Preparation for the trip was a long task. Food had to be packed for the three-day journey to the trading town, and tack had to be checked for weak spots and breaks in the leather. Briallen went over her saddle and bridle with special care. Her saddle needed the most attention, as it was seldom used. She made sure it was well oiled so the leather straps would not chafe her horse. Her bridle was in good repair, since it was fairly new; the braided leather was supple and strong. Both the saddle and bridle were made of the special blue leather that only the king’s clan knew how to make.

Briallen’s mother, Ceinwen, helped her pack her saddlebags. Travel rations included dried meat and fruit, a skin full of water, a small flask of strong wine, and the flat dry bread that was the staple of their diet. A rolled-up blanket tied behind Briallen’s saddle would serve as a bed. Also in with her own food were horse treats made of dried fruit and grain mixed with honey and rolled into balls. Her travel cloak, a thick waterproof garment, would drape over her saddlebags when not being worn.

After checking and re-checking everything at least three times, Ceinwen finally agreed that everything was ready, and just in time, for the trading party was to leave the next morning. “Can I go outside now?” Briallen asked irritably.

“I suppose. Just remember, when you leave in the morning…” Briallen stopped her mother with a supremely annoyed look. Then she sighed and said, “I’m sorry, Mom. But you’ve already told me everything I need to know at least five times.”

“I was going to tell you to remember to say goodbye to us,” Ceinwen continued. She smiled. “It’s your first time leaving our group, so be careful. Pay attention to what your aunts and uncles say, and you and Einion look after yourselves. The trading towns are a far different place from what you are used to.” She gave her daughter a hug. “I know you’ll be fine. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders, if you’ll just use it.”

The tent flap opened, and Einion stuck his head inside. “Is Briallen done packing?” he asked his aunt. “I was going to go for a short ride this evening, and I was wondering if she could come along.”

“Yes, Einion, that would be fine. Don’t work your horses too hard, though.”

“We won’t, Mom. Thanks for helping me pack,” Briallen said as she followed her cousin out of the tent. She snagged her cloak and bridle off their pegs on the way out. Einion already had Rinial bridled and waited. Briallen whistled for Seirian and bridled her quickly. She jumped onto the warm back and looked to Einion. “Where are we going?”

“I thought we could ride into the foothills a bit,” he replied with a slight shrug. “A bit of hunting would not go amiss.” It was then that Briallen noticed he had his bow and quiver of arrows slung across his back. “Mom? Could you bring my bow to me please?” she called.

“Just a moment,” her mother called back. There was a rustling and clunking from within the tent, and then Ceinwen emerged. “It was buried underneath everything else,” she said as she handed her daughter the bow and quiver. “Bring back a few rabbits. We need a change from venison stew.”

Briallen nodded, and she and Einion waved goodbye as they rode out of the camp. The horses pranced with excitement that they picked up from their riders. Seirian started tossing her head as she usually did when she got excited, but stopped when Briallen growled at her and threatened to yank on the reins. As soon as they were free of the tents, the elves let their horses pick up a canter that carried them swiftly into the hills. Briallen was the first to spot a rabbit, and her arrow hit it in the hindquarters. She grimaced and leapt off Seirian to finish it off. A quick rap to its skull with her bow killed it.

The second rabbit Einion killed with an arrow through its side. They tied the legs of the two rabbits together and slung them over Rinial’s neck. They rode on, and the two cousins spotted a third rabbit at the same time. But before they could do so much as reach for an arrow, a golden streak flashed down from the sky and hit the rabbit. Both elves gaped at Aderyn as she stood on top of her kill and screeched. Einion was the first to recover. He dismounted and walked over to the hawk, pulling out his slender belt knife. With a quick motion, he slit the rabbit open, and Aderyn greedily began gulping down the entrails that spilled out. “Well,” Einion laughed, wiping his knife blade on his pants. “It looks like we have a new hunting partner.” He gently stroked the hawk’s feathers, and she nibbled at his hand affectionately. But when he tried to lift her to his shoulder, she hopped off his hand and flew to Briallen.

“Sorry, cousin,” Briallen grinned. “It looks like she prefers a feminine touch.”

“Feminine, nothing. She just likes the color of your hair.”

“You’re just jealous,” Briallen retorted, sticking out her tongue. Aderyn bit her ear with her sharp beak, causing the elf to yelp. “Ow!”

Einion laughed heartily and his cousin’s distress. “Serves you right. Come on, let’s head back. I’ve still got packing to do, and we leave tomorrow at first light.” He glanced up at the sun. “We’ve only got about two more hours of daylight, and it’ll take us half that to get back and unsaddle the horses.” He swung up on Rinial. The stallion danced lightly in place, awaiting direction. Both elves turned their horses toward the home camp and let them set the pace. They arrived at the camp just as supper was being prepared. Einion left the rabbits with one of the aunts on cooking duty and then he and Briallen unsaddled. They groomed their horses until they were spotless, not a hair out of place, and by that time, supper was ready.

“Do you want me to help you finish packing after supper?” Briallen asked.

“If you want to. I’m nearly done, I just need to throw in some travel rations and make sure everything else is in. I still have to pack Rinial’s brushes, too.”

“Me too. That’s the last thing I’ll put in. We still have to use them in the morning, you know.”

“That’s true. I’d forgotten about that,” Einion answered. He grinned at Briallen. “Good thing you’re here to remind me.”

“Good thing.” She grinned back and drained her bowl of stew.