~*~
Donald returned to the road to find his two companions sitting on a blanket spread on the ground and eating slices of salted pork and bread.
“Some rich lady from the coach had some extra pork, so we swapped her for some of the bread we had,” Muce said between chews.
“That’s nice.” He removed his pack and began to dig. Eventually, he produced his writing box and began scribbling a note. When he finished, he carefully folded it and affixed a wax seal impressed with his signet.
Kwestor watched him walk over to the driver of the coach. After a short conversation, the prince handed him the paper. He also offered him some coins, but the dapper man refused.
When he returned, Kwestor asked, “What was that about?”
“It’s a note to my father telling him about the scroll we found and that we’re going to investigate this Warden it talks about.” He sat next to them. “Is there any more of that pork?”
Muce passed him the last of it and some bread.
“I asked the driver to deliver it for me. He promised he would.” Donald assembled a sandwich and took a bite.
“One of the passengers has contacts in Kartok. He said they told him all about this Warden.” He repeated what Tripgood had told him. “It is just too much like what we’ve already heard to be a coincidence.”
“I agree,” Kwestor said. “That’s what worries me.”
“It worries me too.”
The scout did not reply, although he felt quite sure his concerns did not match those of the prince.
They packed their gear and hit the road again.