It was still early morning, the sun barely peeking it's sleepy head over the horizon, as Immalaine finished packing her bag for the trip. Zandrianna sat on the floor next to her, helping her to tug the belts tight for the ride out to her old farm.
"Are you sure you'll be alright Immalaine?" Zandrianna asked, worried. "I can tell this trip is bothering you."
Her eyes clouded with uncertainty, Immalaine nods. "Yes, Lady Zandrianna. I'll be fine, I reckon Rastellion has the right of things an' I should go out there."
Standing, Zandrianna stretches, before turning to check the baby's bed. Reaching down she paused to stroke Althessia's head before turning back to Immalaine. "I know, and Rastellion is right of course. But travel on the roads isn't safe and I'm worried about the two of you."
"Lady Zandrianna, we'll be fine, I promise. An' weren't it you that jus' went galavanting 'bout wit'out a guard?"
With an exasperated sigh, she replies, "That was different. I was with a caravan and they had guards. But the two of you are going alone."
Immalaine leans up to kiss Zandrianna on the cheek. "I'm sure we'll be fine. Asides,Rastellion prolly 'lready has it taken care of, so I wouldn't worry none."
"I imagine so, as much as he bugged me to bring someone along. Now, you said you'd be gone at least two nights?"
Immalaine nods. "I reckon that's 'bout how long it'll take, mebbe less if we get things done quick 'nough. An' I made sure t' make a couple o' pies fer ye while I'm gone. That way ye don't have t' worry yerself about what t' eat." Immalaine pauses to say more, but is interrupted by a knock on the door. "That must be Rastellion," she says, heading to the door to answer it.
As Immalaine opens the door for him,he greets her a lingering kiss on the mouth before stepping inside to greet Zandrianna. Outside, two guards wait by the gate, holding the reigns of Rastellion's mare Whitey and those of another horse, obviously intended for Immalaine.Rastellion strides over and gives Zandrianna a kiss on the cheek. "Apologies again for stealing your cook away for the next few days ... but you know we've got a deadline." He pulls a roll of parchment from his jacket. "Here's a copy of the agreement I ironed out with that leatherworker, the one I told you about. We'll need your signature to approve it, and I'll take it back to her when I get back to Bree. Assuming that the 15% discount on saddles and tack is okay with you and the Association, of course." His eyes dart back to Immalaine and her bags; he's clearly eager to be off.
Pausing long enough to hug her friend, Zandrianna takes the paperwork from him. She opens it and scans the contents of the agreement before nodding. "I'll make sure I read this and have it signed for you by the time you get back then. And," she adds, "You should be ashamed. Taking her away right when Yule is about to start. There'll be plenty of parties and gift giving I imagine, and with it being my bir ... well, let's just say I expect you to bring her promptly home." In the background Immalaine can be heard chuckling at Zandrianna's motherly tone.
He nods, attempting to hide his smile as Zandrianna - his own age and only a few older than Immalaine - lays down the law. "Oh, I intend to." He raises one brow at her, significantly. "I've even hired a pair of guards for our trip to see us there and back safely. There'll be plenty of Yuletide festivities left when we return." He looks over at Immalaine, then back to Zandrianna, adding, in a lower voice,"If we put it off 'til after Yule, she might well have her inheritance stolen away from her, and what sort of gift would that be? And she seems so, well, ambivalent about this trip. Just scared of memories of the fire, I suppose. The sooner we can get her used to the idea of reclaiming her past, the better, I'm thinking."
Looking over at Immalaine herself, while the young woman was busy double checking the bags, Zandrianna nods. "I do understand Rastellion. I guess I'm just worried about both of you. But I see you've hired some guards for the trip and I should have guessed you would." This she said softly, to avoid Immalaine overhearing her. "Still, it will be quiet around here without her."
With a reassuring smile, Rastellion replies. "Don't worry. We'll be back in three days; between the baby, the Association, and your other duties, you'll scarce have time to notice we're gone... especially" he adds with a grin, his eyes dart over to where the fresh pies are set out under a cloth, "as it seems she did the cooking already!"
Zandrianna's eyes slide in the direction of the fresh pies, smiling. "Something I'm grateful for, as I've got a lot of paperwork to catch up on. And Althessia ... and the Yule ..." Zandrianna nods. "Alright, I should see you both off then." Heading over to where Immalaine had just straightened up, Zandrianna reached over to give the younger woman a brief hug and a kiss on the cheek. "You be careful, alright? And when you return, I'll take you to the market for a new dress to wear to the Yule celebration. I think you've certainly earned one."
A small puff of breath escapes Immalaine at the thought of yet another new trap of finery, but nods and grins at Zandrianna as she humors her. "We'll be safe, I promise Lady Zandrianna. An' when I get back, I'll make you a nice pot of spiced ale.
"You two stop that or I'm going to be setting out feeling hungry and underdressed!" He looks at Immalaine's small pile of gear. "Shouldn't be any trouble packing those into the saddlebags. And she's the gentlest mare they had at the stables.... Ready?"
Nodding and putting on a brave smile for him. "I'm ready," she says and turns once more to nod to Zandrianna before grabbing her bags and heading to the door. Rastellion turns back to wave and call over his shoulder, "Don't worry Zandrianna. I'll bring her back safely."
Once outside, Rastellion heads to where the horses are and takes the rented mare's bridle from one of the guards and leads her over to Immalaine. He holds the mare still, petting her soft nose, while Immalaine packs the saddlebags. "Here," he says when she's done, "come let the horse get to know you a minute, then we can ride." He passes Immalaine half a dried apple, to help her bribe her way into the horse's affections.
Taking the bit of dried fruit from Rastellion's hand, she steps up to the mare and holds out her palm with the sweet treat in it. The horse eyes her for a moment, before turning its head to deftly nibble the treat from Immalaine's outstretched palm, huffing softly at her to see if there's any more to be had.
"I think she likes you." Rastellion chuckles and holds the reins, standing beside Immalaine so she can push off his shoulder to help her mount. "Sun's coming up," he says, looking toward the low eastern hills and the first arc of the bright disk climbing over them. "Time we got riding!" Assured that Immalaine is on her mount, he heads over and easy swings himself into his own saddle, before gesturing to the two guards. "Lead on," he tells them, pointing along their path. And soon, the four are heading down the lane, toward the borders of Breeland, toward Immalaine's past ... and her future.
(Credits and love go to Rastellion, who provided the voice of the male characters in this story. *Blows kisses to Rastellion and grins widely*)
