The road stretched ahead of them, dusty and endless under the warm sunlight. They rode beside each other, their horses moving at the same pace. They had been riding for hours now, casually talking to each other.
By late afternoon, the smell of roasted meat drifted through the cold air as a small roadside tavern appeared ahead of them. Austin immediately stopped his horse.
"We should eat something," he said. "Your stomach has been growling for the last hour."
Alina huffed.
"As if you aren't hungry."
"I'm fine," he replied.
"Really?" she said, smugly. "Then why were you looking at a farmer's cheese cart like a dying man."
"When did I do that?" he said in his defence.
"Just a few minutes ago."
"I don't know what you are talking about," he said and dismounted.
