The afternoon dragged on as the group wound their way through countryside that looked practically abandoned. Celia had always known the areas immediately surrounding the palace were sparsely populated, apart from the nearby town of St Ivan's.
They were taking a route that had bypassed the town though, much to her disappointment. The only signs of life were the occasional tiny hamlet or thatched cottage in the distance.
Good heavens, she thought. Has the land always been this empty? Or did the few original people end up fleeing because of the floods? It felt eerie to move through the silent landscape, especially at such a painfully slow pace.
Unfortunately, she could see Tobin was truly struggling even at a riding speed barely above walking pace. His face was red and his hair was stuck against his sweaty neck. Celia's anxiety grew as she heard his ragged panting and saw his pained expression.
