Breakfast was bread and cheese, washed down with surprisingly fresh water. As dawn broke, they were back in the saddle again, plodding on towards the foothills of the tall, ice-capped mountains that divided the continent. Tom was riding alongside Isabelle, nursing a hangover and moaning at every jolt of his horse.
'So you love her then?' Isabelle asked.
Tom considered trying to brush it off, but he knew Isabelle - if he lied to her she'd see through it and then be annoyed with him for the next couple of hours.
'What gave me away?' He countered.
'I think the poem, recited from atop one of the tables last night did it.'
'Ohgods.' The memories came flooding back: Scrambling up on to the table; Killburn looking away in embarrassment; the smile of amusement on Amelia's face.
'She must think I'm an idiot.'
'Well everybody else does.' Isabelle replied, teasingly.
Tom looked glum.
'Oh, come on.' She said, exasperated. 'A Prince and a thief, how did you possibly think it would work anyway?'
'I don't know.' Tom answered. 'Maybe you're right.'
He sighed.
'Gods my head feels like it's about to explode.'
'Here, take this.' Isabelle handed over a parcel of leaf, which Tom ate with a grimace.
'I know it tastes foul, but you'll feel better in no time.'
As Isabelle had predicted, over the next half an hour Tom's headache subsided, allowing him to get truly down in the dumps without being distracted.
Lunch was had at the side of the road and that is where they were sitting when a Jotunn on a large cart rumbled to a stop next to them. The cart was laden with wares and pulled by two large oxen.
'Travellers.' The Jotunn boomed. 'You need things?'
'No, ta.' Said Kael.
'Unless you have news from Oesterin.' Killburn asked, before the cart could drive off.
'You go to Oesterin?' The Jotunn was surprised. 'Frostheims very dangerous this time of year. Humans need thick clothes, tents and fire makers.' He got down from the driving seat.
'No, no.' Killburn stood, waving his arms and shaking his head. 'We have supplies waiting. We will pay for news of the road and of Oesterin, though.'
The Jotunn beamed at him.
'I not go home in many years.' He said. 'But came from Monmal two weeks ago. For twenty-five silver, I tell you all I hear.'
'Twenty.' Killburn held out the coins.
The Jotunn weighed his options, then took the coins.
'North Men getting active again. There been some raids on border towns. Some Jotnar thinking of moving already. Human refugees from across Green sea ask Queen Greor for shelter - they say dark things run wild in Illumare, but she have no place for them. Some bandits in hills other side of Frostheims, but you get past them no worries. That all, I think. Oh, some say old ones been seen again in forest.'
Killburn thanked him and the trader went on his way.
'Interesting what he said about Illumare, don't you think?' Killburn asked Tom.
'Well the Archmage does live there, I'm not surprised there's odd stuff going on.' Tom replied.
'Yes, but the Archmage hasn't beens seen in an age, lad.'
'Maybe the people were mistaken.'
'I hope so, lad. I hope so.'
The rode until mid-afternoon, when Killburn ordered a halt.
'It's this town, then Larkhill, then the Frostheims.' He said. 'We won't make Larkhill before sunset, so we may as well stop here.'
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