Matilda heard the activity of the bustling city of Welsummer quite some time before she finally arrived at what she presumed was the entrance. She and Disa had just come across a wide stretch of grasses, interrupted only by a well-worn path in the pebbly earth. They were in the open for the first time since leaving the clustering trees which had shrouded them in shelter for the past two days. It felt somewhat strange, yet refreshing to Matilda. She presumed Disa felt the same as the mare briskly cantered across from the clearing.

The smells of roasting meats and breads wafted towards them as they rejoined the shelter of the tall pines and Disa slowed to a casual walk. Matilda's mouth watered uncontrollably and her stomach growled slightly. She nudged Disa into a trot as they neared two iron gates in the middle of the woods. The path opened up here, and the gates looked as if they could easily fit five horses, striding side by side, right through. Disa tossed her head reluctantly at the gates, but Matilda nudged her onward.

Within just a few more moments and a handful of expectant breaths, the trees thinned and then the treeline broke completely. Matilda was in awe as she gazed at the brightly colored tents, the numerous booths and small wooden shops set up all along the path, the two- and three-story buildings with wood and stone trim, some especially decorated – with balconies, painted designs on their doors, golden door handles and knockers.

Disa snorted gruffly and back up several paces as a tall and lanky looking gentleman wearing a monocle and holding a platter of small glasses approached. He wore an ensemble of pinstriped clothing. How odd.

“You – hic want ta try a samplin' o' – hic – gin an' – hic -”

“No, no... thank you,” Matilda gathered Disa's reigns more firmly in her hands. She offered a weak, shaky smile as the pinstriped gentleman adjusted his monocle and drunkenly hobbled past them. Biting her lip, Matilda redirected Disa to head down the brick pathway straight ahead of them. She found herself mildly impressed with the pathway – all of the villages she had ever been in, including Carlecroft, were laid with a collection of mismatched and uneven cobblestones. Welsummer, however, had immaculate pathways, the bricks set snugly together, perfectly smooth and even.

The walkway was longer than Matilda had ever seen, and she reveled in taking in every sight and scent she could as she rode onward. Well-dressed peasants and even more refined folk of all sorts milled about, selected at produce, discussed together, eyed Disa – some even pointed – and stepped or ran out of the way. Matilda was sure there was more spring in Disa's steps.

The outfits she saw people of all statuses in surprised her – back home, everyone wore the same few styles of clothing. Here, she saw young women in corset-like vests, even some shorter dresses that only ran to about the knee. At first Matilda was shocked – everyone in Carlecroft covered up every inch of skin. Matilda had always been thought of as the most scandalous thing anyone there had ever seen. She laughed internally as she imagined their reactions to the bustling streets of Welsummer.

It took the rest of the afternoon to locate and check all of the equine inns in the large city. Matilda had spent a few of her coins on produce and a half-peck on rosemary sea salt bread, and had managed to memorize the locations of the two inns where she had seen some of Castor's fellow companions milling about. Too afraid to be seen and discovered, she had kept hidden, with the intent of searching the stables at night, when the boys would be inside. For now, she lay under a thick tree with sprawling outward branches, enjoying a green pear as Disa grazed on the long, soft grasses around her.

She felt anxious in anticipation. She knew Castor would be, of course, surprised, perhaps even disappointed, to see her this far from Carlecroft – even if she explained that she and Mary-Cathryn had come to agreement, she knew that Castor would berate her for asking her mother to get along without her daughter so suddenly. She furrowed her eyebrows.

He should be grateful that she even bothered to come and check on him. She hoped that he would come to reason after a moment.

Or perhaps she was the one who needed to stop and think... he always did have a way of making her realize how she lacked in the thinking out of her intents and plans.

Exasperated, Matilda tossed the pear core, sighing loudly, then rolling onto her side in the grass. Disa picked up her head to glance at the girl for a moment before resuming her grazing. Matilda stared out into the distance, tracing the peaks of the pale grey mountains that shrouded Carecroft with her eyes.