The first day passed in a blur of riding and brief stops to water the horses.
Gabriel and Adan alternated between a steady canter and a brisk walk, letting the horses recover between pushes. The burning in Gabriel's chest never faded, pulling northwest with constant insistence that made it hard to think about anything except covering distance.
They didn't talk much. Adan wasn't the type to fill silence with unnecessary words, and Gabriel was grateful for it.
By evening they'd covered more than half the distance. They made camp in a clearing off the road, no fire, cold rations eaten in darkness while the horses rested nearby. Adan took first watch without being asked.
Gabriel lay on his bedroll staring up through tree branches at stars that seemed too distant to matter. The burning in his chest had become almost bearable now, as if the magic was satisfied with the progress they were making.
Almost there.
Tomorrow, maybe afternoon at latest.
