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Brand fell into a satisfied silence as he and Rædwald rode along. It was just after noon; the sun having barely begun its downward track toward the west. The day was still chilly, though there had been a brief period where the sun shone out brightly in a cloud free sky. That respite from greyness had gone all too quickly, as a grouping of large, dark clouds scudded up from the south and covered the sun. The cold wind, too, began to pick up a little and Brand was certain he could smell the promise of rain borne on it.
‘Rædwald,’ he said, bringing Lady near to Lis. ‘Looks like a little storm is brewing. I think we should sit it out somewhere sheltered, don’t you? We’ve been riding for a long time now; the horses and riders need a rest and a little something hot to eat before we turn west and push on.’
He looked far to the south, scanning the gently rolling lands for a suitable possibility. ‘Look there!,’ he said, pointing to a low hill with a covering of trees. ‘It’s only a short ways away, let’s make for that and rest for a while.’ He turned his horse about, saying he would head back along the line of riders to let them know what they were doing. ‘I’ll count on you, then, to keep us moving toward it . . . yes?’
The companions were strung out, some riding alone, others riding alongside a companion. He headed first for Osmod, the rear guard to let him know the plan, then worked his way forward until he’d reached where Incana and Meghan rode.
‘Begging your pardon, ladies,’ he said in a genial tone as he came up alongside Starlight. ‘We’ll be stopping soon to eat and rest the horses.’ His eyes flicked up toward the cloud swollen sky. ‘And to wait out the rain, too, before we turn west. There’s a little hillock with some trees we can shelter under – put up tarps if we need to. Down south . . . just a little further. It’s about at the place Lord Aldwulf said we should make the turn to head westward. We’ll have something hot to eat and drink and then go on ‘til evening.’ He glanced past Incana only to catch Meghan as she looked quickly away.
‘Yes, well then, I’ll just go back up with Rædwald . . . see you ladies at the rest stop . . .’
It was a lame transition, and he wanted to kick himself for not being more clever. On the other hand he felt quite pleased with himself. He had caught for the briefest of moments, before she drew them away, her light blue eyes looking keenly at him. One could shed the regret of not being clever with that bright image firmly fixed in his mind . . .
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