Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 298

Chapter 298: Heading out
Ford helped clean up the breakfast dishes while Mia excused herself to finish taking down the tent and saddle her horse.

“She does too much,” He sighed under his breath.

“I agree,” Anaisa’s voice made him jump as she joined him. “She’s leading the way, cooking most of the meals, and doing everything else under the sun we’ll let her. Girl’s going to tire herself out.”

“And now, I’ve made her part of the scouting expedition as well,” Ford grimaced. “Maybe… she should just tell me which direction to go, and I’ll move ahead alone and report back.”

“What about turns? Without a clear view of the sun and no path, it’s much easier to get lost in forests. Travelers who leave the road on the way to the Capital in search of a shortcut are sometimes never heard from again.” The Countess advised.

“That reminds me,” Ford looked at the river they were about to leave behind. “I never studied much geography. The river is the border between your nation and Foundrel, isn’t it? Does that mean we’re back in my country?”

Anaisa pursed her lips, but Daniel had apparently been listening, for suddenly the image of a map appeared in the air in front of them. The excited boy pointed to the landmarks.

“Foundrel is North of the river, but we passed the edge of its Eastern border days ago. You see, we’re here, now where the river turns a corner. Technically, we have been in unclaimed wasteland for days, according to the royal maps.”

“Unclaimed wasteland?” Ford blinked incredulously. “The grasslands seem like they would be great for farming, and the forest surely would be good and fruitful for something?”

Mia finished loading the carefully folded tent on one of the pack horses near them and began putting out the embers of the campfire. Ford couldn’t tell if she was interested in the conversation or merely going about tasks she saw that needed to be done.

“According to the books, this land is not arable, and there are no towns or settlements for trading,” Daniel told them.

“So someone was lying, mistaken, or this land has changed a lot since the last time anyone came out here.” Grandpa observed.

“Those seem to be the three possibilities,” Anaisa nodded. “I don’t particularly like any of them.”

“Why not just say ‘No trespassing-Chimera territory’ if you want to keep people away?” Ford shook his head. “Surely that would be more effective.”

“You were determined to get into a cave because you saw a map with a tree underground,” Mia reminded him with a touch of irony in her voice. “Anything unusual would draw curious people. There must be a reason people needed to be kept away from here.”

Ford made a childish face at her, despite being pleased that she finally said something to him instead of ignoring him. The silly expression was something he’d learned from Daniel a couple of days ago, and Mia’s mouth fell open with shock.

A moment of tension as he waited for her reaction resolved when she snorted and turned away, one hand pressed to her mouth. He couldn’t tell if she were hiding laughter or offended by his disrespect.

He looked a little helplessly at Anaisa, whose eyes were flickering between the two of them with a subtle smile on her lips.

“That’s a good point, Mia. Thank you for your input,” The noblewoman seamlessly smoothed over the situation and turned the conversation back to the matter at hand. “I think we should stick with the plan we have for now, and adjust it as needed. Why don’t you two get going and the rest of us will follow shortly when we finish taking down the camp?”

“Why can’t I go ahead with them?” Daniel’s voice held just a hint of whining, but his mother’s sharp glance cut him off.

“Because you’re staying with me and perfectly obeying the entire journey like you promised,” Anaisa told him firmly.

“It’s harder for me to hide more people,” Ford added, wanting the boy to have more of a reason than just being told what to do.

“Yes, Mama.” Daniel dipped his head respectfully.

Dishes done, Ford did as the Countess advised and prepared to leave. Mia brought her horse beside his, mounting quickly and without assistance. He could do the same, if he masked his pain, but…

Swallowing his pride, he led the horse next to a fallen log and began climbing slowly atop it. Grandpa approached under the guise of reviewing the symbols Ford would carve into trees they passed, but ‘while he was there’ took the chance to help Ford get safely into the saddle.

“I’ll notch trees we pass once. If we make a sharp turn, I’ll notch it three times so you know to look around more for the next part of the trail,” Ford used a dagger to lean over and show an example of the marks he intended to make.

“That’s good. It’ll also help mark the way back for the journey home.” Grandpa frowned slightly.

Ford’s eyes narrowed. He couldn’t think of a reason anyone would need to go back without Mia, but the man had a point. So far in their journey, they’d headed either around the canyons or along the river.

From here, even Daniel should be able to find his way home with relative ease. Once they entered the forest, it would be a very different matter.

The trees were tall, the canopy thick. There was no straight path to go; they group would likely be winding quite a bit through the forest. The markings would be an invaluable way to find their way back if anything should happen to separate them.

Or if anything should happen to Mia.

She was adjusting a split riding skirt around herself, oblivious to their conversation, or at least pretending to be.

Ford’s throat dried up at the thought that she would be injured or killed. He wasn’t sure he wanted to plan for such a contingency.

“Good luck. We’ll see you at lunchtime.” Grandpa smiled and patted the horse’s neck. “Remember, if you feel anything wrong at all, you can always wait for us to catch up. No shame in getting help when you need it.”

“I’ll remember that.” Ford nodded. It was time to go.