The path from Montclair to Coeurvalle was downhill and much easier than if they were going in the other direction.
While the trip there would take three to four days depending on the temperamental weather of late autumn, the trip back would be longer because they would be going uphill most of the time.
Even though it was a change of plans, Leonor was grateful for the ease of the path ahead.
Desmond would start each day of travel scouting with the other soldiers, but whenever he would join Leonor in the carriage, he sat on the same side as her and gently held her hand in the middle of the seat. He was relieved to feel her hand was warm and not cold.
Lower elevations meant higher temperatures. The closer they got to the capital, most of the trees only just began turning gold or red. Montclair was about a month ahead in terms of weather.
