Silence filled the carriage as the implications of the message settled over them.
Outside, the cheerful sounds of the countryside—birds singing, wind rustling through grain fields, the distant lowing of cattle—seemed to mock the gravity of what they had just learned.
"Two days," Baren said finally.
"If we push hard, change horses at every way station..."
"We can make it," Baren finished.
Jaenor and Odessa both looked at each other, thinking.
Baren leaned out the window and called to the driver. "Old man! Can these horses make double-time to Hanompetra?"
"Aye, if you don't mind paying for the privilege," came the reply. "And if you're willing to switch to fresh teams at every post house between here and there."
Baren turned to Jaenor and waited for him to tell the old man, but Jaenor remained silent.
"Tell me, Jaenor. I don't have any coin on me."
Jaenor looked at Odessa, and she could tell that he wanted to go with him; she nodded, telling him to go.
