Still in the morning, the dirt road stretched ahead, winding between green hills and valleys covered in dense vegetation.
Willow was sitting on the seat of a wooden wagon, feeling every bump and jolt along the way, but the discomfort was a small price to pay for the providential ride he had gotten.
Next to him, the merchant — a fat, good-natured man with a sparse, red and gray beard — handled the reins with skill, while the wagon's wheels clicked on the stones and potholes of the trail.
"I really appreciate the ride, sir," said Willow, settling into the wooden seat. "It's a relief not to have to pay the exorbitant price of a carriage all the way to Aprilie."
The merchant let out a deep laugh, which echoed down the road. "Why, lad, you don't have to thank me so much! I was going to Aprilie, anyway. To have company on the way and, on top of that, a few extra coins for a good tipple when I get there, that's a great deal for me!"
