They had been riding for hours and encountered no other people along the way. Princess Redora, who sat behind Sir Jerreb, finally broke the silence. “Is it not odd that we’ve seen no one else?” “In normal times, it would be,” Jerreb said. “But with all that’s happened, the villagers are wise to stay off these roads. Militia are swarming these parts.” “Begging your pardon, Sir Jerreb, but wouldn’t we then also be wise to stay off the road?” Jerreb gave a brief, bitter laugh. “Yes, and we’d also be wise to make ourselves invisible or give these steeds wings. As it is, we must make the best of a bad situation and hope the militia men stay fixed inside the towns and villages, which we’ll continue to skirt around.” “You know best,” Redora said. “Is it much farther to your friends?” Jerreb sighed. “Ah, yes, our friends. I suppose these days one must count as friends anyone who isn’t an enemy, though I haven’t so far counted these two as such. Be that as it may, it should be only a little farther until we come to them.”
