Back in the saddle, the first day's ride
Subject Back in the saddle
Salix accepts Surin's joking salute with a smile. "Glad you have you with us, Surin. We'll need a good pair of eyes and a quick arm where we're going."
From: Kevin
Subject Back in the saddle
Harp will go along, taking a longer than normal watch, as his need for sleep seems to be much less than before.
From: Karl
Subject Back in the saddle
Salix takes the hurtloam and puts it in a pouch on his waist. He thanks Sephira and leads the group back out onto the road, heading for the Main Grove, near Lodo.
(OOC - not much to add at this point. I'm out of town until Tuesday, but I don't want to slow anything down. Kevin can make any needed decisions for Salix until then.)
From: Mark
Subject the first day's ride
Salix's response is immediate. "Let's get back to the horses. There is still several hours of daylight left and we can make good progress." The party hustles back to the horses and mount up. Salix leads them out of the grove and back to the road. There he pushes his horse to a gallop and the others follow.
Besides Salix, Harp and Ran have the most training in riding. Surin and Kal have a natural gift for it, but Ragnar and Allistair bounce along. Allistair thanks what gods there are that he does not have a heavy back pack to worry about any more. Ragnar takes the beating with typical stoic silence. Salix sets a hard pace and with in a few hours the strain on the horses can be seen.
He calls a halt just before dusk. The moon is waxing and at 3/4's so there is plenty of light for everyone but the humans and Surin. Salix starts ordering the setting of camp. "Harp, you and Ragnar go get some wood, if you can. Kal, would you please start setting up the tents. Surin can help you if he can see enough. I will take care of the horses. Mund if you, Allistair and Ran would take care of preparing dinner when there is wood. The fire will provide light for you." Mund almost giggles. "I don't need no fire to make dinner" and pulls out his everburning torch. "I knew this thing would come in handy." He sets the torch in the ground and it provides enough light so that camp can be set.
With in half an hour camp is set and food is cooking. Salix takes out the small jar that Sephira had given to him and moves to where the horses are just now winding down. He sprinkles a small amount of the material over their fodder and a grain in their water. He then goes to the cook pot and places a couple of grains in the pot. "I am giving the horse more, since they will need it more. I will give them more when we stop for lunch tomorrow and again at dinner. I hope that there is enough to last." He tries to gauge how much is in the jar with how much he has just used.
A little while later the food is ready and everyone digs in. Harp takes a bite, expecting the normal trail food and is surprised by how good it is. As he eats he feels a warmth fill his body and the aches and pains of the day seem to fall off of him. He sees the others have the same reaction. When they are done eating and the fire starts to die down, Salix announce the watch schedule. Harp volunteers for a double watch in the middle of the night and Salix takes him up on it. As the party is getting ready for dinner Salix speaks. "If any of you have any questions about the Great North Wood ask me. I would have you prepared for when we actually enter the woods."
OODM: I am taking Karl's absence to help fill the party in. Ask away.