In the two hours they had traveled, they passed three contingents of traders who were all heavily surrounded by armored guards. "The traders pay a lot of money to the mercenaries and usually have their private armies to tread on this path," Ileus had informed earlier. No one was friendly and everyone gave them a cold stare as they passed. All the while they rode, Anastasia could make out the brine smell of the ocean as a cool breeze blew constantly.
By the time it was evening, she was too tired. She began to careen towards her right. Ileus immediately gathered her in his arms and pulled her closer. "Anastasia? Sweetheart?"
She opened her eyes and in a lazy voice asked, "When are we going to stop? Is there an inn where we can stop?"
"We will stop in a few hours, love," he said and held her close against his chest. He leaned over her to adjust her cloak. He smelled her and kissed her temple. With her now asleep, he could easily focus on the road ahead.
