I saluted back the same way, looking over the mule train that was lined up in a row on the grass beside the dirt road. The Wolves stood at easy by their animals, just passed the city’s checkpoint. Indeed, the last curtain wall entrance wasn’t as busy as I’d of expected for this time of day. Only a few farm wagons were at the check point, making me realize how much the city depended on its maritime trade. I didn’t care for the impatient looks that stared at me from the Count’s mounted escort, which had stopped behind his carriage, blocking the gate with their black stallions. Whereas, the gate guards didn’t complain, they knew whose carriage had stopped and they didn’t give me a glance. At a guess, the horse guards were made up of the younger …show more content…
“The Old Buck’s would take their lunch and burn their pretty pennants,” a familiar voice said.
Looking up behind me, Scratch laughed and commented, “I’d want to be at the edge of the forest doing it, Corporal Tanner.”
I turned to see Zetia Tanner, the female guard that went to dinner with us at the Envoy’s manor. She had ridden home with us and provided Julie and me an abbreviated account of her time with Derwen’s mercenary company. She was the company’s official assistant quartermaster, responsible for the stable’s supplies, when not acting as an ad hock liaison between the Wolves and her company.
“Zetia had called her commander Old Buck, so it was reasonable that the mercenary company’s nickname might be after their leader,” I thought, surprised to see her on a brown shaggy horse with a thick mane and forelocks.
She saw my questioning look and said, “Wolly’s my animal, a northern mountain horse. While I might be responsible for your mule train, I own a horse.” She seat on his back with a distinct prideful smile on her pretty face.
“No one seems to think mules are worth riding,” I teased.
“No offense was intended,” she sputtered. “Lord Solon, I would never…” Zetia stopped when I raised my