Blood and Shadows by Dayne Edmondson
The day after the meeting with the king, as the bright spring sun lit up the sky, Dawyn and his companions gathered in the Dancing Mare common room. Each person had prepared a pack to place upon their back and had filled their saddlebags. Both of the women were dressed in functional woodsman attire- boots with earth-colored tunics and trousers. Alivia had removed her headband with the white diamond, though it was close at hand in one of her belt pouches, and had swapped out her cloak with the emblem of the Tower for a more non-descript brown cloak.
Even Favio had surprised Dawyn, trading his vibrant colors and eccentric clothing for black clothing similar to that of a Shadow Watch Guard. He was dressed the part of a thief; now he just had to play the part well. His lute case was nowhere to be seen, having been packed away in his saddle bags.
As they prepared to leave, Elizabeth insisted on giving them food to break their fast on the road. Soft biscuits stuffed with meat and cooked eggs greeted Dawyn as he peeked into the wrapped package she had presented to him. He felt a smile tug at his lips. It had been a long while since he’d been treated to one of these special stuffed biscuits from Elizabeth.
Elizabeth took it upon herself to hug each of them before they departed, telling them all to be safe and telling the two women in a conspiratorial voice to keep an eye on the two “boys” and not let them get into any trouble. Dawyn sighed. No matter how old a man got, women would still try to play the role of his mother.
In the stables, they found their horses saddled and ready to go. Frank had secured horses for Anwyn and Alivia, a brown dappled mare named Lucy and a white gelding named Gallant, while Favio rode an aging gray mare with black spots named Spot. The companions threw their saddlebags over the backs of the horses and Anwyn and Alivia took a few moments to introduce themselves to their horses, reassuring them before they mounted.
Trotting in a line, with Dawyn at the head, the small procession left the Dancing Mare stables and headed south on Court Street. The fastest way to reach Henry’s Crossing short of a boat, was to leave through the southern gates and follow the king’s road south along the Tar River. Dawyn had considered leaving their horses behind and taking the riverboat instead, but had decided they may need the mobility horses offered them when they arrived at their destination. Besides, he hated the thought of leaving Shadow behind.
The southern gates, also known as the Summer Gates, were the second busiest gates in the city, with the eastern Mountain Gates, being busier during the spring, summer and fall. Wagons and travelers on foot were lined up to enter the city and the guards stood by to ask brief questions of travelers, such as where they were going, who they were going to see, how long they were going to stay, etc.
Southward they rode, toward a man they sought to bring to justice, their hopes high and their stomachs full.
Chapter 12: Ambush