A SLAVE, AN OLD MAN AND A MOUNTAIN GOAT 2.5

"Should we really leave?" asked Fleas.

"Yes, little one. This is just the beginning of my... our journey. We need to get to the coast as soon as possible," the old knight explained as he packed some dried meat given to him by their host couple."

The little boy took out the map and the charcoal.

"Where is The Coast?"

Knight Dannke sighed, bent down with great difficulty, for so many winters of riding animals had ruined his knees, and pointed.

"Aaaaaall this is the coast. That is the name given to the land near the sea. The sea," he went on before Fleas had time to ask, "is all this. It's salt water you can't drink."

"Oh, Kkelea told me about it. Wooden monsters cross it, don't they?"

"Ships, yes. You'll see them. We're going here, to Turquena. It will probably be a five-day voyage. We'll see other villages along the way."

Fleas drew a cross at the place indicated. The knight Dannke mounted Surly. The mountain goat looked at the hyaenid sideways and shook his head. He still wouldn't accept him into the team, probably never would. The little one should run with them. He had proven to be very fast, compared to a human child, but maybe he wouldn't have much endurance. Five days might be an optimistic prediction.

"Come on, little cartographer, don't fall behind."

The knight spurred his mount and set off. Fleas began to run on all fours. To the horizon, to new adventures. A slave, an old man and a mountain goat. What a strange trio.