A/N: Because I haven't said it before, thank you to all who reviewed, they were very much appreciated. Some of you have asked me if this is a B/S fic. Well I ws hoping to make it a SURPRISE but I guess I won't anymore. Yes, I will somehow turn this thing into a B/S fic.
Disclaimer: I don't own CoM. I don't own the country of Lairan, but I do own the details about it and all I feel like making up.
Sandry stopped her horse by the bank of a stream. Surrounded by ancient trees, it was a decent place to stop and rest. She unbuckled the girth and slid the saddle off of her mount.
The mare was a small, but nimble chestnut, with a beautiful dished face and brown eyes that glittered intelligently. Sandry had found her in the market among a string of other horses for sale and fell in love with her instantly. She'd decided to call her Janah,trader-talk for 'thread'.
Eagerly the horse shook and rolled in the soft grass of the stream bank, snorting in pleasure.
Once Janah was attended to, Sandry squinted at the fading evening light. She would only have a few hours before she had to press on. Though she had made good time, she was just outside the village of Mersow, halfway to Emelan's northern border.
Sandry knelt on the ground, spreading a map out. She had decided to head for the country of Lairan, a relatively peaceful, mountainous country. In the many travels she had gone on with her parents, Sandry had spent some time there, and had a general idea of the culture.
Sandry charted out the remainder of her journey, then tucked the map away and stood. Taking a spool of thread, she laid it out in a circle around her camp, laying protection spells in it. No use taking chances.
Finally, exhausted, Sandry curled up in her bedroll. She did not, as she had expected to, fall asleep easily. Thoughts plagued her mind; worries about her decision, memories of her foster-sisters. Sandry deliberately thrust those of Briar away from her. No use getting herself all worked up again. But she would show him. She was good for more than marriage.
A/N: Really short, sorry. I'll try to get the next chapter out quickly to make up for it. I have a habit of adding too much detail, so please give me some feed back. Too much detail, just enough, you like the plot, you want it to go faster, whatever you can think up!
