The next days devolved into little but pain and exhaustion for her.

Rendan was waiting outside the store with a couple of horses that he’d obtained. Without much of a word, her new bag of clothing was tied down on one of the horses, and they mounted up and left town headed West. At first she was worried what she would be forced to do when they stopped, but the worries soon became the least of her problems.

While she was familiar with riding, it was something she tended to do in relatively short bursts. The hours wore on her quickly as she became more and more sore and tired and eventually her mental fortitude was worn to the point she could only focus on staying in the saddle. The short stops that they made were only for relieving themselves and eating come quick meals of bread and either cheese or dried meat.

Eventually, they stopped and camped in a small clearing, near the road. The mage erected a tent he pulled from the bags while she tried to walk off some of her cramping muscles. She stayed awake long enough to eat some cold rations, which tasted surprisingly good. Almost as soon as she laid down, she was asleep.

Being woken the next morning was horrible. She felt even more tired than she had the previous night, and her muscles were in such immense pain that she was barely able to move at all. Nonetheless, Rendan refused to let her sleep more, so she slowly and painfully got up and sat near the fire, eating some porridge that Rendan had cooked. He folded the tent and packed everything back on the horses while she ate. When it came time to get on the road, she quailed at the idea of mounting the horse again.

She was fixating her dread so much she didn’t even notice the mage come up behind her, until she felt the hand on her shoulder. She jumped in startlement with a screech just from the scare, but then she started to feel heat across her body. At first it was just a warming sensation flowing from her shoulder, but the intensity of the heat kept climbing until it felt like her body was on fire. She screamed in pain and horror, as she fell to her knees.

It took her long moments to realize as fire faded. The heat didn’t go away, it just eased into a warm tingling that somehow eased her muscles. She looked up wildly at Rendan, who had a slightly sheepish look on his face.

“I thought it would be easier if you weren’t expecting it,” he muttered. “I didn’t think you would react so strongly.” She just looked at him incredulously.

“It will help ease your muscles so they aren’t as painful,” he explained further. “Some of it is an active effect, but some of it is an illusory effect. It will feel better than it actually is, so if you push too hard your muscles could fail you.”

“Thank you,” she said. Reluctantly.

With that brief interlude they started the day. Other than the beginnings, it mirrored the day before.

For the first part of the day, recovered as she was, she was more attentive. Rendan seemed lost in his thoughts and not paying much attention to her. They passed by a few travelers on the road. Some individuals, some groups, and even one caravan of merchants.

For a while, she was able to enjoy the wind on her face, and the beautiful scenery around her. They passed through forests, and over bridges on roads, and through small villages with outlying farms. She had never gone further than the immediate area of the castle, and never seen further than she could view from the top of the castle towers. It was an experience she never really knew she was missing, and it did a surprising job of keeping her mind off of the future. For now, she could just live in the moment.

Even so, that serenity only lasted until the mid-afternoon before she started wearing down. Rendan gave her magic boosts twice, which were a lot less frightening when she knew what was happening, but even so that only took her so far. By the time they reached a clearing to camp in, she was exhausted again, if not to the point she was the day before. The same exchange as the previous evening happened again, with the mage making camp while she ate a quick supper before turning in.

The next day she was able to get up after being roused, though it was still far from pleasant. The recuperation magic wasn’t as painful or as scary, and they made much better time getting on the road. She was able to eat her meals while riding, so the only stops they made were to relieve themselves.

More to the point, she wasn’t as tired and delve into some self-reflection. The couple of days had allowed her time to, if not accept what had happened to her, at least to absorb it a bit. She was still frightened of what was coming, but found herself not being so overwhelmed by the dread. It also, finally, allowed her some courage. After all, she decided, what was the worst that he could do? Sacrifice her soul in some sort of necromantic ritual?

“Why,” she asked, abruptly. Her companion looked at her, his face twisted into a confused expression.

“Why what?” he asked.

“Why me, and why do you have to do this to anyone?” she asked. He was silent for a long pause, before answering.

“Well, first of all, you need to be more specific about what I’m doing to you. I realize that coercing you to accompany me isn’t what you want, but I don’t think that is what you meant.”

For the first time since that night with her brother, she felt anger boiling up. The knuckles on her hands turned white as she gripped the reins fiercely. She ground her teeth, her common sense trying to pull back her rage and failing.

“Do you think I'm an imbecile?” she spat. “Everyone knows what mages do to people. Sacrificing souls for power and Tenthis’s Fires knows what else. I agreed to become your victim to save my family, and to suffer my soul being ripped apart. Don’t treat me like an idiot on top of that.”

He turned to stare at her, his face inscrutable, as his horse slowed to a stop. Her horse followed it’s companion to a stop, and they sat in uncomfortable silence for an interminable moment. His neutral stare made her fear reassert itself in quick fashion. She found herself wondering whether she had earned herself an even more terrible fate.

“I see,” he said, slowly. She couldn’t read anything into his voice, but it still sent goosebumps racing down her spine. He nudged his horse back to speed, and her horse followed. The silent minutes passed, and she grew more and more worried about the consequences of her short fit. His voice almost made her jump off of her horse when he started speaking again.

“Fate is a funny thing,” he said. “Fate sometimes casts people in surprising roles. It creates situations that are impossible to ignore, or to avoid. Sometimes fate sends people in unexpected directions, and sometimes it delivers unenviable paths in lives. Sometimes those given such scrutiny face massive events that affect all around them. Sometimes fortunes follow, sometimes ends. Change is all that can be certain to those caught in its web.” He paused for a minute, before continuing in a grave voice.

“You, child, are caught in fate’s web in such a way as I’ve rarely seen. Fate has picked you out as a diamond in the rough, and it has thrust you into my hands. It is certainly not the fate you wanted, but it is what is. Fate seems to like using me as its agent from time to time. I take no pleasure from doing what I must, but will do what is necessary.” He paused for another moment. “I will do what I can afford, to make things as easy for you as I can, that what you face will not be a waste, and that your family and your people are benefited by your sacrifice. That is what I can promise now, and let us speak no more of this for the time being.”

With that, he drove his horse into a gallop. She was forced to follow as best as she could, but there was no time for her to think