"That
can be arranged."
The words were cold as ice and spoken with a muted expression that would've led Olive to believe that Kasna would as easily and uncaringly snuff out her life as she would that of a fly. They were also word that slipped out just seconds ahead of the knight's better judgement. The woman-warrior grunted in annoyance and stared out the window.
"This isn't all about
you, little mage." Kasna spoke with mild contempt in her voice, but it was restrained, muted. It was probably as close to an apology as Olive would get, even if it was itself an insult. "My orders are quite clear: you are to reach Reidspear safely and be handed over to the Mordecai in charge there. Make no mistake -- your life
is in my hands, but it would... reflect poorly on me if any
accidents were to occur, especially like what you seem to think your parents would prefer."
She went silent for a moment, then halfways looked back at Olive with a neutral gaze. "The camps
are real, just so you know. Not every camp is the same: the one
you're going to was only established recently and is exclusively for those of your kind who have the favor of the church. It's one of the
better ones, at that. There is a second, larger camp in Reidspear for other kinds of magic-tainted -- political dissidents, minor criminals, the unconfessed and the less faithful, those whom the authorities believe can either be redeemed or, at least, re
trained in time. In the eyes of those who oversee this work most of them merit neither the sword nor the mark, and it is their ilk, the 'common' mages, that most of the camps were established to contain. I believe your camp is being named Silverpine or something thereabouts to differentiate it; I don't care to spend my efforts on irrelevant details like that."
"I hope that answers your questions." It was a statement, notas king for Olive's affirmation and suggesting the dialogue was over for now. Kasna had let spill more than she'd intended to her charge and intended to leave it at that; at least the information would quiet the girl for a while, she hoped.
-------------------------------------------------
The journey was barely a day on, and already the tension was uncomfortable. Normally that wouldn't have bothered Kasna... but then again,
normally she didn't spend any longer with a mage than it took to hear them stop screaming. This... this was something different.
They had stopped to make camp for the night, the driver tying up their weary steed with a bag of rough oats and hay while the Adhara assembled a small campfire. They had enough dry provisions that there was no need for a large one to cook over -- just a little light in the dark was all that was required. With that done, Kasna turned and spoke to Olive for the first time in hours -- she'd essentially ignored any further attempts at conversation since the discussion about the camps.
"Sleep in the carriage if you prefer, but I'll be checking on you.
Don't wander off."
It was a loud and clear warning, delivered with cold assurance. That done, the Knight of the White Lily laid out a simple, somewhat rough-worn bedroll nearby the campfire and laid her mace down next to it, taking her sword in one hand. For a second it seemed like further intimidation from the Adhara to her traveling companion... until, that is, the knight began sparring slowly with an unseen opponent, rehearsing sword skills and techniques. Her movements were relaxed and yet precise with no real speed or emphasis behind them, practiced to the point of being as instinctual as breathing in and out. She was doing this as much to unwind as to exercise her protesting muscles that had sat idle for too long in that blasted horse-pulled fancy box.
She would sleep, but not for quite some time yet. For the moment -- prior instructions notwithstanding -- Olive could do as she pleased while Kasna found what comfort her katas could offer her.