"Mrs Buckley wasn't there." Wulfsen blushed. "I wanted to hug Sileas... I've hugged her before, but since I told her how I felt about her... I didn't want to scare her."

"Your confession may have changed things a bit but for now, the two of you are still friends.
And friends hug one another. Just how badly do you feel you've bollocked this up?"

"Like trampled manure and worse every minute." Wulfsen grumbled as he saddled up his horse.

"Oy." If they had been alone, he would have smacked Wulfsen upside the head. "I'll think on it while you're gone. Any idea how long you will be away?"

"I'm not coming back until I find her." Wulfsen said. "And then it'll be longer so we can rescue Nelek."

Xavier nodded. "Godspeed and be safe," Xavier said, placing his hand on his friend's shoulder.
"Don't forget to pick up supplies before you set out. You won't do Sileas any good if you are emaciated with hunger when you catch up. And it sounds like she set out with supplies as well."

Wulfsen had not grabbed any supplies. He frowned. "Portside isn't far, I can eat there."

"I meant to get some there for your trip. You don't know how long you'll be gone. I doubt eating there will sustain you that long," Xavier pointed out.

Wulfsen shook his head. "I don't have time." He glanced at Lek, then lowered his voice. "If Sileas had gotten on a ship of slavers she's not eating well either."

Xavier shook his head. "So you send men for supplies while you secure a ship. It's not like we brought our own ship along. How are you going to fight slavers with hunger stabbing the inside of your stomach."

"The longer I wait the further she gets from me!" Wulfsen snapped. "I have no time to lose."

"If you want to weakly get captured along with her and have no food to offer her when she is starving, by all means have your men stand around doing nothing while you secure a ship. Meanwhile, I have a wagon to unload." Xavier called a few men over and told them where they would be storing the items. Once they headed inside, Xavier grabbed a crate and headed inside.

"Fine, if we have time they can get some food." Wulfsen said. He mounted his horse.

Lek gulped nervously.

Shawn came out of the stables, leading a horse. He glanced at Lek. "You'd best go find a horse, Wulfsen wants to get going."

"A horse?" Lek looked terrified. "I can't just take a horse!"

"You wouldn't be just taking a horse. Just tell the stableboy you are riding out with Lord Thornblade and he will fix you up with a suitable horse."

"They'll let me?" Lek was still nervous.

Shawn sighed and tried to hide his irritation. "Aye, they'll let you."

Lek nervously went into the stables. Lek stammered at the stable boy a few times before the stable boy rolled his eyes and set Lek up with the gentlest mare in the stable.

A group of fifteen knights had already headed to Portside with a wagon to gather supplies for the journey.

Wulfsen galloped after the knights.

Shawn set his own mount into a gallop after them, having seen Lek riding from the stables.

The mare saw absolutely no reason to hurry. SO Lek trailed far behind Wulfsen and Shawn.

Xavier stepped outside for another crate. He spotted Lek plodding along behind Shawn. Xavier smirked. Plenty of time for the men to gather supplies.