Although a veteran Rider with more than her fair share of weather-related experiences, Karigan had never relished the feel of slippery mud on her skin. The roadways, as predicted, were a veritable mess of water logged tracks and ice-encrusted puddles. Winter made a harsh protestation in light of the early spring, and occasionally sent chilly gusts of wind along with the irregular sleet storm. A week of such traveling had left all four travelers in rather irritable spirits as they trudged on back towards Sacor City.

At one point, Zachary deemed it necessary to send word ahead, and had Fastion swap uniforms in order for the Weapon to convey a message to a nearby town. The Rider system, once activated, would quietly alert those in the capital who would look for the king's arrival.

Neither the king or the queen initiated a conversation during those long rides. A brief glance or a brush in passing when they stopped for the night was all that they could afford in such visible surroundings. In the towns they passed, they did not even exchange eye contact; with themselves or with the numerous strangers they passed.

After a few brief but short arguments, Zachary decided that all four would take turns on a nightly watch while the others slept. Such an arrangement was not to the liking of his loyal Weapons, but as it was between a king and his guard, the dispute was short and weighted to one side.

It was on one of Karigan's watches that she sat on the perimeter of their small night camp. They had not managed to find any sort of shelter in the early evening hours and had settled for a cluster of pines a few miles from the main road. The low lying branches afforded not only easily cut bedding but also a screen against any searching eyes.

From her vantage point, she could see over the wide fields that led up to the forest's edge. The prior autumn saw the local village planting their rows of winter wheat, which would lie dormant throughout the cold months, until spring allowed the green tendrils to issue forth from the warming ground. The fields now were quiet, save for the occasional owl hoot or the passage of a doe and her fawns.

With her back against a smooth, hard maple, she allowed her head to tip back and glance up between the bare branches. The moonlight filtered gently onto the forest floor, highlighting the absence of any underbrush or lush greenery. It was oddly comforting, despite the freezing temperature, to listen to the quiet sounds of the night and yet still be able to see her surroundings with a measure of ease. She drew the folds of her greatcoat closer and buried her nose underneath the warm wool of her muffler to relieve the bitter cold nipping at her face. With the coming dawn, the temperature was dipping lower, and thus making her last hour of sentry duty a bit more uncomfortable.

A rustle behind her caused her to jerkily turn in her seated position, her eyes wide as she moved to clumsily unfold her legs. The shadow held up its hands in mock surrender and whispered in a familiar timbre, 'Just me, love.'

Karigan's shoulders slumped forward and she released her grip on the hilt of her saber, 'Make a bit more noise when you move.'

Zachary chuckled and moved to draw her back down on her pile of pine boughs, 'Does the cold hamper your senses a bit?'

Karigan grumbled in response and pulled her muffler over her face, crossing her arms. He pulled the muffler back down and peered into her face, 'I think, perhaps, that you need to be warmed up.'

She gave him a droll look, accentuated with an arched eyebrow.

He grinned and continued on, 'I wouldn't want my fellow Rider to become ill again. We all know what happened last time.'

'Last time, all I needed was to be indoors with heat and dry clothing. This is not the time, nor the place for what you have in mind,' she responded archly.

Zachary looked at her in indignation, not bothering to hide the smile that threatened to erupt from his face, 'I was only thinking of lending some body heat. What on earth were you thinking of?'

Karigan snorted and pulled the muffler back up, drawing her knees up to her chest. He settled down next to her and wrapped an arm over her shoulders, drawing her into his larger frame. Instantly, she felt his heat emanate from him in soothing waves, drawing a contented sigh from her as she snuggled closer.

'I am supposed to be on guard duty,' she protested with a yawn, 'This is hardly responsible.'

Zachary shrugged, 'I can watch for the last hour and keep you comfortable at the same time. Just go back to sleep, Kari.'

She rested her cheek against his chest and wearily closed her eyes in obedience, her mind not registering the sound of twittering sparrows, newly returned from their sojourn in the south and welcoming the start of a new day.

A few hours later, they were mounted and back on the winding road north. The skies were mostly clear, save for a few white wisps that hovered high in the atmosphere.

As per usual, Fastion and Zachary rode ahead, leaving Brienne and Karigan in the rear as they made their progress. Karigan shifted uneasily in the saddle, wincing in slight discomfort at the all over ache that permeated her body. Her Weapon tsked at her sympathetically, 'Too long sleeping on the road, and whilst during your honeymoon, makes for sore muscles.'

Karigan cast a slightly scandalized look in her direction but said nothing in response, her face turning a shade of pink. It wasn't as if the Weapons wouldn't know and wouldn't expect such activities from a newly married couple, but that didn't make it better knowing that two individuals whom she considered as friends . . . well knew. She straightened in the saddle self-consciously and turned her eyes forward, her mood darkening. Not that they had been able to share any sort of intimacy for over a week, not counting the short embrace they had that morning, she thought moodily.

A shout up ahead drew their attention as a streak of familiar green broke out from around the bend in the road. Squinting her eyes against the midday sun, Karigan held up her hand over her eyes to make out the Rider's identity. It was not until they drew closer that she recognized Fergal, in all of his swaggering glory as he drew in his mount beside them, sporting an ear-splitting grin.

And continued to grin like a fool, until Karigan rolled her eyes in good humor and drawled, 'What brings you here, Fergal?'

'The king ordered me to find you and bring you forward,' he said excitedly.

'And how did he come to find you?'

He tilted his head consideringly, 'I found him though. I've been riding ahead of the main body, scouting ahead to look for any sort of trouble as it were. I got new duties, you see, as a fighting man,' he said proudly.

Brienne wrinkled her nose at his male pride, 'Main body of what, exactly?'

Fergal leaned forward in his saddle, 'The army has almost made it to Rivertown. They are about a day's foot march away.'

Karigan's jaw almost hit the ground, 'We only dispatched a message four days ago. We have been on the road for well over a week.'

'Captain Mapstone consulted with the council, who consulted with the generals, who consulted-,'

Brienne's voice cut in warningly, 'Fergal . . .'

'They decided to send the army towards L'Petrie about two weeks ago,' Fergal finished in a rush.

'Without consulting the king?'

Fergal hunched his shoulders a bit in defense, 'I don't sit in all the hush-hush meetings, but I think the king had some sort of plan to fall back to, if they could not reach out to him.'

Brienne turned her head consideringly towards her queen, 'Perhaps they are in possession of new information. I would not be surprised if the king had laid out instructions for their departure in that precise event.'

Karigan scowled, 'At any rate, we won't know if we sit here discussing it, when we could be at Rivertown.'

Fergal rose back up in his saddle, 'And I am here to protect you ladies and escort you back.'

There was a beat of silence before Brienne echoed, 'Protect us ladies? How kind.'

'The king himself tasked me with this,' Fergal said, rising his chin.

Karigan's eyes turned to Brienne's and she hissed, 'I bet the two of them are having a good laugh.'

The Weapon nodded grimly but turned her attention to Fergal, 'Well then Master Duff, if you would be so good as to lead the way?'

Fergal turned his mount around and cheerfully started to chatter as they attempted a somewhat brisk pace in the mud towards the nearby town.

Upon arriving to the somewhat drier streets of Rivertown, Karigan slid from the saddle and warily scanned her surroundings. Most of the occupants were busy going about their business after a long winter. Farmers were gathering last minute tools and implements and their wives were inside the stores, bartering away their homemade goods for sorely needed items such as cloth and shoes. But there was no sign of their traveling companions. Brienne came to stand next to her and spoke in a low voice, 'Are you familiar with this town?'

Karigan recalled her last visit and grimaced, 'Somewhat. I had an incident in the river.'

Fergal piped up, 'And we stayed at a brothel!'

Karigan closed her eyes in mortification but Brienne only looked mildly interested, 'A brothel? Here? I wouldn't think that the population could support one.'

The queen grit her teeth, 'It caters to a higher clientele, and is conveniently out of the way. Apparently they also serve as a sort of inn when business is slow.'

'How did you come to stay there?'

'She was sick from the river dunking so the ferryman took us there. It's called the Golden Rudder.' Fergal explained helpfully. Karigan reached out to swipe at his head, but he quickly dodged the blow and skittered off to the side.

Zachary's voice broke into their conversation, 'Somewhat of a trend for her to become ill when she travels,' he teased.

Both he and Fastion had changed out of their uniforms, into nondescript, neutral colored clothing, fit for middle class travelers that would not provoke any undue attention. With his face more or less free of the familiar beard, Zachary's face was virtually unrecognizable. Especially with the air of happiness he now carried about him, despite the situation they had found themselves in.

Karigan glowered at him, 'Should you be so close to us on an open street?'

Fastion grinned, 'Not a problem with the dozen or so Weapons scattered about.'

Brienne glanced about her inconspicuously, 'Even so, I would be more at ease if we relocated to another location.'

Zachary turned to Fergal expectantly, 'So whereabouts is this inn?'

Karigan sputtered, 'It is a brothel!'

"AND an inn,' he said with a twinkle in his eye, 'And we need shelter for the night before the army can reach us.'

Her brow furrowed and her eyes glittered dangerously but she said nothing more, crossing her arms over her chest. Fergal glanced at her foreboding expression and gulped once before responding to his king, 'It is closer to the river, about fifteen minutes away.'

Zachary nodded consideringly and turned towards Fastion with an expectant expression. The Weapon understood the silent command and quietly took his leave, disappearing into the bustling street. Brienne subtly moved closer to the couple and advised to move to a side street while Fastion inquired about nightly lodgings at the Golden Rudder.

While Karigan leaned against the outside wall of a building, she glared ferociously into the clumps of dirt at her feet. Zachary moved to one side of her and looked down at her thoughtfully as he casually reclined against the heavy stone. She could feel his gaze upon her but still refused to make eye contact. Zachary gestured for Brienne and Fergal to give them a modicum of privacy, watching as they moved back near the main street.

After a weighty pause, he asked softly, 'Something you are not telling me?'

She lifted her head slightly and shrugged, 'I imagine there are things you do not tell me.'

His eyebrows slammed together confusedly, 'Can't possibly think one at this moment.'

Karigan met his gaze with an arched brow, 'Oh? You can't think one even one? You seem rather unperturbed by the fact that you have two thirds of your army only a day away.'

Zachary tilted his head to the side, 'A contingency I had left in place, but was unsure if it would be needed.'

She scoffed and kicked at a clump of new grass with her boot. Condor sidestepped and eyed her disdainfully before moving to nibble on the green shoots.

Zachary shook his head, 'That is not what is really bothering you, my love. I never imagined you to be one to judge another's lifestyle.'

Karigan muttered, 'I don't know what you are talking about.'

'You protested rather loudly when the Golden Rudder was mentioned,' he reminded her. She bit her lip and looked away from his inquiring gaze. Moving to nudge her with his elbow, he persisted, 'You know I'll keep at this until you tell me.'

She made a noise of frustration and pushed off the wall, 'Apparently my father is a visitor at this brothel!' she burst out despairingly.

Zachary blinked slowly, 'They told you this at your last stay?'

'No, not exactly,' she admitted, 'I only got an idea from talking to the owner, Silva and . . . from some of those who worked for her.'

He regarded her solemnly, patiently waiting her to go on, so with a deep breath she continued. 'They had said that my father had frequently conducted business from the brothel, and that he was very kind to them.'

'Did they actually say he was a customer?'

'No, they were quick to reassure me, that is those I spoke with, that they did not have that sort of relationship with him,' she said softly.

Zachary's eyes regarded her sympathetically, 'It sounds as if there is more to this.'

'I had asked him, on my last visit before Blackveil, of what his business was at the Golden Rudder, and he had told me Silva was an old friend. A friend whom he had sought to help when she had established the Golden Rudder. It was to be a place for those who had led a downtrodden or abused existence,' Karigan said with only a trace of derision. 'I do not judge those who work at a brothel, only those that frequent it. The business of it all is degrading and base.'

Zachary inclined his head in light of her admission, 'So he sought to lend a land to others. It is not necessarily an indicator of his involvement with the trade.'

'But he did not deny it,' she accused.

He chose his words carefully, 'I think that your real fear is that he dishonored your mother's memory by entering a physical relationship with another?'

Karigan's eyes teared slightly but she nodded hesitantly. 'By all accounts, he loved my mother intensely and to know that he went into the arms of another . . .' she trailed off with a hitch in her voice.

Zachary came forth slowly and placed his hands on her upper arms, 'I do not defend his actions, but your mother has passed into the afterlife, for many years now. He may have sought only . . . physical release.'

'That hardly excuses him,' she said darkly.

'It is a matter of perception,' he agreed, 'But I do not believe his intent was to betray your mother, if he did indeed use the services of the Golden Rudder.'

She whispered in an almost broken voice, 'Do all men think so? When they are with another woman? That they never meant it?'

'Kari . . .' he said beseechingly, drawing her into a firm embrace and tucking her head underneath his chin. She went without protest and allowed a few tears to leak from the corners of her eyes. Hiding her face in his chest, she rubbed her nose at the wool of his outer garments. After a few moments, Zachary spoke again, 'This is a matter that has lain idle in your mind for some time? Even after you spoke to your father?'

She nodded and sniffled, drawing in a deep breath in an effort to calm herself. He touched her hair and whispered, 'Surely you are not afraid of me straying from your side?'

Karigan didn't speak but hugged him tighter and hid her face further. He lifted her chin up and stared into her eyes, 'I belong solely to my wife, and she to me. And I also have no doubt that you will outlive me, so any speculation on your part would be for naught.'

She smiled and accepted his tender kiss with a measure of relief and shame. Shame that she had ever entertained such thoughts about her husband, but still wary about the true nature of other men.

Zachary drew back and pushed a piece of hair behind her ear, 'Did this settle your qualms about our lodgings tonight?'

'Not entirely,' she said with a frown.

Zachary sighed, 'No?'

Karigan lifted a shoulder in helpless supplication, 'There might be a rival for my affections, if Miss Trudy is still there.'

His face was a picture of incredulity as he tightened his hold on her possessively, 'Well, it is late in the afternoon. Perhaps we should see if Fastion managed to secure rooms for the night, and if your . . . friend is indeed in residence.'