Gwen answered my question with a sharp nod. “Weaver… that’s the elf girl from the Muerre isles, right?” We’re just loading the last of the trade goods before the caravan is ready for departure.” Weaver even crafted a dozen tents and sleeping bags for your travels and they have all been loaded as well. “Travel rations, tools and travelling equipment have all been loaded. “Queen.” She gave a little bow of her head, returning a bright smile of her own to me. “Looks like we’re running a little late,” I quickly added, noting how we had originally intended to leave at daybreak. “Hey, Gwen!” I smiled down at her, folding my arms.

Most of the snow had receded by now, though a patchy layer of white slush still lingered every here and there with green grass slowly overtaking what had once been an endless expanse of white.īelow, at the side of the wagon and clutching a handmade slate and accompanying chalk pencil, Gwen cleared her throat to get my attention. Standing up in the back of the wagon, I drew a deep breath of early spring air and looked out at the bustle of villagers as we prepared for our departure to the human realms. That was just the kind of world that this was. Some nasty monster would inevitably cross paths with me and smack me around again.

I definitely did not want to get so terribly injured again in the future, though something told me that I likely wouldn’t be able to avoid that particular eventuality. It had been a week since the last of my wounds had healed and I was grateful that I no longer needed to spend hours upon hours every day soaking myself in the regenerating water of Enzirus like some kind of salamander tea bag. Letting out a yawn at the morning sunlight filtering through the treetops, I stretched my arms and back, pleased at the notable lack of painful pops and cracks that I’d grown used to over the winter months. I hefted a wooden crate onto one of the wagons, setting it down with a wooden clatter against the other cargo we’d already loaded.

Queen in the Mud by Maari.