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Maradine Ashryver Galathynius stared at the various jewellry for sale and then at the coins in her pouch. She should really save up with the fee coins she earns helping out but the stag necklace really reminds her of home; she bites her lip before looking around, she must look suspicious with her black cloak during the heat of the day. Maradine sighs before handing over the coins and pinning the necklace around her neck. It was time to grab a meal, some red wine and supplies for the road before heading back to Mistward. A weird feeling enveloped Maradine as a male scent tickled her senses. Whitethorn. What was one of Maeves bloodsworn doing in Varese? She glanced around and instantly spotted the white-tailed hawk, he glanced at her; his look ordering her to stay in the town and that they needed to speak. Maradine stuck her tongue out at him - going unnoticed by the crowd - before continuing to look around. She needed to check if any more of Whitethorns cadre were around. All Maradine saw was a woman on the roof of the indoor market, nearly a mirror image of herself. To distract herself, Maradine followed Rowans scent toward where his, and hers, horses stood. She snorted; Whitethorn knew she was in Varese all along. The horses werent as fine as the one she possessed but Rowan must have come here and bought them, so she waited. She didnt have to wait long. Soon enough Rowan came prowling towards her, followed by the woman from the rooftop. A nod in acknowledgment was all he gave her before mounting the larger of the two mares, leaving the woman the piebald beast. The woman stuffed her satchel in her saddlebag as Maradine mounted her pure black muscled stallion.
"Ive known a few brooding warrior-types in my day, but I think you might be the broodiest of them all." Maradine bit back a laugh. Rowan whipped his head towards the woman, so she drawled. "Oh, hello. I think you know who I am, so I wont bother introducing myself. But before Im carted off to gods-know-where, Id like to know who you are." Rowans lips thinned before he surveyed the square - where people were now watching - and everyone instantly found somewhere else to be.
"Youve gathered enough about me at this point to have learned what you need to know." Rowan observes.
"Fair enough. But what am I to call you?" the woman inquires.
"Rowan." Whitethorn replied finally. The woman looked expectantly at Maradine.
"Im Opal." Maradine lies before extending her hand to the woman. The woman shakes her hand cautiously, coming close enough for Maradine to whisper, so silently that even Rowans Fae ears couldnt hear. "Dont mind Rowan. He can be a hard bastard but hes really a big softy on the inside." She gives the woman a conspirators grin which the woman returns. Rowan glares at Maradine who tilts her head at him. The womab turns to Rowan.
"Well, Rowan-" He didnt like her tone. "Dare I ask where we're going?"
"Im taking you where youve been summoned." Rowan answers. Silently, the woman mounted her mare and followed Rowan out of the city riding besides Maradine.
"Im Celaena." the woman tells Maradine - speaking as quietly as Maradine had before - as they pass the guards at the walls. Maradine nodded and smiled at Celaena, who smiled back.
***
The three of them rode down the dusty rode that went between the boulder spotted grassland and into the southern hills. The sun was setting as they descended the foothills - the road growing rockier and bordered on one side by rather harrowing ravines. Maradine wasnt tired but she saw signs of tiredness from Celaena. She road up towards Rowan and lowered her voice.
"I think we should stop soon its getting darker." Maradine whispered. Rowan only shot her an annoyed glance. "The horses need to rest as well, Whitethorn." He rolled his eyes at her; she rode back to Celaena. "Asshat." A glare from him. Twilight was falling as they followed the road through a dense forest. Finally, Maradine stopped, Celaena stoppong with her. She could feel Rowan rolling his eyes as he followed suite; the three of them dismounting to make camp. No one spoke as Rowan and Celaena led the horses to a nearby stream. She shifted quickly and went out hunting, shed rather have a warm meal - like roasted meat - to eat. Soon, she had a good amount of meat for tonight - mostly hares - cooked and ready to eat. Maradine made her way towards the camp, in Fae form. Once she arrived, the meat was shared, Rowena refusing to eat any which made Maradine roll her eyed at him. She unpacked a couple of blankets from her saddle bag and fed the horse, muttering calmly to him as she listened in to Rowan and Celaenas conversation. As the horse lay down on the grass at the campsite, Maradine covered him with a blanket before offering one to Celaena who gratefully accepted hers. She didnt even bother with Rowan, an argument that had happened long ago having made them distant -not to the point of enemies - and only interacting with one another when forced to - forced to be civil with each other. Maradine lay down next to her horse and covered herself with her blanket. This was going to be a long night.
