The Lady's Journey
“…Lady Aberline focused her mental and physical energies on the task that awaited her.”
As was custom on this journey, when the Lady ordered them to stop for the evening, she walked away and spent time in solitude while her companions set up camp. Before the darkness encircled them, a fire was burning warm amid four separate bivouac shelters. The men often thought that a woman of her rank would require more for a sleeping arrangement, but she insisted that the less they carried, the better it would be for all of them. In addition, the trip was to be made on foot, with no unnecessary burdens. This meant no animals. Everything they carried was on their backs, and their weapons were always at the ready. To the men’s chagrin, the Lady was the only one of the four without a weapon. She was a strange companion indeed, and her actions often made little sense to the men-for-hire. Still, they complied, and made the area as comfortable as possible.
During her times of meditation, Lady Aberline focused her mental and physical energies on the task that awaited her. One of the men always insisted on being near her as she spent time in meditation, if only for her safety. After the second day of their journey, she gave up her resistance to this matter knowing that her friend, the Chief, ordered such a thing. The men were not about to dishonor the chief or do anything that might cause harm to the Lady. She knew better than to confuse her frustrate her companions, especially since they were only following orders. They were local to the area and knew the inhabitants better than she. Still, Lady Aberline insisted that she would be safe during her times of solitude. And indeed, she had been, despite the ever-watching eyes of the local animals and other inhabitants in these parts.