Tracking Erik

TOVA

Leila woke us up before dawn. She looked a lot better after a night’s rest and I felt better. Garth got up and walked to the river to piss, stretching his back.

She packed up the camp and I retrieved the animals. They seemed none the worse for our hard day of traveling and seemed anxious to ride again. I saddled them and, with a grimace, Leila lifted herself into Troi’s saddle. Garth looked at her and then clambered up behind her, to her surprise.

“Care to share where you are leading us?” Leila asked, no malice in her voice.

“Following the river and heading west,” I said. “I think that there’s a pretty good chance west is the direction Erik was taken. If we can get close enough, Troi can track him. Slepnirs are loyal to a fault and will track their masters. She is Erik’s through and through.”

Leila patted her neck. “She’s a good girl,” she cooed. She continued to stroke Troi’s neck but spoke to me. “We put in a hard day of travel and now we’re backtracking. Do you th