out, true, but there were still the daily activities within the stable. Training didn’t stop simply because some of them had missions. Formerly empty stalls were being cleaned up and cleaned out to make room for the mounts of the incoming students, teachers, and other travelers. Weaving her way between the bodies -- equine and human and occasional feline -- Lily gathered up Alex’s tack, a brush, a hoof-pick, and a couple of carrots from the bin. “We’re going on an adventure, love,” she murmured to her dapple grey gelding as she drew open the heavy stall door and stepped inside. Setting the saddle against the wall, she set about cleaning out his feet and brushing the dirt from his short summer coat. She tended his mane as well as she could, but she knew that was more a delaying tactic than a necessity. Once he was clean, she set about saddling him up, securing her pack behind his saddle before she bridled him. “All set then?” She smiled a little to him as she pulled his forelock from beneath the browband, letting the hair splay over the leather. She heard the captain’s call traveling down the aisle in a few different voices to ensure the message got passed along. She called out herself to send the message further down before she let Alex out of his stall. After navigating her way outside, Lily pulled herself up into the saddle, settling her weight on Alex’s back. The pack behind her was awkward if only because she’d never ridden with anything behind her. Twisting in the saddle, Lilian adjusted the pack slightly in the hopes that would make it more comfortable. Once she had it as comfortable as she could make it, she gathered up Alex’s reins and squeezed his sides gently. She let him walk over to where the others were gathering, and she scanned the faces of those who would be accompanying her. The messenger couldn’t have been more than fifteen or so, and Lily wondered if she’d ever looked as small as that girl did. Lilian could see the scrolls peeking out from the bag slung over the girl’s shoulder, and she knew what those were. Those were the reason the girl needed an escort to begin with. It was why all the messengers were being escorted. Lily watched as the two pack horses were hitched together, and then attached to the captain’s horse. He’d be tailing, then, and she listened as orders were called out. Wedge formation where possible, with the messenger in the middle. One of the older soldiers was taking point to start, though there would be some alternation as they traveled on. Moving to her appointed place, Lily fell in with the group as they started out. They walked through the town proper, and she was aware of all the eyes on them. She kept her chin up and tried to exude a calm and confidence she wasn’t completely sure she felt. It would probably be fine. She was sure she was just making more of it than it was. Once they’d crossed beyond the gates of the wall surrounding the palace and it’s city, the captain called for a trot. Lily reasoned this was going to be their pace for the majority of the trip, and that suited her well enough. She touched her booted heels to Alex’s side, letting him join in a trot with the others. She kept an even grip on the reins, but for the most part let him have his head as they moved onto the long, packed dirt road that would lead them north. It was going to be a long journey, but it was going to be fine. She was sure of it. |