The carriage had been built to impress pedestrians on the close-cobbled city streets of Stormhaven, and while it had rolled along well enough on the smooth, flat highway between there and Market Middling, it was a heavy pull indeed on the uneven, upward-sloping road towards Snowreach. They’d been plodding along the road since just after daybreak and had only now reached what was meant to be the mid-morning rest area, in time for a late lunch.

Captain Kergan looked impatient and on edge, as well he might. There was no way they’d make the inn they’d planned to stay in that night. Not until well after dark, and no one in their right mind travelled the Widescar Forest Road once the sun had set.

But they had to stop. The horses needed rest, and Charlotte had certain requirements that had become increasingly urgent in the past hour.

She jumped down from the carriage’s doorway without assistance, two of the guards belatedly starting towards her as she stumbled on landing.

“I’m fine, just need to get a little feeling back into my legs.”

They still hovered uncertainly, until summoned by Charlotte’s maid, Elsie, who was far more refined and decorous than the mistress she reluctantly served.

They handed her down, then Lady Betula, who looked around the simple clearing, then asked. “But where are the privvies?”

Captain Kergan flushed and cleared his throat. “I was assured there were some simple outhouses constructed on the other side of the stream.”

Betula looked at the path the captain pointed to and gathered her skirts close about her. “I have to go down there?”

How had she grown up in the far northern reaches and yet managed to turn out more fragile and fastidious than city-bred Charlotte? And how was Charlotte going to survive being married to the tedious girl’s brother? Hopefully he would have a little more fortitude to him.

Either way, Charlotte now knew where to go and headed towards the winding track with the urgency of someone whose bladder was threatening to rebel.

It wasn’t far at all, and there were even stepping stones across the stream.

A short time later, with issues resolved, Charlotte decided to explore. She wandered a little way up the shores of the stream, dipping her hands in and splashing her face with the cold, fresh water.

Elsie called out behind her. “For pity’s sake, be careful, Miss. There could be all sorts of evil humours in waters like that.”

Charlotte bit down on a tart rejoinder, if she wanted evil humours, she should see what the water that supplied the house in Stormhaven looked like before going through the magic mesh filters her uncle had made for them.

The maid was distracted by Betula’s reappearance. “Oh, that was primitive. How can there not be proper facilities? Charlotte, you need to tell your father.”

What a merchant in a city two weeks away by coach was supposed to do about the situation was a mystery, but Charlotte made some sort of soothing, agreeable response and edged further away from the other two young women. There was a hint of a path just a little further upstream that simply begged to be followed.

Elsie was too busy fussing over Betula to notice, thank goodness. Normally she was worse than a cat stalking prey, and just as likely to attack, in the guise of straightening Charlotte’s hair, or dress, or other such nonsense.

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