Calvorn opens the sack to pass Aerendir a turnip and a couple of carrots, which he appears to have washed, before settling himself down beside the elf. He glances across at the sleeping forms of the knights before addressing Aerendir in a low tone.

"So, I don't suppose you know anything about this contact who Marabir is so insistent on meeting?"

“Nothing I’m planning on telling you. Nosy,” Aerendir says, biting ungratefully into the turnip.

Calvorn seems to have figured this was a bit of a long shot, and gives a resigned grunt and a shrug as he pulls out a tomato and begins to slice it in half with his hunting knife.

"You don't need to sleep, lad?" he directs at Erald, following the boy's gaze to his tomato and extending a half for him to take.

Erald bites his lip, clearly trying to work out if future knights are allowed to eat or not. Apparently deciding maybe, he shuffles a bit forward and stretched out a grubby hand for the tomato.

Calvorn passes it to him, before taking a bite of his own half. He watches the boy eating for a moment, taking in his cracked lips before leaning forward to scoop a ladleful of fresh water from the bucket and extend it to Erald.

"Came from a well nearby," he explains gruffly in response to the boy's wide eyed stare.

Erald bites his lip before deciding that this is probably acceptable and takes it, swallowing it slowly at first, then faster, before passing back Calvorn the empty ladle. (The half tomato is gone just as quickly.)

Calvorn takes the ladle back, wiping it clean before placing it back in the bucket. He then reaches into the sack to pass the boy a final carrot.

"The rest will have to wait until Their Highnesses are awake," he states, more to Aerendir than Erald. "And after that, I suggest you get some sleep," this he does direct at the boy. "We still have a few hours ahead of us before we reach the woods this evening."

With that he lies back on the hay and closes his own eyes.

Erald crunches on his carrot and solemnly nods.

He seems to have decided it's his job to make sure no rats or mice eat Calvorn's hair in the night, his time as his uncle's captive having taught him these evils are things that exist and need to be guarded against.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:22, Sun 12 Mar 2023.

A couple of hours pass as the mist slowly brightens, and at length begins to rise. The sun shines brightly down in what turns into a brisk, sunny morning. The sleeping party are not disturbed during their rest in the barn, and aside from a wagon which trundles by around mid morning, Aerendir sees no sign of life, except of course the cattle which graze in the field nearby. Calvorn awakens around noon, rising stiffly and glancing out of the barn with a satisfied nod.

"Time to continue?" Tyronius inquires, seeming to shift from fast asleep to fully awake in a matter of seconds. He doesn't wait for an answer as he pulls himself swiftly up and begins to strap on his breastplate once more.

Marabir awakens as well, stifling a yawn as he pulls himself up and glances blearily about.

"That time already, is it?" he asks, stretching as he rises and makes his way over to join Calvorn.

Caln, who seems to have been woken by the others, attempts to sit up but falls back into the hay.

"I can't move," he mumbles hoarsely, sounding mildly alarmed.

Calvorn smiles ruefully at the guard captain.

"I suppose you haven't had a walk like that for a long time, and carrying a child on top of it. Your joints should loosen as we begin walking, though once we start you had probably best not stop again until we reach the forest. I shall carry the child today, unless one of our brave knights wishes to volunteer?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:03, Sun 12 Mar 2023.

As two of the brave knights are still fast asleep and the other two seem content to ignore this remark, Calvorn shrugs and sets about rummaging in his sack. Caln for his part does not appear to have any objections to Calvorn's offer, groaning as he manages to pull himself over and begin crawling his way over to the food and water.

"There is enough for one tomato each, and a couple of carrots," Calvorn explains. "There are also a few radishes for anyone who feels like seconds. Fresh water in the bucket there."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:53, Sun 12 Mar 2023.

Marabir strides over to the bucket, but rather than taking a ladle to drink, he crouches to examine his reflection. He is visibly relieved to see that the last stains of the Gothin have indeed disappeared.

"Excellent work, Calvorn," he commends the ranger as he rises and moves over to seat himself beside him, then, after a moment, "Where's Falnis?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:58, Sun 12 Mar 2023.

"Admiring the Thanian cattle," Falnis almost certainly lies, from the shadows near the wall. "Are you admiring your three-day growth there, Your Highness?"

Marabir shoots Falnis an unimpressed glance as he bites into his tomato, being careful to avoid spraying any of the juice down his hands or onto his tunic.

The other two knights have by this time awoken, with Caled staggering over to seat himself sullenly opposite Calvorn, still looking half asleep. Larend, in contrast, appears to have a little more life in him than the night before as he limps over to seat himself between Caled and Erald.

"Once we depart we shall have to move swiftly," Tyronius asserts as he joins the others, fully outfitted in his armour. "I doubt it will be long before we are spotted by a farmer and who knows whose side they will be on."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:09, Sun 12 Mar 2023.

"Hopefully at least some are still loyal to us," Marabir frowns as he finishes the last of his tomato and begins on a carrot.

Tyronius shrugs, but his expression remains skeptical as he begins on a carrot of his own.

Larend meanwhile, holds up his tomato and carrot to Erald with a kindly smile.

"Which one do you like best?" he asks.

Erald points to the tomato.

"He's no fool," snorts Caled as he bites into his own tomato.