Chapter 209: Northeast
Cold was nothing but a certain reality as the three apprentices went northeast through the duchy in search of mages. They had brought a way to build small tents, but it seemed like a fussy luxury they didn’t have time for.
Rather than sleeping within the townships or villages, they opted for a quick rest during the day in the fields. Since nighttime was freezing more and more, it was smarter to move at night and hope that the cloud cover wasn’t too thick so they could catch the moon that was their only light on many nights.
Three villages they went through before they realized just how close they were getting to Earl Auden’s lands. He was someone who had been told about the state of the duchy, considering the lack of a duke and the possible war.
Rumors spread quickly that he had left the north for the safer south, and Irene’s respect for the man withered away. He was outwardly kind and generous, but his stance with the north was flimsy. That much should have been obvious by all the trips he took to the south in the first place. There was no doubt to anyone that he became the King’s shoulder to lean on whenever he visited. It was also why his event was selected for the royal children’s trip.
As Irene considered this, she realized it had been two years since then. How incredibly things had changed since then. Things were so lighthearted.
Even last winter was comfortable. They participated in winterization, and the stakes felt much lower despite having to see all those monsters.
Could they have predicted what would happen? Was there something they missed for it to escalate like this so easily?
They rode on into the night, each apprentice occupied by their stormy thoughts.
The urge to pull her reins so Sorrel would run west was always just under the surface as Irene considered her family as well. Her father was filled in on most of what had happened, but there wasn’t much time to let him know about the siege. Sir Phillip disappeared after sending a final letter that told Sir Gunnar they needed to return, but beyond that...