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Chapter Thirteen
Bumps in the Road
They found Mrs. Ramley and her daughters the next morning and everyone clambered into the straw filled cart. Thankfully the straw appeared to be fresh. After Mrs. Ramley had ‘oh’ed and ‘ah’ed over her ring she flicked the reins and got the horse moving.
Julian had piled some straw together and laid back on it, stretching his legs out. She snuggled up to him and laid her head on his chest. She positioned her hand so she could see her ring.
“You’re obsessed with that ring.” He observed.
“It’s beautiful.” She sighed.
“You’re beautiful.” He ran a finger along her cheek.
With a rather silly smile on her face she leaned up to press a kiss to his lips. He deepened the kiss for a moment before she pulled away and settled her head on his chest again. And just to prove he was wrong she tucked her be-ringed hand under his cloak.
~*~*~*~
A particularly heavy jolt of the cart had her bolting upright from her sleep.
“Sorry dearie.” Mrs. Ramley cheerfully apologized.
She muttered something that could have passed for an apology and turned to Julian. He too was looking a bit disgruntled. He also had quite a bit of straw in his hair.
He sat up and laughingly she helped him brush the straw out of his curls.
He pointedly glanced around the open area they were traveling though and she, puzzled, did the same.
“It seems were quite some ways from the town.” He quietly pointed out.
She stared perplexed until she remembered their conversations from the night before. Leaning in slowly and deliberately she thoroughly kissed him. Pulling back she leaned her forehead against his and half seriously, “We’re so screwed.”
~*~*~*~
As they neared Wendell’s castle the road became quite crowded with other carts. Due to the anniversary the castle was opened for tours and nobody wanted to miss out on a chance to visit the historic castle. At one point they passed a signpost that had two boards pointing at a right angle to each other, one was ’13 miles King Wendell’s Castle’ and the other was ’39 miles King Wendell’s Castle’. With an arrow painted in the direction of the ’13 miles’ crude words were painted on a nailed up board; ‘Deadly Swamp Do Not Enter I’m serious’.
She exchanged a glance with Julian who shook his head at the deplorable state of signage in this world. Though privately she wouldn’t have minded a few helpful signs like that on some of her missions.
A small shanty town, though more respectable than the usual, had sprung up around the castle in response to the influx of visitors. They left Mrs. Ramley and her daughters and walked up to the castle. Tours were scheduled for two times a day, the castle staff still had everyday issues that needed to be attended to without gaping guests, and their names were added to a waiting list. Due to the large numbers they would have a two day wait for their turn.
Walking back to the shanty town they managed to secure a half-way decent room in a hastily constructed hotel for the duration of their stay. The hotel also had a small room set aside for baths which they took advantage of right away. After that for the next two days they didn’t leave their room except for meals.
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