Episode 1: A Journey Begins

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The rain beat heavily upon them as they departed from the estate. Each of them was given horses, with Abigail riding her beloved Milton, MacGregor taking his large, brown roan, Halifax. The large dwarf and the merman rode in a carriage, which also contained many well-packed provisions. In the careful packing, Urqhart's hand could be seen, and Abby could almost hear him given directions to the servants:

"Edgar," he would say, "do make sure that there is more than just simple rations in there; the ride will be difficult enough without terrible foods. And make sure that there are supplies for an emergency: I suspect that they will travel straight across to Silver Lake, and that passes through many dangerous areas. And make sure you include some of our ale for the dwarf -- I'm told he has quite a taste for brew. Don't look at me that way, Edgar! I'm sure he can quite proper when the time calls for it..."

They did indeed decide to travel straight through the forests along the less-used trails and over the hilly fields. To travel South through Ulster and along the shore (where the main routes led) would cost them precious time. This path would not take them close to many settlements, however, and would lead them along the border of Dougal territory.

The latter should not have posed a problem, as all council families were provisionally granted the rights to travel through eachother's lands, provided no hunting was done. Nonetheless, the Dougals were a crafty lot, and they had been sneering rivals of the House of Green for centuries.

MacGregor took the lead. Abigail hadn't travelled this way much, and Ioan offered a suggestion here and there but seemed content to let the young man point the way.

After half the day was gone, the rained cleared off, and the sunny peered cautiously around the clouds. Other than Ioan, who was enjoying the immersion in water, the group was glad to finally have a chance to dry out.

That afternoon they emerged from the old, thick forest which surrounded the House of Green. The change was stark: where there had been trees with centuries of age whose trunks were as big as a house, now there were small, thin trees no bigger around than a horse's leg, and the rolling grasslands spread out before them.

MacGregor's mood lightened particularly once the rain had stopped. He seemed straighter on his saddle than before, and his eyes were brightly darting around the woods ahead. He pushed his roan into a trot, and called back over his shoulder that he was going to look for a good campsite for the night. Abigail would have told him that they would all look, but he was gone quickly down the hillside.

"Eager young pup, ain't he?" noted Uther.

"He's loyal," answered Abigail, smiling. MacGregor was about her age, and had been around the house almost as long as she had, staring first as a kitchen boy and later becoming one of the hunters. It was hard not to think of him as that kitchen boy, sometimes, thought Abigail. He had always seemed to be so quietly obedient, and had even called her "m'lady" when they were both children.

"I think that being head of the house guard bores him," added Ioan. "But he's good at it."

MacGregor returned after a few minutes, a wide grin from the bit of exertion splitting his face. "We're in luck! There's a wide, flat spot not far from the river that should serve us well."

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