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Athwen rode in silence once they started. Fion was not much for talking (she guessed it was because his head hurt him so). She was sorry for him, but she didn't know what to say. So she did what didn't always come easily to her and remained silent. She remained sitting on her hands even as they went out, for Parith was not going to cause trouble, apparently. He generally did well with other horses riding around him. They were traveling at a fast walk, occasionally breaking into a trot, and reining in again. At this rate, they would cover a great deal of ground that day. Athwen did some calculations, and if they traveled with little rest until nearly dark, they could cover close to seventy miles, but she doubted the horses would be kept at such a pace for ten hours.
She shook her head and looked around. For some reason, her eyes and attention were drawn abruptly towards Eostre. Athwen couldn't actually remember that that was her name - she hadn't talked to the woman, and she couldn't remember hearing Eostre talk to anyone else. She wondered. . .and when Athwen wondered, she generally got curious, and when she got curious, she wanted to find out. So she did.
Parith turned to her cue and slowed slightly until Eostre came opposite her and then Athwen rode to her side. Eostre shot her a doubtful glance and said nothing. Athwen said nothing, too, for a moment. Then started it quite as easily as she could, and said,
'Quite a cold morning, isn't it?'
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