Nite groaned in frustration and kicked at the chipping wood of the dock. "Why do you always have to point out facts?"

"Come here, Stump." He wrapped his frail arms around her and squeezed as tight as he could. "Go bring the hay from the stables and don't get yourself killed in the process."

"I will, but it will take me a while. But let me tell you, I swear to the gods if they complain once about how long it takes me, I can't promise that I won't try to fight them."

"Just go start bringing the hay. I will try to calm their tempers. Go." He patted her on the back.

Nite nodded and left him. She walked around the group of strangers, trying to avoid bumping into any them, but also not wanting to fall into the swift, dark waters below.

As she passed, she glanced at the group, huddled together. She got a brief glimpse of what they were circled around and saw that it was a book. In the dim lighting, all she could see was that the book was small and had stained, aged pages.

As soon as Endi caught Nite looking at them, she snapped the book shut. "Are we ready to go?"

Nite snorted. "Not unless you want the horses to starve."

Killer took a step forward, causing Nite to flinch.

Craid extended her hand. "There will be no more need for violence, Killer. Our host is simply being a little stubborn. Go along, girl, and get the food for the horses. But you need to hurry."

"I have to lug a hundred pounds of hay down the from the stables and onto the boat. It's going to take a while."

Endi spoke up. "Killer, go with the young lady and help her." She hesitated for a moment, and then said, "No. Wait. Killer, you stay here with me. Cily, you go with her. Be polite."

A woman with long, wavy hair and a stern face stepped away from the group and nodded to her leader. "Yes, ma'am." She turned to Nite and bowed slightly. "Show me where the hay is, please."

Nite eyed Endi warily. 

She stared back at her, a dull expression on her scarred face, as if this was a normal occurrence for her. She raised her eyebrows when Nite continued to stare at her.

Knowing there was no way she could win against the belligerent woman, she sighed. "Follow me." She walked off the dock, lantern in hand, and began making her way back to stables.

Cily followed close behind her. Like Killer, she was silent and light-footed. Her stern expression never left her lips and it made her look ten years older than she really was, which Nite presumed was around late-twenties.

When they reached the stables, Nite climbed the ladder to the hay loft. She left the lantern down below with Cily. "I'm going to toss down the barrels to you. There should be a wheelbarrow somewhere down there so you can bring the bales to the boat."

"I won't need one," was Cily's swift reply.

Nite stuck her head over the side of the loft. "You do know that these hay bales are heavy, right?"

"Yes." She kept her hands at her side and her posture straight, not a wrinkle in her military uniform. "Please, act swiftly. We are in a hurry."

"Whatever you say." Nite rolled her eyes and picked up the closest bale. She tossed it over the side. When she heard the sound of it hitting the ground, she tossed over another bale.

Much to her amazement, Cily picked up both of the barrels as if they were nothing. By the light of the lantern, Nite caught glimpses of bulging muscles hidden under the long sleeves of her uniform. It was beginning to make sense to the teen why Endi sent Cily to help with the hay.

Cily looked up at her impatiently. "Please hurry."

Nite, slightly baffled, went back to the hay. She continued throwing hay over the ledge until the entire loft was empty. It was hard for her to believe that all the hay would be gone within a few days time; the stomach size of the horses was truly impressive.

When she was done, she climbed down the ladder. She was surprised to see that the once large pile of hay bales was now almost entirely gone, with only two bales left.

Nite looked up at Cily, who was focused on loading her arms with as many bales as she could possibly hold. "Did you bring the rest to the ship already?"

"I've made a few trips." Holding at least four bales, she turned and left the barn once again.

Nite whistled to herself in amazement. "Amazing." She blew out the flame in the lantern and attached it to the belt around her waist. Then she picked up the remaining two bales of hay and made to follow the woman out of the stables.

As she passed Marie on her way out, she briefly stopped. "Hey, girl," she whispered stroking the fat horse. "We're going to be gone for a while. Are you going to be okay?" Nite had hoped to be there when the horse gave birth, but she had no clue has to how long they would be gone on the voyage.

Marie seemed just as nervous as Nite. She snorted softly and began flicking her tail.

"Now, girl, I'm going to leave you door open. Just go about your usual business as usual. I'm going to leave a note for Xander to come and get you. Hopefully he's going to take you to his stables until we come back. Are you going to be a good girl?"

Nite stared into the horse's eyes, and the horse stared back. Marie was normally as stubborn as a mule, but tonight she seemed ready to compromise with Nite. Even she could feel the dangerous tension in the air.

"Good girl." Nite gave her a peck on the snout and stroked her mane one last time. "I have to go now."

She picked up the hay barrel and rushed out of the stables. As she left the field, she made sure to shut the gate behind her. She doubted that Marie would try to escape the field, but she didn't want to risk it.

Everyone was waiting for Nite back at the dock. Seeing that the hay was heavy, Cily took them from her as if they were as light as a feather and brought them onto the boat.

The teenager was stopped by Endi as she attempted to get to Bickum, who was on the boat. "I allowed the old man to go back inside the house to get your packs and other stuff. Are you finally ready to go?"

Nite shook her head.

"Dear gods, girl!" she yelled in frustration. "Just how much stuff do you have to do?" She kicked the dock, sending wood splinters flying.

It was Nite's turn to remain calm. "You surprised us in the middle of the night without any warning. We were supposed to leave in a few days to travel to Cantan. There are people in the village right now who are under the impression that we will be here tomorrow. We also are having to leave behind a pregnant horse who will give birth within the next few weeks. I'm going to leave a note for our customers."

Endi turned to the rest of her group. "Everyone, get on the boat and get ready to depart. Old man-" she pointed at Bickum "- get ready to set sail." She looked at Nite impatiently. "Let's go."

Nite turned on her heels and stomped her way back to the house. 

Endi followed closely behind. She, unlike her cohorts, was not silent.

"This is a cute little house you have here. How long have you lived in it?" Her tone certainly wasn't friendly, but at least it wasn't hostile.

Nite refused to answer. She had to grit her teeth to resist the urge to give a rude retort. She flung open the front door and stomped through the house, looking for a piece of parchment to write on. There were a few spare pieces of parchment at the top of the bookshelf, alongside a reed pen.

Nite hurriedly scribbled down a note, hoping that it would suffice.

Due to unforeseen events, the boat trip to Cantan has been indefinitely postponed. Our deepest apologies for any inconveniences. Also, to whoever reads this, bring Xander Denox to our stables so he can watch after the horse we had to leave behind.

Deepest regrets,

Nite

"Where are you going to leave the note?" Endi questioned. "I doubt anyone with good intentions would go inside your house to find it."

"I know what I'm doing." Nite lifted up her thin mattress and grabbed the knife she always kept hidden underneath it.

Endi took an ever so slight step backwards and placed a hand on her pistol. "What do you think you're doing with that?"

Nite waved it at her with a smirk. "Contemplating stabbing you."

"I would understand if you did." Endi obviously attempted to mask the inkling of nervousness that she felt upon seeing Nite wielding the knife. "But I would prefer it if you let me live."

"Just shut up and come on," Nite spat. She stomped out of the house, waited for Endi to also exit, and then shut the door. Placing the note against the door, she violently impaled it with the knife, digging the weapon deeply into the wood.

She let go of it and watched to make sure it would stay there for all who passed by to see. When she was satisfied that the knife was embedded deeply enough, she clapped her hands together and said in a faux-cheery voice, "I'm ready to go now."