Etheria
Danielle rode on her horse, muscles protesting every movement as her animal covered the barren terrain ahead in a slow, ungainly gallop. She and her animal were both tired, riding all day across the dusty wasteland of Barat. It was nothing but dirt, endless miles of dirt, and the only thing that made the scenery any more to look at was the cooling line of trees that led to the Weuicna forest, the land of the Woodelves, that no one dare enter.
ShadowFang, which was the name of her mount, was panting heavily, foam gathering around his mouth, and flecking his black coat as he strode gallantly onward. But his speed had gone from a brisk gallop, to an uncomfortable bumpy trot, and was still getting slower. Danielle sighed with a resentful air, and slowed her wonderful horse up as her gaurd came riding up behind her.
"My Lady," he said. "The men are tired, and need food and water. We have been riding hard all day, and the horses are ready to drop dead from sheer exhaustion. Please, let us camp under the forest boughs tonight, and we shall continue at dawns first light."
Danielle trusted this particular soldier, whom she had known ever since her childhood. His name was Simoan, and he was the son of her old nursmaid. They had grown up together, he aworker in the castle, and she a princess,and she trusted his judgement better that anyone else. All though, at the time,there seemed to be no other alternative to the current problem than the one he had just voiced.
"Very well," she agreed, looking over her shoulder at the travel-worn men behind her. "Spread the word, and we leave at dawn."
Simoan clapped a gloved fist to his chest, then winked at her rougishly before turning to the men, who were even now dismounting their horses under the welcome shade of the forest branches.
Danielle cast a final eye ahead of her, seeing her home, Lemos Castle rising out of the dreary dust that she had been riding over for what seemed like an eternity. 'So close...yet so far...' she thought, before turning she and her horse toward the camp