I can't believe that the Fortress is so far away!  The caravan has been going for four days now through the Wood, and still no sign of it.  The guards told me that we would reach it tomorrow, but I'm not so sure.  The griffon attack slowed things down considerably.  There were tents to repair, horses and dogs to round up, and some very frightened guards to reassure that the griffon wasn't coming back.  They were all so disbelieving that the griffon actually understood what I said, and that that was why it left, but it is the truth.  

Griffons are actually quite intelligent, and thanks to Dad's work with Beasts and Beings, I was well aware that most of them understood the common tongue.  It was just a simple matter of coming up with a reason that the griffon shouldn't attack us and explaining it.

I am by no means saying it was easy.  It wasn't.  It was the scariest thing I've ever done, but someone had to do it.  If I hadn't, one of the guards would have gotten hurt, maybe even killed, and in no way am I willing to sit back and watch people die.

Ugh!  This Wood road is so bumpy, it is as if it is full of hole where people have come and filled pots of the earth here.  I shall call them potholes, for lack of a better word.  

At least the guards are not cruel in any way.  I would even go so far as to call them kind.   I have heard tales of people being abducted by the Queen's guards.  They are tortured, beaten, and occasionally even branded like cattle-beasts.  What a cruel thing to do!   

The guards are calling for curfew, so I must stop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Much of the same today.  Nothing but more bumps and holes in the road, and sitting here writing.  At least, earlier they let me go out and ride Midnight alongside the caravan.  They moved slowly, so we couldn't run like we both wanted to, but just getting out of this cart was enough.  Eileena came along for the ride as well, flying for sections, riding with me for others.  

Now, back in this cart, I am going through my MageBag.  I can't believe the guards haven't taken my weapons.  I suppose they haven't looked in my bag, so that might explain it.  

The guards can see the Fortress.  They insist I prepare myself to meet the Queen and that I look presentable.