Maxi considered for a moment, then shook her head. She wanted to know what Riftan was up to, and she also wanted to make sure that none of the knights were injured.
She borrowed a pair of slippers from the innkeeper and went down to the first floor where the knights were conversing loudly over their meals. Ulyseon shot up as soon as he saw her.
“My lady!” he said, making his way over to her. “I heard that you were back. Thank God you are all right!”
“I-I apologize…for worrying you,” said Maxi, looking up at the young man who was close to tears.
Garrow had followed Ulyseon. He hung his head, his face as pale as a ghost. “We have no excuse, my lady. We did not even notice that you had been separated from the party…. We have failed you as your guards.”
“B-Both of you…please, stop it. It was because…R-Rem got spooked by the goblin attack. If anyone is to blame…i-it is me for not having better control of my horse.”
The young men’s faces remained downcast despite her efforts to console them. Maxi was looking troubled when Gabel approached from behind.
“Are you hurt anywhere, my lady?”
“I-I am all right. What about the knights? Is anyone hurt? I-If anyone requires my—”
“Everyone is perfectly fine, my lady. Please, sit. I will ask them to bring you something to eat.”
He pulled out an empty chair for her, then beckoned to one of the workers. A few moments later, a young server with neatly braided hair placed freshly baked bread, smoked goose, and a mashed turnip salad on the table.
Maxi’s eyes roamed about the room as she ate. Sensing her unasked question, Gabel spoke. “Sir Riftan has gone to meet with the merchants to procure provisions before we depart tomorrow.”
“W-We depart tomorrow?”
“The horses are too exhausted for us to leave immediately,” he answered. “What’s more, the road ahead is true wilderness. We will have to source enough water and fodder for the horses to make it the full journey. In all honesty, it will be quite difficult to acquire everything we need in a single day.”
Maxi nodded as she shoveled a large slice of meat into her mouth. By the time she had finished her meal, Riftan had still not returned. She observed the knights for a while as they discussed their itinerary, then returned to her room andslumped onto the bed. Though the inn’s linens were nowhere near the quality of the wool-stuffed silk blankets in Calypse Castle, they felt like heaven compared to the bumpy ground or stone cave. Maxi fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow.
The room was dark when she awoke. Surprised, Maxi sat up, wondering how long she had been asleep. A dark form next to her drew her eye. Squinting, she could make out Riftan’s silhouette lying with his back to her, his long legs stretched out. Maxi blinked until her sight acclimated to the dark, then gingerly got out of bed and crept around so she could see his face.
She worried that her movements might wake him, but he remained still even as she lay down facing him. Relieved, Maxi snuggled against his broad chest. He must have bathed and changed into fresh clothes, for he smelled of soap and hay. She pressed her face against his warm chest and breathed in the scent.
Although he stirred, he did not wake. After staring up at his smooth face for as long as she could keep her eyes open, Maxi went back to sleep, her mind at ease.
—
They prepared to departeven before the sun was up. Maxi rose from the bed half asleep and splashed water on her face. She combed her disheveled hair, which always seemed twice as bushy in the morning, and arranged it in a neat braid. Much to her relief, the clothes she had entrusted to the staff to be washed were crisp and dry thanks to the previous day’s sun. She donned trousers, a new shirt, and boots,carefully packing her spare garments into her bag.
The knights were busily lugging supplies out to the horses when she stepped out of the room with her belongings slung over her back. When she followed them out, she spotted Riftan securing his saddlebags to Talon. She cheerfully rushed over.
“R-Riftan! When did you wake up? I didn’t notice you getting out of—” Maxi stopped when she saw that Riftan was in mid-conversation with a man.
He spared her a glance before turning back to the man, handing him a few derhams from a leather pouch. “Good, then. I will take the carts.”
“Thank you, sir. I shall load them with fodder for you at once.” After slipping the coins into his pocket, the man retrieved two large baggage carts that had been tied under a tree.
“Are we…bringing carts with us?” Maxi asked, wide-eyed, surprised at the luxury.
“We will be traveling through plains from now on. There is a small mountain on the way, but no more rugged paths like yesterday.”
Maxi smiled brightly at his words. She was sick and tired of climbing mountains. “I-I see. Then…how much longer do we have to go?”
“We will reach the port within a week. From there, we will sail to Livadon.”
Riftan watched the inn staff carefully load kegs of water and fodder onto the carts before finally turning his gaze back to Maxi. His expression was stony, and Maxi tilted her head in confusion. After gazing down at her irritably, Riftanbreathed a low sigh and led her to the horses. He pulled something out from one of his saddlebags.
“I got this for you yesterday. I chose the lightest one, so carry it with you even if you find it cumbersome.”
