For the better part of the first hour, the escort progressed without interruption.
The road north proved busier than either Shion or Eren had expected. Merchant wagons rolled steadily toward Reka carrying sacks of grain, lumber, and barrels lashed beneath canvas covers, while others made the return journey toward Keleushila with empty carts rattling over the packed earth. Scholars traveled in pairs with satchels of books hanging from their shoulders, and once the procession stepped aside to allow a shepherd to urge a flock of sheep across the road.
The captain acknowledged several passing merchants with a brief lift of his hand, receiving respectful nods in return. None lingered to speak. A governor's escort was reason enough for sensible folk to continue about their own business.
Eren gradually relaxed, though her eyes never wandered far from the road ahead. It had begun to seem that two additional mercenaries were hardly necessary for such a journey. Shion appeared to reach much the same conclusion.
"Quiet," Eren observed.
"So far," Shion replied.
The carriage continued beneath the morning sun before the road bent north, following the trade route toward Keleushila. The fields surrounding Reka slowly gave way to stretches of open grassland broken only by scattered groves and the occasional farmhouse standing well back from the road.
A short while later, one of the carriage curtains shifted aside. Lucien leaned against the window frame. "I hope the journey isn't proving too dull."
Eren looked toward him. "I've had worse."
"I imagine you have." His gaze drifted briefly toward the countryside before returning to her. "How are you finding life outside the guard?"
"It suits me."
"I've heard mercenary work offers more freedom."
"It does."
"And more danger."
"Usually," Eren said.
Lucien smiled. "I suppose that's part of the appeal."
Eren wasn't certain it was. "I hadn't thought of it that way."
For a time they spoke of ordinary things: the roads around Reka, the mild weather, and whether Keleushila's markets were worth visiting. Eren found herself answering without much thought.
Gradually, the conversation began to drift.
"I understand you recently accepted an unusual assignment," Lucien said.
Eren considered the question for a moment. "I've accepted a few."
"The one involving an old book page."
She was quiet for a moment. "I'm afraid I can't help you."
Lucien rested an elbow against the window. "Curiosity is a habit not easily broken."
"I know."
"And?"
Eren offered a polite smile. "The Association takes confidentiality seriously. I intend to do the same. I'm sorry I can't be of more help."
Lucien regarded her for a brief moment before inclining his head. "A fair answer."
The curtain disappeared back into the carriage. Eren let out a slow breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
Beside her, Shion never looked up from the road. "He tried."
"He did," Eren murmured.
"You knew he would."
"I hoped not." Eren glanced across the carriage. "But you told me it could happen."
"I did."
She said nothing more.
After another stretch of quiet road, the curtain on Shion's side slid open. Lucien rested one arm upon the windowsill. "I seem to be having remarkably little success this morning."
Shion allowed herself the faintest hint of a smile. "So it would seem."
"I thought you might be more willing to negotiate."
"I am."
Lucien looked mildly surprised.
"If the information you're looking for is what I believe it is," Shion said, "we can discuss it."
His eyebrows lifted slightly. "Later." He paused for a moment. "We had the opportunity three days ago."
"We did."
"The guard post would have been considerably more private than a public road."
"Probably."
Lucien waited, but Shion did not elaborate. Instead, she looked toward a line of wagons approaching from the opposite direction.
"May I ask you something?" Shion asked.
"Of course."
"Reka's market has no shortage of armorers."
"It doesn't."
"I saw better work there than most of what your guards are wearing."
Lucien followed her line of thought with interest. "So why," Shion asked, "does the city purchase its equipment from Keleushila?"
"The Crown prefers it that way." He paused, then continued. "If every governor equipped soldiers according to personal taste, expenses would rise considerably. A guard's equipment is expected to be serviceable before it is impressive."
"A matter of economy."
"And uniformity," Lucien added. "Allow every guardsman to purchase his own equipment and before long you'll spend half your time deciding whether the fellow approaching the gate is one of your soldiers or merely dressed like one."
Shion nodded. "That makes sense. Even so," she continued, "the quality leaves room for improvement."
"It does."
"I happen to know a merchant who could tell you exactly how much room."
Lucien's expression remained unchanged. "Oh?"
"His name is Pingnast," Shion said.
For the first time since opening the curtain, Lucien did not answer immediately.
"The west district," Shion went on. "He has a good eye for workmanship."
"I'll remember the name."
"I imagine you will."
Neither said anything else. After another moment, Lucien inclined his head in thanks and drew the curtain closed once more.
The two guards riding behind the carriage exchanged puzzled glances. One raised an eyebrow toward the other. The second answered with a slight shrug before nodding toward the closed curtain, his expression suggesting their employer possessed far greater confidence than judgment if he intended to spend the journey courting both women at once.
Lucien's voice drifted through the open front of the carriage before either man could entertain the thought much longer. "Eyes on the road, gentlemen."
Both guards straightened at once. "Of course, sir."
Neither looked toward the carriage again for quite some time. Shion walked on as though nothing unusual had happened, while beside her, Eren waited until the silence had settled once more over the procession.