"I trust that you slept well, Katherine." Rosanna said as Raven descended the stairs from her bedroom, rubbing her eyes. 'Katherine' was the alias she used in this town, as there was no use in putting herself in further danger by using her real name. In response Raven nodded and sat at the table in her half-asleep daze. She looked out the window as the older woman put some bread, cheese and egg before Raven; the sky was still dark.
Ugh! Why did Jeremy have to insist that they start so early? Seeing the look on her face, Rosanna slid down to the bench across from Raven.
"You start early in the morning, so you can get as much work done before the burning hours of the day. Now eat up, you will need your strength for the work that's planned for today."
With that the elderly woman smiled and rose to go tend to Stone, who was in a cleared out and altered shed.
It had been a week since she had met the couple and they had already settled into a routine. Get up before dawn, eat, work in the fields till lunch, eat, practice violin, free time, dinner, bed. It seemed simple enough, but she knew that she had to be careful when around other people. She had already received a stare from someone when she was in the fields with Jeremy on her first day.
Raven sighed, shook such thoughts from her head and ate the food that Rosanna had prepared for her. She didn't like to deceive these people who were so kind to her, but it was necessary. If they knew who she really was, who knew what would've happened. Pushing away from the table, she took her plate and fork over to the tub used for washing dishes and scrubbed the pair clean before drying the dishes. She then put the plates, cups and cutlery back in their respective places before dragging the washtub outside to dump the wash water. After putting the tub back, she wandered into the field to find Jeremy.
~~~~~~~~
"We may get to go home soon," Esmond told the redheaded knight as he entered the tent. Said redheaded rolled over to look at him, mild irritation on his face.
"It's already morning?" he asked stretching, obviously not hearing the other knight's comment.
"Its just past dawn, but did you hear what I said: we may get to go home."
"Wha…when did this happen? Did they find the girl?" Merric asked, waking at the idea of going back to Hollyrose.
"They decided that if she was coming to Tortall, she would have already made it here. So no, the girl is not caught but it's believed that she may have remained in Tusaine." Esmond responded sitting across from Merric while the other knight pulled his tunic on.
"So are all of us going to be set free from border patrol, or are some unlucky few going to be stuck behind?" Merric asked. He wanted to go home, see his wife and son; actually be a father. The past year had been rather busy, what with the princess Lianne marrying to Barnesh's death and another collection of minor problems.
"There will be some who will stay behind, but those with kids are being sent home for sure." Esmond replied grinning at the way his friend's face lit up. "Yes, you get to see your wife and demon-child again."
"He may have immortal blood, but that does not make him a demon, Esmond." Merric told his friend sternly.
"I wasn't referring to that, I was referring to the time when the kid burned off my eyebrows when he was two. Now hurry up, I want to go eat breakfast before it gets cold." With that the freckled knight stood and strode out of the tent, Merric following him into the early morning light.
~~~~~~~~~~
"Morning everyone!" Cairn called out, happy to be away from the palace for more than a day or two. In response Thetar growled, Draguen covered his head with his pillow, while Korosh threw his pillow at the violinist.
"Shut up, Cairn…" the blond cellist said sleepily, "its barely past dawn." He however did commence to get dressed.
"So you're not morning people," Cairn stated. Despite knowing the other three men for just over a year, he still had many things to learn about them. Like exactly what they knew about Raven; she hadn't actually written them. No, she was far smarter than that, but something in Draguen's behaviour told him that the blue-haired man knew that the girl was both alive and well. Going over to the blue-haired man, he crouched and poked him in the ribs.
"Ow! Now why did you do that?" he asked irritably, "you haven't wanted to get an early start all this week, so what's so special today?"
"A storm's coming and I'd like to reach the next town before nightfall. I'm not fond of sleeping in the mud." The younger man stated crouching next to the massive Thetar. Carefully he prodded the second violinist, and yelped when the man slammed his fist down on Cairn's toes.
Draguen shook his head in amusement, he really should have warned Cairn that Thetar was rather fond of sleeping and was a really bear in the morning. Looking over at the pair, Draguen dressed and packed up his sleeping roll and such. Cairn finally managed to talk Thetar into getting up, if only to stop the violinist from singing.
Striding out of the tent he looked at Korosh who was crouched over the fire, preparing breakfast. Sitting down next to the teen, he stretched and looked at what was for breakfast. Satisfied, he stood and got out the required dishes. Bringing them back to Korosh, the youth looked up and grinned as he began to dish out breakfast.
"Hungry?" the cellist remarked taking in the violist's actions.
"Yes; now give me my food." Draguen stated snatching his share of the egg and sausages, he then grinned; it appeared that he could a real bear in the morning too.
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