Linaross stretched, adjusting in the saddle while she did so. They had been traveling for two weeks now, looking for work for both of them. After deciding that the town they had first stopped in was too obvious a place for her to take her trial, they had reluctantly left the next day, amid heartfelt farewells for Topain from the villagers. They hadn't been lucky in finding another village with work so far, but there was time. Also, this time alone was proving to bring a change to Topain. She glanced over at Topain and smiled to herself. He had started off the trip with a smug, domineering attitude. He hadn't intended it, but it had been there. In the way he treated her like a child at school, and he was the schoolteacher. True, she hadn't known many things, like how to start a fire without magic, or to construct a shelter at night. But there were some things he didn't know she knew. That even he hadn't known. For instance, two days ago, he was in charge of making supper and had decided to use some herbs and mushrooms in the rabbit stew. The things he had collected had either been poisonous or too bitter to eat. She had snatched them from his hands, scolding him for his ignorance. He knew nothing about plants or animals other then how to kill him. He would watch her for hours, watching the way the wild animals around them would come to her and suddenly become tame for her. Or the way she would collect edible and delicious plants to eat when he couldn't catch supper or when it was her night for supper. Slowly, his arrogance disappeared, replaced by an awe of her skills. She had much to teach him, just as he had much to teach her. Now, two weeks after leaving that first town, he was more comfortable with her, no longer trying to show off. They had once again reached that level of partnership they used to share years before.
Linaross sighed happily at this revelation and patted Milky between his ears. "How much farther do you think we need to go?" she asked.
"Not sure, but I'd like to go as far as we can go. The farther away from the palace, the less people will look for the princess. News doesn't really travel far without embellishing a bit. The last town we were in, the locals believed the princess was a small soft thing dark of coloring and spoiled. And her consort was old, short and ugly, a veteran from the border. Which we know isn't true. But the farther we go, the more untrue it becomes. Soon you will be a child with big innocent eyes and I will be the devil himself that has been paid to protect you." Topain laughed at the image.
"Why would you be evil? Why can you not be an angel, beautiful and loving?" Linaross asked. Topain shrugged and nudged his mare closer.
"I don't know love, but I know that is what you are. Maybe our loyal countrymen think I should be the opposite," he whispered, leaning in to kiss her. She returned his kiss eagerly, and then leaned her head on his shoulder, yawning a little. "Tired?" he asked
"A little bit. When are we stopping for the night?" she asked, confused by the waves of fatigue washing over her.
"We'll stop in a bit. Can you hold on a little longer?" he asked.
"I would do anything if only you asked me too," she murmured. He flushed crimson, causing her to laugh.
"By the way Lina, I want to congratulate you on not using your magic today to find food. I know that it would have been easier, but you didn't. I am really proud of you for that," he said, changing the subject. She grinned at him, toying with the idea of making him blush again, finding it adorable, but had mercy on him.
