[Nogrod]

As Sythric mounted Thydrë, all seemed to be quite ready. Raedwald and Brand were at the head – and this Wulfhamer girl, Vaenora? - was gaining speed, heading forwards, away from the others. Osmod seemed to be settling at the rear of the party. How like him, and that’s good. He rode past Osmod and nodded to him approvingly, giving a little smile as he passed him. “Let’s enjoy a fast ride today, otherwise the cold of the riverside will catch us!”, he said to Osmod, and then spurred to the front, approaching Brand and Raedwald.

Raedwald and Brand noted Sythric’s approach, turning to see him. “If you don’t mind, I think we are numerous enough to afford another scout. If this Vaenora there will ride about the route you will take, I’ll take my path a little bit to the inland, just covering the flank. Is that alright?”.

After approval, Sythric spurred Thydrë to a full gallop, teasing her to make the best of it by every now and then patting her neck, and whispering to her things that were only between them, their talk. Thydrë was in her element now, racing through the open land. The wind ringed in Sythric’s ears as they almost flied away from the group. Sythric was enjoying the ride too – even though it was cold, it was indeed really cold.

Soon he saw Vaenosa looking back, after hearing the approaching sound of the hooves. She was still over fifty yards away. Sythric pointed with his hand straightforward, then pointed to himself with the same hand, and turned the hand a little bit to the right of the straight course. After that he motioned Thydrë to start lightly to angle rightwards. Slowly his path started to diverge from Vaenosa’s. She seemed to get his meaning, as she continued on the trail she had begun.

Sythric looked shortly backwards. The whole group was on the move now, in steady canter, but gaining speed. “C’mon Thydrë, we should be up front now – far away from those people! Or is there not a girl enough in you for it?” he whispered to Thydrë’s ear, and then she really flied.