Meyrin found traveling to be peaceful. He had no fear of becoming lost in the Nairiume countryside due to the well-maintained signs along the road directing him to the capital. He did feel somewhat wary when he went to sleep each night in a different waystation, but the discomfort of not sleeping in his bed kept his sleep light most nights, allowing him to wake at the approach of any unwanted visitor. It also meant that the hoot of owls and the shifting of his horse were also enough to wake him, however. 

All the waystations were similar to the point of being nearly identical, he began to notice. They all contained a sheltered place for both human travelers and animals. There were pens that could be used for animals, flush with grass, or a lean-to structure where horses could be tied. The rest of the waystation ground was made of packed dirt, though in places clumps of grasses and other plants often attempted to take over the bare ground. Most waystations had fruiting trees or bushes growing on the edges of the packed dirt, Meyrin noted. There was also a trough for the use of the animals, filled by raising buckets of water from a well nearby. For the use of the human visitors, the sites included a small building filled with ten simple and rather narrow bedrooms. The beds were only raised wooden platforms with no mattress, but they offered the ability to sleep off the ground. Meyrin understood quickly why many travelers brought thin, rolled mattresses with them when they traveled. Finally, at the back of each waystation was a privy.

Meyrin encountered no other travelers when he visited these waystations, so he chose to spend his nights in the horse shelter with Jako, ensuring he was nearby in the case of robbery. He didn't mind it, despite being far closer to the insects on the ground than he had considered. Some of the insects bit his skin and raised itchy welts. Fortunately, on the fourth day he met a fellow traveler who offered him an ointment for the bites after he noticed Meyrin itching his arms repeatedly.

"I have plenty more, don't worry," the stranger assured him when Meyrin attempted to refuse a gift of the entire jar. It didn't seem polite of him to take it when the old man had his own travels to endure and might need it himself. When Meyrin offered him a bit of his money, the man refused it. "The biting insects are terrible during this time of year. You will need that more than I. I create salves, ointments, tonics, and all the like from ingredients I collect on these long walks. I haven't many more walks left in me, and it's better to give to those who need it than to expect payment for simple services."

"I was always told to pay for services," Meyrin explained, reluctantly taking the jar of ointment.

The old man smiled. "And sometimes it's best to accept gifts, especially gifts given on the road."

Meyrin nodded. "Thank you."

"I wish you well on your journey," the stranger told him, gripping his hand for a brief moment. 

"You, as well," Meyrin replied.

The stranger was the first person Meyrin had interacted with in the four days he had been traveling, though he had seen many other people in passing. That night, at the next waystation, he met with more travelers who he was destined to spend more time speaking with.

The stranger who had given him the ointment had come across him when he had stopped to rest and water Jako, and eat some of his own food. After receiving the ointment, which had truly begun to soothe the itch the moment Meyrin applied it to his skin, Meyrin had taken some time to apply it to his entire body. This resulted in a slight delay in his travel time, and he arrived at the waystation was dusk was drawing close. There was already a group of three people there, sitting around a fire they had built. Four sleek horses had been set loose in the pen and were happily grazing on the grass there.

"Hello!" one of the strangers called to him when Meyrin guided Jako off the road and into the waystation. 

Meyrin halted Jako, who was very interested in the other horses, and dismounted. He still wasn't the most skilled rider, but he felt he was becoming much better than he had been only a few days ago. 

"Hello," he greeted the trio of strangers. "Is there room for another here?" Of course, he knew there would be, but he wasn't certain how inviting the group would be to a stranger who wished to share their space with them for a night. He could easily make his own fire and keep to another side of the waystation. There was plenty of space for groups to keep distant if they desired to.

"Of course," one of them replied, sounding like the one who had welcomed Meyrin to begin with. "Settle your horse and join us. Our horses might enjoy the company of yours in the pen. If he's a friendly sort, of course."

"He is," Meyrin assured the man. He took his time introducing the horses to each other over the fence and only released Jako into the pen once it was clear there would be no aggression between any of the horses. Still, he listened for anything that sounded more like fighting than playing as he stowed his belongings in the lean-to and joined the others at the fire. It was nearly fully dark by then, and he was looking forward to rest and food. Yet, he also wanted to spend some time meeting the other travelers. The meeting with the old man earlier in the day had made him realize how lonely his journey had made him. He could certainly use some friendly conversation.