Under the shade of the stable's overhang, Luke sat cross-legged on the ground, rolling coins between his fingers as he counted his savings. The air was warm, thick with the scents of hay and animals, and the occasional breeze stirred the dust around him. It was break time, and the clamour of the stable had settled into a brief lull. With no better way to pass the time, Luke figured it would be good to check how much progress he had made toward their goal.
He pulled out his coin pouch, dumping the small stack of bronze and silver shillings into his hand. His goal was clear: 500 silver shillings—the amount the rider had demanded to take them to Virencia. But as Luke thumbed through the coins, the realisation hit him again. He still had quite a ways to go.
