They moved slowly along the road, the animals setting the pace.
The cows plodded forward with heavy, deliberate steps. The Moatts were even slower, their massive bodies swaying with each stride.
The goats darted and weaved, their restless energy making them difficult to keep in line. The chickens clucked in their cages, their feathers ruffled by the movement of the wagons.
Progress was being made, but it was slow. Very slow. Darion estimated that they had covered barely a quarter of the distance they would have covered on horseback alone.
But there was no point in rushing. The animals needed to rest, to drink, to eat. Pushing them too hard would only lead to exhaustion and injury.
Darion and Seren rode side by side at the front of the caravan, their horses matching the slow pace of the wagons.
The morning sun was warm on their faces, the sky clear and blue. It was a beautiful day for travel, even if the journey itself was tedious.
