They rode fast, but not hard. They didn't want to tire their horses on the long road ahead – after all, there were only five of them. The dust rode and fell in whispering clouds behind them, the hoof-prints of their mounts fading as they went on.
They had a long way to go, and not a minute could be wasted, so they stopped only twice during that first day, to give their mounts a rest and to snag a bite or two of refreshing food.
The urgency of their mission pressed them on – they all knew Erestor carried the important message in his breast pocket, though they might not have known what exactly it was. Erestor kept his lips pressed together thinly, speaking nothing but a few words of command occasionally.
It was past nightfall when they stopped, leaving the little-worn path and heading deep into the woods along the side until they were a far enough distance from the road. It might have been used less (and indeed, that was why they had chosen it), but it was better to be safe. An enemy might pass by – who knew, in these dark times?
Two of the guards took their mounts and stripped them of their light saddles, wiping them down and giving them small amounts of water, while the two others rolled into their bedrolls straightaway. Time was of the essence, and they would be woken in four hours' time for the others to rest. It was a pattern trained into them from their first joining of the guard, and they spared but a glance for the Royal Messenger they were escorting. He was brushing down his own horse, letting it whuffle at his back as he wiped the sweat from its flanks, and then he led it to the tiny stream trickling between the trees.
It lowered its head and gulped a few mouthfuls, then waited to drink more. It was a trained horse, and it knew what would happen if it drank too fast. Erestor stood by its side until it was done, then splashed a little water on his face and let the stallion go to join the other mounts standing drowsily next to the small arranged pile of saddles and bags.
He looked around, noting the two warriors already fast asleep, and the two that were then barely visible in the trees, their eyes alert for any sound or whisper of motion.
Raising a hand to feel the soft protrusion in his pocket, Erestor furrowed his brows. He could feel the thing inside trembling – not a physical sort of movement, but it tugged at his mind. He rested his fingertips upon the circular band, stopping when he hit the large lump gathered at one end. Parchment crackled beneath it, the missive bending under pressure, and Erestor dropped his hand away.
Even if he didn't know what precious thing lay inside, it wasn't his business to know. He would deliver it, and his mission would be complete. (He knew he wasn't going to be able to make it back to his King with the war starting now, but he wouldn't think about that.)
He was the only one that knew about his other assignment – to stay with the young Herald he was to give the pouch, answer any queries he may have, and remain with him until further instructed.
Letting out a breath, Erestor curled his fingers in both hands and then relaxed them. He grabbed his own bedroll and rolled it out, loosening his tight topknot before curling into the bedroll. He would take the second watch with the other two – another set of eyes wouldn't hurt.
But for now, he would sleep...rest until tomorrow, when they would ride again and press toward their destination.
Falling asleep almost immediately, Erestor cast his mind ahead of them on the path they would take.
What he saw troubled him, but he wouldn't remember it when he woke.