A day had passed. Then, another. And another.

Saddy felt low rolling anxiety building under her skin. Aldren should have been back to her by now.

She stared into the forest from her window, slumped, with her chin in her hand.
Her hair obscured her face leaving only two piercing eyes watching. Waiting.

Saddy always hated waiting. It was a trait that often got her into trouble as a child.
She hated waiting for adults to make up their minds when the solution seemed so clear to her. Action was often the best way and, sometimes, the only way, to take hold of the situation. If she caused the problem, Saddy often had the power to solve it.

Waiting did nothing for the cause or the solution.

Thoughts of taking a horse and searching for Aldren crossed her mind. She determined how long she would be out, which horse, and what provisions to take. Just a couple of men would escort her on the trail. It was easy to set up, but gray thoughts deterred her plotting.

She would be taking men with her. There were few left from Aldren’s expedition. Those were left because of age, disability, or family responsibility. Asking for a couple of volunteers to find the missing able-bodied men and Aldren could be difficult. The sources she planned to take could strain the already meager larder and cause undue hardship. There was barely enough now. Taking a couple of days of provisions would mean that there would be less.

It was also possible that Aldren and his men had found a strained village and were taking a couple of days to help rebuild and tend to those who need medical care.

It was possible. But, Saddy’s mind countered, there was a schedule. Surely, Aldren would have sent a messenger to let her know that they would be delayed. He wouldn’t abandon his responsibility to her. That was not in his nature.

The solution was simple.

Saddy would go by herself.

She knew how to ride and could easily take a horse. A couple of flasks of water and some bread is all that she would require. While she wasn’t the best hunter, she could track small animals. Her skills from a farmhand left her with knowledge of what berries and leaves were safe to eat and what was poison.

Her pale cheeks flushed under her hand and hair.
Action.

Finally.
She would take action.

Her body tensed and she left the room. Her robes brushed the handmaiden who was patiently waiting outside of the room.
Saddy didn’t register her presence, intent on finding the supplies she required.
A day had passed. Then, another. And another.

Saddy felt low rolling anxiety building under her skin. Aldren should have been back to her by now.

She stared into the forest from her window, slumped, with her chin in her hand.
Her hair obscured her face leaving only two piercing eyes watching. Waiting.

Saddy always hated waiting. It was a trait that often got her into trouble as a child.
She hated waiting for adults to make up their minds when the solution seemed so clear to her. Action was often the best way and, sometimes, the only way, to take hold of the situation. If she caused the problem, Saddy often had the power to solve it.

Waiting did nothing for the cause or the solution.

Thoughts of taking a horse and searching for Aldren crossed her mind. She determined how long she would be out, which horse, and what provisions to take. Just a couple of men would escort her on the trail. It was easy to set up, but gray thoughts deterred her plotting.

She would be taking men with her. There were few left from Aldren’s expedition. Those were left because of age, disability, or family responsibility. Asking for a couple of volunteers to find the missing able-bodied men and Aldren could be difficult. The sources she planned to take could strain the already meager larder and cause undue hardship. There was barely enough now. Taking a couple of days of provisions would mean that there would be less.

It was also possible that Aldren and his men had found a strained village and were taking a couple of days to help rebuild and tend to those who need medical care.

It was possible. But, Saddy’s mind countered, there was a schedule. Surely, Aldren would have sent a messenger to let her know that they would be delayed. He wouldn’t abandon his responsibility to her. That was not in his nature.

The solution was simple.

Saddy would go by herself.

She knew how to ride and could easily take a horse. A couple of flasks of water and some bread is all that she would require. While she wasn’t the best hunter, she could track small animals. Her skills from a farmhand left her with knowledge of what berries and leaves were safe to eat and what was poison.

Her pale cheeks flushed under her hand and hair.
Action.

Finally.
She would take action.

Her body tensed and she left the room. Her robes brushed the handmaiden who was patiently waiting outside of the room.
Saddy didn’t register her presence, intent on finding the supplies she required.