A Dragons Favor

Being on the road was more enjoyable than I had planned. Nobody to yell at me, or demand I do something, no creepy men stalking my every move. I could definitely get use to this.

Grruuummmbbllleee

Looks like I'll have to stop for lunch, I frown we had only been traveling for a few hours. Silvermane kept reaching for the tall grass as we passed it, reaching a large apple tree I pull off the road stopping under the shade.

"Okay we can stop for a little bit but then we need to continue." I lectured silvermane.

Pulling out the parcel the queen gave me I found she had packed me a loaf of bread, figs, and a small portion of smoked meat. This wouldn't last me long I'll need to make camp and find some food. I had never hunted before but if I got lucky I could make camp by a stream and go fishing. I pulled a few apples off the tree for Silvermane, then taking one for myself I took a nice large bite. My teeth punctured through the skin and sweet juice ran down my face, these were delicious. As I finished my apple I grabbed a few more and stashed them in my knapsack. Then sitting in the shade i ripped a piece of bread from the loaf and pulled out the book the queen sent.

The basics of Etiquette

I frowned, she had to pick the most basic book from the library. Tossing it back in my bag I stood up and dusted off the bottom of my trousers.

"Okay ole girl, breaks up let's get going."

She glared at me as I cut our rest short.

"None of that, we only have a few more hours of sunlight left and we need to find a place to camp. So up and at em lazy bones."

Luckily the seasonal rains haven't approached the kingdom yet, it was still fairly warm during the days however I knew all too well how cold the nights were. Leaves blew across our path as we continued down the road, it would be far colder where we were heading. I hope I packed warm enough clothes, I only had 5 silver coins with me that wouldn't buy me much.

As we made our way around a bend in the road I heard a trickle that could only mean a stream was nearby. I Tied silvermane up to a old log.

"Stay here. I'm going to look for that stream, I'll be right back." No sense in dragging a horse through all the brush if I didn't have to.

I pushed past the tall weeds and saw in the clearing the stream and along the banks a perfect section of land to stay the evening.

Dropping my bag off I returned for Silvermane, like the obedient horse she is there she was waiting for me munching on grass.

"Good girl, told ya I'd be back. I found a place let's go."

Leading her through the brush we made our way to the clearing. I unhitched her saddle and plopped it on the ground. I would give her a good rub down once I get things settled. I gathered enough kindling and logs to last the night and started on a fire. Once the fire was started I fashioned a fishing net with some sticks and the cheesecloth the queen wrapped my bread in. Satisfied with my work I began to set up my sleeping area, glancing at the sky I wanted to make sure there wouldn't be any rain tonight.

Looking over my handiwork I smiled and gave myself a nod of approval, "Let's see her royal highness do that!" I chuckled to myself imaging the princess struggling on her first night. Leading Silvermane into the stream I proceeded to massage her sore muscles it was asking a lot of her to take me all the way to find the princess. That's when I saw the fish, it was massive about the size of my arm. I grabbed the net I made praying it would be strong enough I snuck it below the fish in the water. With all the strength I could muster I flung upward toward the shore and with it the fish flopped around making it's way back to the water. I pounced on it and with my dagger stabbed it through the gills. Silvermane whinnied In surprise as I held up my trophy with a large grin. We were both soaked to the bone, so while I set up a spike to cook the fish on we dried by the fire.

With my belly full of fish and my clothes finally dry I laid my head down using the saddle as a pillow, the gentle sound of crickets lulled me into a deep sleep.