The journey back to the capital took nine days, shorter than the trip north had felt despite covering identical distance, both of us apparently eager enough to return to Elian that the miles seemed to pass with less weight than they had traveling in the opposite direction.
"You've been planning the expedition the entire ride," Darius observed, on the seventh day, watching me sketch rough notes in the small journal I'd taken to carrying since Thornwick.
"Someone needs to," I said. "Supplies for unknown terrain, appropriate guides who understand western border territory, a way of managing imperial governance during however many weeks this expedition requires."
"You're not planning to bring the entire court's attention to this," Darius said, more statement than question.
