rohan

Bronna was pleased for the short respite from her mother's constant complaints about Captain Denholm. That alone was a good reason for her to carry the supplies Hildfrith had prepared for Ealdbriht, down to the man at the Garrison stables. 

Has there ever been a night as such? I'm in a small grove of leafless trees, with cold hard frost on the ground beneath me and under an untold number of delightful glittering stars, raining their light upon the mark and all creatures wandering in the dark.

We rode on, Duncadda taking point, with Waelden and I flanking Ethel. Herne trotted along behind Ethel’s mount, Roan. We were then followed by wise old Eldhors, who strode on with the clackerty wagon, needing little guidance. A crow sat on the otherwise empty driver’s seat, calling the occasional ‘Hrost’ to the world, and acting like he was boss. He was not. But he was a brave bird.

With the sun veiled behind blood-red clouds and the fields dark and shadowed, the ground began to shake violently beneath us, and a thunderous roar of anger and outright evil shattered the peaceful evening journey we had all hoped for.