The Last Red Year

THIRTEEN: A Long Road Home

 Before them stands a rickety wooden fence--just past it, they can make out the shapes of horses, tails twitching as they brush away flies. Kas sighs--they really don't want to travel on foot until they run into a caravan of travelers. But stealing horses from uninvolved farmers is just plain wrong.

That's when they notice the four-pointed star etched into the wood of the gate to the paddock. There's a sign tacked to the fence--Ryecrest Stables. Property of the Magescourt. So, decidedly not uninvolved farmers.

They no longer have any qualms with stealing horses.

They hop over the fence, beckoning Sorine and Mauragan after them. The stable looks unoccupied--they doubt there'd be any staff this late at night. The horses' feed and water troughs are freshly full, and they're dressed in pasture blankets. There isn't even a proper stable for them, just a half-walled shelter--Kas honestly feels like they're doing the horses a favor, stealing them away like this. They deserve to at least be able to sleep inside.

There's horse tack pinned to the walls, and Kas pulls down a saddle and reins, handing them to Sorine, who is too short to reach on their own. They pass another set to Mauragan, and take one for themself. They don't know the horses, and the horses don't know them, but they seem docile and well-trained. They've learned the ropes to getting a horse saddled in their navigation class--they proceed with caution, not wanting to cause a stir, and get the dappled brown horse they've chosen for themself ready to ride without a problem.

Mauragan saddles their own horse as well as Sorine's, who is much too short to do anything of the sort. They help them onto a gray horse with a white star on its face, and climb onto the last one themself, a black horse with white legs. "I can't believe we're actually doing this," they murmur under their breath, following Kas's lead.

Kas jumps their horse over the fence, beckoning the other two after them. They look up at the stars, trying to chart their way north based on what they retained from Navigation and Riding. The Angel's Eye, the brightest star to the north, shines overhead, and they orient themself to it, finding the forests that lead into the Great Mountains on their left.

"We shouldn't stop in any big cities unless we absolutely have to," they say, steering their horse close to the edge of the woods to stay out of sight. "We'll take as few breaks as we can while keeping the horses healthy. It should only be about a week to Callocast, traveling alone." It's strange how easily they take the role of leader when it's just them and Sorine and Mauragan. They could never do this in front of a real crowd.

"What are we supposed to eat?" Sorine complains. "There ain't taverns out in the woods."

"We can hunt," Kas says. "Fish. Forage." They know plenty of northern edible plants, though they haven't learned so many this far south. That's okay. They have enough jerky to tide them over for a day or two, and by the time it's gone, they'll be back in a territory with flora they recognize. "Maybe stop at a village or two. Villagers are nice." They figure most villages are as close-knit as Callocast. It wasn't just Tallin who was poor--it was the whole village. They all shared what little they had with each other. "Oh Angel. We're really doing this. I can't believe we're really doing this."

It's an hour into the ride when Sorine poses the question Kas has been waiting for. "What made you guys hate the mages so much anyway?" they ask, sounding a little sleepy. It's definitely past their bedtime--Sorine likes their sleep. "I mean...I'm glad you guys wanted to leave too, because I wouldn't have gone if it was just me. But...for me it's, you know, I don't like it here. I don't like the routine, I don't like the classes, I don't like the way people talk down to me, is all. And you guys seem like you've got some big secret reason. All you've said is the mages are shady."