After what seemed like hours and blowing the horn numerous times, a few men-at-arms arrived from a neighboring town. By this time the lady knight had found a tree and was trying to rest against it without rubbing against her wounds. Upon seeing Kel and her feathered companion, they men-at-arms picked up their speed and began apologizing profusely before they had even reached her.

"So sorry, milady-"

"We didn't know-"

"-that you was a knight-"

"-or even a noble-"

"-for we would have been faster had we known."

Kel silenced them with a look. Her mouth had turned to sawdust from lack of water, and her stomach was demanding more food. Unfortunately, she was too far from the river for a drink, and the griffin had eaten well over half of her small food supplies. As two of the men helped her climb up behind one of their comrades, she turned to bid the griffin good-bye. Only to find him gone. The only thing left was a single orange feather, slowly floating toward the ground. Wordlessly, one of the men snatched it up and handed it to Kel with a bow. Good riddance, she thought sullenly. She refused to think that maybe she had wanted him to stay. She nodded her thanks and motioned that they should head back. Her wounds were starting to really pain her.

After arriving at a rather well-to-do town, the lady knight was immediately brought to the healer's house. Kel closed her eyes and counted to ten in Yamani every time one of the arrows was pulled out. To these people, she was a knight, a brave warrior. It would not do for them to see her weak from pain. Once the healing was complete, she requested a room with a bath ready and lots of food and water.

She bathed, putting her dirty clothes in a pile for the maid and pulled out a pair of clean clothes she always brought with her. After gulping down half a jug of water and eating only a dinner roll, she laid down to sleep. She planned to have a talk with the men-at-arms and the head of the town the next day. Loitering when someone is in trouble, whether it be a commoner or the king himself, is not acceptable. That whole night, she dreamt of a copper figure flying over the village, dropping feathers on everyone.

Ok, I know it's really short, but I promise that another chapter will be on its way soon. Please read and review!