Elara awoke to the sound of clanking outside her tent.
"Oh no!"
Gaging by the sunlight, she realized she must have overslept.
It had been a habit of hers to wake extra early on raids or campaigns so there would be no chance of her getting left behind.
Even though this seemed like an unlikely thing to have occur, it had actually almost happened to her once.
Hastily she packed up and tore down her tent.
Over by the stables, the knights sat mounted on their steeds.
Her face burned with humiliation as the knights turned their heads her way.
"Decided to sleep in?" Philip Weston called out with a angered look on his face.
"I'm sorry..I.."
Cutting her off he motioned to her steed, that was already saddled beside him.
"Stop waisting our time Elara and get on your horse."
Quickly she mounted her steed, trying to swallow the shame she felt for keeping them waiting.
Suddenly she spotted Gabel walking his steed over her way.
Reaching into his cloak he pulled something out and passed it over.
"Here, the rest of the food was packed up. I grabbed this for you."
Elara looked down at the small piece of bread in her hand.
"Thank you Sir G..."
"Elara!"
Philip Westons stern expression deepened. She assumed he was annoyed by Gabel's kind gesture.
"You mustn't fall behind today, we will be trying to cover as much ground as possible. Do you understand?"
She nodded once over to her commander. Ever since joining his order he had always underestimated her. Never once had she ever fallen behind and yet he felt the need to say such things to her. It was belittling, to have to him talk to her this way in front of the other knights.
A second later Ursuline moved his steed forward, "Well then, let's move!"
Like lightning, the knights beckoned their steed's forward.
It was a very rough ride. After the fourth hour, Elara's backside began to throb in intense pain. Through the whole day, they only made one brief stop for the horses to rest.
Gabel rode right in front of her for most of the day. She tried her hardest to only focus on keeping pace, rather than watching him.
With his hood drawn and his bow and arrows swung behind his back, he looked like one of the gallant warriors the stories spoke of.
Why does he have to be so handsome?
By nightfall, they reached a small village. The village was very rundown, but the fact that there was a inn with an actual bed was more than enough reason for her to be excited.
This had been one of the hardest rides she ever experienced since becoming a mage.
While letting out a heavy sigh, she jumped off her steed and subconsciously began to rub her aching backside.
"Allow me to take your horse for you, my lady."
Behind her Gabel stood, smiling, with her horses reigns in his hand. Quickly she moved her hands from her backside.
"Oh...thank you."
He chuckled then turned to walk away with her horse in tow.
She watched him stride towards the village stable for a moment, then turned and followed the other knights inside the small inn.
