AN: So long, I'm sorry, it was the dreaded writers block! Ah well, started this from Maered's perspective but I got bored. Here's some Cadders to tide you over!
Cadvan, thoroughly wet and thoroughly miserable, pressed Darsor on against the press of wind a sleet that slashed his exposed cheeks and plastered his hair to his forehead. He would not stop Darsor to sleep, and neither would his mount allow him to. It seemed Darsor wanted to save Maered as much as he did, or at least understood his master's desire to find her. His saddlebags had barely been touched, and the food he had hastily stashed away had turned soft.
Please, Maered, hold on, he thought, digging his heels into Demi's flanks, almost mad with worry. Demi did not even seem to notice and plodded on, his hooves working sure-footedly against the slippery snow.
Cadvan, Darsor said in the Speech, You must rest. You will not be strong enough to fight against the cold much longer. I will keep you warm, just stop.
I cannot, Cadvan replied, What if he has hurt her? She's only a child. She has seen enough in her life, she does not need THAT creature anywhere near her. If I let him have her she will never get away.
And you will never find her or know of her fate if you die, Darsor persisted, working his way through the high drifts against some unnamed pass. Just a moment, then we will go on.
Cadvan, reluctantly seeing the sense in his friend's words, slowed and swung off the saddle near a barren outcrop of stones and dead shrubs. He took a mushy apple from his bag and fed it to Darsor, forcing himself to take one as well. Darsor made a face possibly like distaste, eliciting a small smile from Cadvan.
You were the one we suggested we stop, he said in Speech. Darsor made an unhappy noise and his eyelids began to droop. Cadvan, taking Darsor's lead, took a thick bedroll from his pack and placed it near the inner corner of the outcrop. He then made a small magical fire with barding, and leaned against the cave wall, eyes closed but alert.
He tried to sleep, but found he could not, and in the early morning, discernible by a watery sun breaking the fog of clouds and snow, he was almost ready to leave Darsor to the safety of the pass and press on himself. He had watched his horse during the night, and noticed he had gotten thin, his ribs beginning to poke out against his flanks. It had not taken long, Cadvan reflected. It had only been a fortnight since leaving the safety of his bards in Innail, and so the signs worried him. When he tried to wake Darsor, he found the stallion sluggish and his eyes droopy.
Time to go, Cadvan said, gauging Darsor's reaction closely. Darsor did not even blink. Are you alright? He asked, do you wish to stay here a little longer?
No, Darsor replied doggedly, I was not raised of so fine a stock to be slowed by mountains and snow.
If you need to stop, tell me, Cadvan said, I want no heroics that get you hurt.
I could say the same for you, Darsor said wryly.
Cadvan swung back up into the saddle and they picked their way across the icy mountain slope, covering little ground.
If we continue like this we will never get there, Cadvan found himself thinking, we need to make it to the forest tonight, or we will freeze. That or make it all the way to Arkan-da, which is unlikely. If the weather holds we will be there soon, at least before sundown.
The day turned into another blizzard.
AN: sorry it's so short but I am suffering severe writers block. Gah! If anyone has any ideas on the subject, I would love to hear them, because, unlike most prepared people, a chapter plan was not something I did. I do have to say thanks to the fav story alerts, though, they were what forced, *uhm, inspired me to write this, I simply could not leave it alone! XD Reviews make me happy and just a little more creative!