Tabitha sighs, but is outvoted and knows it. "Fiiiiine, we'll finish this first. I suppose it would make us look bad if we put our mission behind this."
"Many thanks, Tabitha, for you acquiescence. But, thinking more about the nature of our mission now, it occurs to me to wonder why we are to keep this errand for the Queen of Franzia so secret from the Archmandress, who is her husband the King of Franzia's staunch ally. Could the sentiments of our own royal leaders be divided?"
The road north proves to be less troublesome and with the exception of a slow moving ox cart of wine blocking a covered bridge you make excellent time. Soon dusk approaches. There are inns and roadhouse to be found or you could camp in the wild or simply ride on taking your chances with darkness and fatigue.
"Oy," complains Tabitha, patting her horse's shoulder. "Getting late. Dark. Tired. The last signpost had a road inn mark on it, so we should be getting close. What say we stop there and have us some nice rooms, and hot supper?"