Theodore flicked the curtain of the carriage open and glared out at the unending wilderness. Trees surrounded them, and he wondered when this dull ride would end. His trip had been exciting at first until the towns and cities dwindled, and then he had been forced to sleep in the carriage for the first time. Now his back ached, and all he wanted was to sleep in a bed for the first time in a week.
The Einhardt Duchy was a relatively new and unsettled land, but the duke had been in control of it for at least a year. He should have done something about the lack of travel rest areas by now. Or perhaps he was giving an elf too much credit. What would he know about making humans comfortable?
The bumpy roads eventually smoothed out, and Theodore moved away the curtains once more. In the distance, he could see a large, black wall. It seemed to loom over the surrounding land intimidatingly. Guards stood at attention at the open gates.
