After an hour of navigating the treacherous footing and narrow paths through the fog and prickly vegetation, Ashlynn's shoulders burned and her feet felt like they'd been cramping constantly from the tension of maintaining her footing.
Heila had fared even worse and Ashlynn didn't hesitate to relieve her lady-in-waiting of the heavy rucksack she carried, shouldering both of her packs herself instead. While Ashlynn benefited from the vampire-like strength and endurance conferred by her bond with Nyrielle, Heila had no such power to rely on. It was already impressive that she'd managed the hike down from the top of the cliff with so little complaint.
