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FIVE
     
     
    Tyco kept them at an easy pace as they left Swiftwater. To the west of them loomed the dead lands, beyond which lay Moenia, the capital and their eventual destination. To the north and east stretched open plains in which Max and Eve had spent most of their childhood riding and playing. The safest way to cross the dead lands lay towards the north at the Clanrye River.
    Max grew excited at the thought of seeing the river and everything that lay beyond. Starlight picked up on Max’s excitement and began to trot. They had not gone far before hearing a shout from Tyco.
    “Slow it down a little there, Max.”
    Max pulled back on Starlight’s reins. “Whoa!” Max turned to look back at Tyco. “Sorry, guess Starlight is a little excited.”
    Eve giggled. “Yeah, it’s all Starlight’s fault. I’m sure she’s very excited to go and see the capital.”
    Max turned to look over his shoulder. “You know, you could be walking right now.”
    Eve smiled. “Yep, and I’d probably get there quicker.”
    Tyco and Mr. Penna caught back up to Max. They now rode three abreast. Tyco eyed Starlight.
    “Starlight’s a fine horse, but she’ll need that energy for crossing the dead lands. It is not a path you mosey along on, enjoying the scenery as you go.”
    “But don’t the Protectors have camps along the path?”
    “They do, but they are spaced far enough apart that you need to keep moving from first light till dusk in order to make it from one to the next. Otherwise, you’ll be caught out in the dark between camps. Nighttime in the dead lands is a very unpleasant experience.”
    “What about those who don’t have horses?”
    “If you absolutely have to travel by foot, then you do so in large, well-armed groups. However, Protectors provide horses for rent on both sides of the dead lands.”
    Eve let out a snicker. “Well isn’t that nice of them. Let me guess, you have to pay a fee at each of the camps along the way as well.”
    “It helps pay for the cost of having members of the Protectors stationed at the camps.” Tyco nudged Teak a little ahead of the others.
    Eve snorted in disgust. Max elbowed her and spoke up so Tyco could still hear him. “Makes sense to me. It’s like paying to stay at an inn.”
    Max could feel the cold stare from Eve. “I suppose, as long as it’s a fair price.”
    To ease the tension, Max had Starlight slow a bit until they were several lengths behind Tyco and Mr. Penna where he began telling Eve what he thought they might see on their trip. She held silent at first, but soon joined with her own ideas.
    In the early evening when they stopped to make camp. Not long after everyone had dismounted, Mr. Penna called out to Eve.
    “Evangeline, can you come over here and give me a hand please?”
    “Yep!”
    Eve walked over to Mr. Penna, who had stopped a little short of the others. He leaned over and whispered something to her before she began to help him unpack. That surprised Max. Usually he had to do the grunt work. He shrugged his shoulders and went to work unpacking his own things.
    What are they up to?
    Max finished unpacking about the time Eve and Mr. Penna, with the mare in tow, rejoined the rest of them. Mr. Penna tethered his mare to Teak and left them and Starlight to graze. Tyco and Max had no fear of them running away; both had long since proven dedicated to their masters.
    Everyone sat down together in a circle to enjoy a meal of dried meat and fruit before the sun set. By the time they finished, the stars and moon had appeared in the clear night sky giving them light to see by. As they enjoyed the cool night, Max watched Eve take out the small bundle Mrs. Tassi had given her. She carefully unwrapped it, revealing a wedge of cheese. Max’s eyebrows furrowed.
    “I didn’t think you liked cheese, Eve?”
    “I don’t,” Eve gave her usual mischievous grin, “but it’s not for me.”
    “Then who?”
    Eve reached into her shirt pocket and pulled out a brown and