Kiasax watched the golden hair of the dwarf prince in front of her as the horses picked their way over the stone path, single file. Behind them, a large string of work ponies followed sedately, the small band making their way steadily down toward the bottom of the small valley.
Between the Redwater and the River Running, they were making good time in their journey to the Iron Hills, one that Kiasax made often. It was an uncomplicated, generally safe trip, thought it often took upwards of three weeks, depending on how hospitable the dwarves of the Iron Hills were feeling. While they were a suspicious folk by nature, the Northerner had become a familiar presence in their halls, and was always on good terms with the merchants.
It was fair to say that dwarves were growing on her.
Even the one riding in front of her, who simply would not pass up an opportunity to visit his friends and family in the Iron Hills.
Fili was a conundrum on the best of days, but today, with a fair sky and spring coloring the trees and plants around them, Kiasax was less likely to be cross with him, though she would never admit it. She was herself when she was in the saddle, and though she was always bound by her duty to protect the pre-paid property of the dwarves, which was currently enjoying the buffet of green things that lined the mountain path as they walked, the work ponies were well-behaved and level-headed, offering next to no trouble.
"Path gets bad ahead, will have to..." Green eyes, cast downward to watch the slightly moist earth below, caught the edges of an indentation that did not belong to Fili's pony. Four distinct toes, followed closely by a large pad, punctuated by the slight dips made by four-inch claws.
Pulling the red mare gently to a halt, Kiasax was out of the saddle a moment later, parting vegetation and dead grass to find the remainder of the tracks heading up the steep hill beside the path. Of course they would take the high ground. The prints were fresh, made since the last rain, which had been a week prior, so the wargs were still in the area. Whether or not they were accompanied by orcs was a different story.
"Fili." Kiasax beckoned with a jerk of her head toward the ground, having turned to find the dwarf's blue eyes on her. A thousand scenarios ran through her mind, but the one that disturbed her the most stood out; an ambush from the hills above, where the aggressors had the advantage, and the ponies would be completely defenseless. However, she wanted the dwarf's opinion. Attack was not looming near, as the horses were calm, but not knowing when it would come, if at all, presented a problem.
