Owain's boots crunched on pea sized hail that littered the courtyard of Lothian Manor as he stepped out of the carriage that had carried him and Captain Albyn from Hurel Village to Lothian City in less time than most people would have imagined possible.
The winter days were growing short, and for most people making the trip in winter, it would have been impossible to arrive before night fell, but Owain roused the carriage driver hours before dawn to leave as soon as the skies had lightened enough that the horses wouldn't risk running off the road if they set out.
