[Zez]

The carts set off in the late afternoon, both drawn side-by-side with massive chulls to pull the load. The monstrous creatures were like their dangerous axehound counterparts, but less bred for savagery or speed and more for their strength and size. They were large creatures with tough carapaces, complete with a large stone upon their backs that they could retreat into for safety. The chulls produced a slow, yet steady pace, with only a little bit of jerking of the cart as they crawled along.

Zez sat back in her own cart, which was to the left of Sqaud Seven's—who was by now taking shifts resting, watching, and keeping posts around the two coaches. She turned the end of her spanreed and the small red gem blinked twice—connected. She had already written the glyphs to introduce herself on her own paper, which would be copied to the paper of whoever had the other.

And although the magical spanreed normally didn't work while moving, chulls were plenty slow enough to continue use.

The spanreed's gem blinked once more, then began writing on its own across the paper. Zez smiled, watching the glyphs appear before her eyes, and excited that she was entrusted with the tool.

"Hello Brightness Zezilia, Ward of the late Stormwarden Sil'es. You write to the communications office of the keep of Highprince Amaram, this is Olo. How goes the trip as of now?" Zez read to herself after the pen completed its lines. After reading to and for people for so long, she felt it easier to hear the words rather than read them, even though she was the one reading.

The gem blinked twice, again.

Zez took up the reed and turned the end like the cap to a cylindrical container. She wrote; "Greetings, Olo. The trip has been well off, even for only the two ours we have been out. There is nothing specific to report, simply looking to see if the reeds connected correctly." and reset the pen.

Leaving the pen aside—although leaving it ready to write, if needed—Zez got up from her small desk in the cramped, narrow wagon. She had her own little desk, a bed just big enough to be comfortable, a small dresser-like cabinet, and a small window just above the desk. For all the cold stone walls that she had grown up behind, the small room felt free.

She drew the curtains to the sides of the window, bathing the room in evening light. She could see the horizon just over the rocky formations of the ground—pure and of every shade of orange. Sil'es had spoken of sunsets and how people so often took them for granted.

It was gorgeous.

"If only I knew how to paint..." She sighed, taking in the colors and pretending to not notice the spanreed blink beside her for a moment.

"That is good to hear, thank you for your report, that is a very good thought. Just let us know. Safe travels." Zez read, then the spanreed gem dulled to nothing, causing the pen to drop to the desk. Lifeless.

"Good. Always good." She looked back to her window and the beautiful colors, zoning out.

-

-

Zez woke up to light knocking on her wagon's door, having fallen asleep at her desk. With- With the window open. She quickly looked to the window, which was opposite that of the door, and saw the cool colors of the night setting across the sky.

"We've made it to Gaval, Brightness. Xe and Temo are headed off to get us some rooms." It was Qork's voice, once again, and although she couldn't see the lad, he sounded exhausted. "We'll get some good rest then head out again tomorrow morn'."

There's a thump as he stepped down from the thin walkway just outside the wagon's door.

"Thank you, Qork!" Zez quickly jumped up again and practically throwing the curtains closed. Thankfully, she was wearing both her normal clothes and the glove on her safehand, even with the window wide open. And though someone outside could have read the written conversation with Olo, it wasn't much something to be blackmailed with.

She began to gather her things with the privacy of the curtain covering the window. She slipped the spanreed, ink, and the picture of her parents back into her safepouch. When she exited the coach again, Qork was standing a few feet off from the doorway as to not look as though he was trying to listen in. He held a spear to his side and stood to attention—holding his post even while in the small, relatively peaceful village of Gaval.

"Ready, Brightness?" He turned, loosening his grip on the spear.

"Ready!" She said excitedly, walking out from the stall they had the carts parked in—the chulls were let free to roam until they departed. "And umm- apologies for the window... I hope that wasn't too embarrassing..."

"Window?" The soldier looked genuinely confused.

With a look of relief, Zez gestures for him to take the lead towards the inn and their rooms.