***
Lazerek and Gidas rode at the head of their band. The wind behind them urged them on and made traveling both faster and easier.Gidas noticed that Lazerek seemed in better spirits as the day went on.The old man had not said much but seemed to be bit more amicable. That was fine with Gidas. He didn’t want to be traveling with a three hundred year grump.
They came upon the lip of a shallow valley, and headed downwards.
The valley was warmer, holding the heat of the watery sun better. Gidas was not looking forward to the climb ahead.
Brown dirt and small stones made up the road.The valley itself was endearing, but as they began their climb Gidas noticed the packed earth was not as solid.Where water and debris had washed down, the horses’ hooves slipped.
As Lazerek and Gidas topped the lip with their men behind them, Lazerek stopped.He looked about as if smelling the air.
Gidas sat next to him, watching.
Lazerek looked over at him,”Something is...do you feel it?”
Gidas did feel something. Something he’d not felt in a very long time.