As they finally reached Frostmarries, Thirrin and Oskan jumped off their horses and ran inside the castle.

"I'm pretty sure my horse was in the lead." Thirrin said as they ran to the kitchens.

"You're just saying that because you know Jenny's nose was leading!" Oskan grinned at her.

"Even IF you were inthe lead, her ears would be in the front!" she exclaimed, gasping for breath when they finally reached the kitchens.

Oskan shook his head and looked at her in mocking sympathy, "It's ok to be jealous Thirrin, not everybody's mule can beat a trained war-horse." and he patted her back.

Thirrin snorted,"You wish!"

As they entered the kitchen, they were surprised to see food already waiting for them on the table. Oskan explained that they had probably heard his poor stomach didn't want to eat in the kitchens so she ordered one of the servants to bring the food in her private quarters, and she beckoned to an unwilling Oskan to follow.

"What's wrong with the kitchens?!" he complained, "For crying out loud, it's actually more cleaner than you room!"

Thirrin glared at him and snapped, "It won't take long for them to bring it up!"

He sighed and patted his stomach and they ducked under the doorway.

True to her words, the food only took a couple of minutes to reach them, and as they layed it out on the table, Oskan looked deep in thought. Thirrin looked at him questioningly and was impatient for the servants to leave.

When they finally left she asked, "Something bothering you?"

Oskan picked up his fork, shook his head and started eating but still looked as though he was thinking hard.

"What time do you think Tharaman and Taradan will come tomorrow? Early dawn or tonight? Wonder what he's going to bring. What sort of bread are you getting me?" Thirrin asked, her questions flowing out like a river, as she too picked up a fork and started eating.

Oskan answered without stop either, "Probably really early tomorrow the moment the sun appears in the sky. They could be bringing the trolls' weapons to show you. As for the bread," he paused and grinned,"You'll have to wait and see."

"I was afraid you'd say that." Thirrin said sadly.


Thirrin and Oskan sat on their horse and mule, as they awaited the arrival of The leopard king and his second in command, followed by some of the snow leopards that had fought in the war that Bellorum had started, with the Icemark's people.
Thirrin was literally jumping on her saddle. The sun hadn't really com eout yet, so it was still very dark.

Oskan shook his head and put a hand gently on her shoulder to stop her she stopped he took his hand off.

"Don't you want to show atleast some amount of excitement?"she snapped.

Oskan looked at her and smirked, "Ofcourse, but I don't show it by being a spring." Thirrin glared at him adding this to the list she was making that proved Oskan was always trying to annoy her.

As the sun finally started to appear in the sky, the fanfare sounded and Tharaman's huge and beautiful body appeared, followed by Taradan and then the other snow leopards.

Thirrin was surprised, Oskan had been right! He had been spot on about the time! But then again, had he ever been wrong? Though she knew she will never say this in front of him.