Rather than learn by doing circles, he learned on the way.

  Charlie and Squire were now back in Squire’s Retreat.

  Ironically Squire could probably have kept up but the swift trait did not mean tireless. She was exhausted. James had unsummoned her from her card. She was angry for about a minute before she passed out in exhaustion. Concerningly, the drake aspects stayed in place.

  He would have to be careful not to leave her under Tripled Swift for too long.

  James’s butt hurt. Walking he could handle, cantering too. Trotting, not so much.

  He wasn’t sure how he would do at a Gallop but Edward said it would be a bad idea given how much riding they needed to do. They didn’t canter much either, just enough so he knew what it felt like if pushed into it.

  James cast Quick Heal on himself again. He instantly felt better. He’d given up on holding it in reserve and started to heal himself every ten minutes when it came off cooldown.

  He bet every student of horsemanship back home would love to have had that trick.

  They’d been travelling a lot today and it was still… he checked his watch — 4pm. He loved having his watch back. The system time would have told him anyway, but there was just something about tipping his wrist and seeing the time.

  They’d passed a lot of guildies on their way back. He was sure Janine would be able to convince some of them to stay the night, but he had given his word that they would return.

  First though, he followed Edward to the stable entrance.

  Bond Progress Increased – Nimbus: +5%

  “Why don’t you have a horse already if you know all this?” James asked curiously.

  Edward responded morosely. “I wanted to make it on my own, not by my families wealth”

  James sighed.

  He looked up a moment later when he realised this was not a joke for Edward. “Sorry, I was thinking about my butt,” he lied. “I think standing on your own two feet is one of the best things a person can do in life. Congratulations!”

  Edward seemed to buy his cover story as he expertly unmounted Rusty, landing on his feet.

  James tried to emulate his feat, but ended up falling to the ground. Not even stats could fully overcome ineptitude.

  Edward and Ken both laughed. Even Nimbus snorted.

  James felt heat in his cheeks as he got to his feet.

  “Okay, okay. Horses can’t just be tied up and left.”

  Edward led them over to the water trough. “After a long run like this the horses will need to drink deeply. They also need a brushing down.”

  He first removed the saddles, leaving them on a bench nearby.

  He then picked up a thick stiff brush and started systematically brushing down Rusty’s neck, back, and sides.

  James followed along as best he could.

  They then led the horses to individual stables. Edward found a light feed bag which he then proceeded to show James how to attach.

  Bond Progress Increased – Nimbus: +5%

  Ken had quietly completed the same tasks with his horse.

  “Hey Ken, what did you name your horse?” James asked, remembering he had not asked.

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  “This is Quinton,” he said.

  James was impressed. That sounded like he’d put a lot of thought into it. “Quinton, awesome name. It’s a pleasure to meet you Quinton,” he said, hand open in greeting.

  Ken looked pleased.

  They walked in through the kennel entrance to the guild.

  Joe was not at the supplies hall, but another had filled his place. She was a Bronze-ranked guild member, clearly a temp.

  “What can I do for you?” she asked.

  “We have goods to deliver from Janine.”

  “Oh, sweet. Do we need someone from the quest counter to be here?” she said thinking aloud.

  James was about to respond when she continued.

  “Don’t be silly Lisa, the system will track that for us.” She flicked her hair absently. “But what if I was to then take those goods and say I delivered them. Yeah, best to be safe. Wait here please”. She ran off to the commons.

  A few minutes later Lisa returned with the quest clerk in tow. “Thomas is here to witness how much of the goods you are delivering.”

  Thomas waved.

  Lisa looked expectantly.

  “I have a wagon load of goods.”

  Lisa looked at the desk. “Yeah, that’s not going to work. Come with me.” She led the way past the counter to a larger supply room that had plenty of free space, Thomas, Edward, and Ken in tow. “You can put it here”

  James opened his inventory and then was not sure how to get it out. He tried willing it into the area and it worked, though not exactly where he’d envisioned. More like it found the clearest area nearby and put it there instead.

  Thomas let out a low whistle.

  “I’ll tally this up for you and update your guild reputation accordingly. The guild thanks you for your support at this time. I’m sure there will eventually be a greater reward but for now dinner’s on the guild.”

  Edward and Ken then put some large food sacks from their inventories on the ground too. Thomas likewise thanked them as well.

  They headed to the commons, stopping long enough to eat an early dinner.

  “Mark, can I get six more meals that I can deliver to Janine and her crew? We’re heading back soon.”

  Mark agreed and shortly six meals were safely stored in their inventory.

  “Can I get some scraps for Charlie and Squire?”

  Mark allowed him into the kitchen where he scooped up some scraps. There were two cooks there that continued their work as if nothing was abnormal, giving him a quick wave of greeting.

  He waved back.

  “You’re not the first to order a meal, nor for it to disappear into inventory slots.” Mark continued. “We need to start tracking the plates or charging more.”

  James slipped Mark a gold piece with a wink, and left.

  James cast another heal on himself, then headed back to the stable. His watch showed they had been only thirty minutes.

  “Would it help if we cast heals on our horses?”

  Ken responded. “No. The healing will help with muscle soreness, but doesn’t increase endurance at all.”

  The horses weren’t too unhappy when they returned. He saddled Nimbus himself this time, going off memory and instructions.

  Bond Progress Increased – Nimbus: +2%

  The horses were allowed another smaller drink, then they headed off.

  James nearly fell off his saddle for the third time.

  He felt like he’d driven too long at the wheel and needed a fifteen minute power nap.

  They were nearly back to the quest marker, but had been walking the horses far more than last time. Charlie was back with them now. Squire was still asleep.

  James wished he could go into his Commander’s Space and sleep, but doubted he would stay on the horse. He didn’t actually know if he could sleep there.

  He was sorely tempted to cast Quick Endurance on himself. One minute however, would not be enough.

  Edward, , was not showing any signs of fatigue.

  Ken was somewhere between the two of them. Drooped posture, but not nodding off.

  James was startled when he found himself on the path floor. He’d slipped off . Edward was laughing, and Charlie was licking his face.

  Play Card: Quick Endurance Effect:

  It was like he’d had a shot of coffee. He jumped to his feet, mounted Nimbus, and kicked into a canter. The others followed. He braced himself for the Endurance drop but didn’t need to, there in front of them was the quest site. He slid off again, deciding to walk the last bit.

  Janine looked almost as tired as he was when he rocked up.

  Wordlessly James took out a hot plate of food and handed it over. This perked Janine up and she tucked right in.

  “I have five more for your crew.”

  She nodded over to the fire in the middle of the circle of wagons.

  James headed over while Edward and Ken chatted with Janine.

  He didn’t know any of the faces that looked up. They were all tired. James pulled out all the plates and handed them out. There were nods of appreciation.

  James motioned for Charlie to guard, motioning for a circle around the wagons. He started to slowly circle.

  There were other Guild members setting up for the night. Some were getting supplies intending to return tonight. James returned to Edward.

  Edward’s voice came through the fog in his head. “We’re going to take the first watch and let Janine and the silvers get some sleep. When I say ‘we’, I’m talking about half the Guild members here, not including you.” Edward took Nimbus from James and started looking after her.

  “You,” he poked James in the chest, "are going to sleep. Set up over there, close enough to be warm by the fire, far enough you won’t get toasted.”

  James stumbled over, took his bedroll out of his backpack, spread it out, lay down, then passed out.

  James woke to shackles being clamped to his wrists.

  Before he could do anything, something heavy slammed into his head and he lost consciousness.