> [snip]
>
> Plodding straight ahead, I yelled out " Hail the camp, it is your long lost
> sister"
> looking like they where all having a darn good time, I saw my friends
> preparing
> to leave, eying the horses, I really got down hearted , cause I didn't have
> one,
> however their is always a bright side to every coin, I thought, for
> instance I could end up with some riding lessons from Balefire, so upwards
> I trudged.....................

Balefire, his mood somehow improved after hearing Twilights retelling of the
little fable, stood up in his stirrups, stretching as he waved his staff at the
approaching Mea.  The dark elf tried to stifle his smile at the pleasure it
brought him to see the arcane nimbus flaring along the rune-carved staff, but
even knowing that another few yards of travel might suppress the magic again
could not entirely dampen his unusually bright spirits.

"Ho, Mea!  Well found, M'Lady!  "Tis glad I am you found us, and that you appear
well.  Something about this land does make the Art diminish or go awry, and so
we thought we had lost you.  A good omen that such is not the case.  Arkay knows
where your mount may have gone, but we have redistributed the pack animals'
loads, and there is a mount for each of us.  What's more, I shall do you a
favor, in gladness at seeing you."  The big warmage alighted from his mount and
proceeded to unbuckle his saddle, talking all the while to the ever-nearer Mea.
He handled the heavy war saddle as if it were no heavier than a tablecloth, as
he swung it over onto the back of one of the larger pack horses and started
tightening the girth.

"I shall let you use my saddle, and I shall make do with a couple of saddle
blankets.  "Tis no great thing; I've done as much before, and we have no great
distance to ride.  Somewhat less than a day, I'd wager, and for that long 'twere
no large sacrifice, if not exactly comfortable.  If we were likely to do cavalry
maneuvers, I should miss the stirrups, but that seems unlikely.  Be my guest,
Mea, and mount up."