The circumstances are certainly far gentler than the way she arrived in Styria. There's very brief discussion as to whether Gideon needs a little bit of fresh bruising and bloodying to be convincing, but it's determined that she still looks bruised enough. Time is taken for a quick lunch for everyone, and then they prepare to leave.
Esfir ties Gideon's wrists, but she ties a slip knot, silently but clearly showing Gideon how to hold it convincingly tight and how to loosen it in an instant. The end of the rope is tied to the horse of one of the soldiers, a pair of whom are given authority over Gideon and explained that they're to deliver her to the dungeons and make very sure that she's not searched or accosted at all by the mayor's people on the way there. Gideon's fine black horse is swapped out with another soldier's, so that the horse going spare is one that looks more convincingly like a pack horse.
Lenore climbs into the sleigh for the final leg of their journey, leaving Zohreh to handle everything else. There's not far at all to go, since the mill is just on the edge of town, but it is a miserable mile's walk for Gideon through the deep snows that are difficult for even the horses to traverse. As they arrive to the walled, medium-size town, bells are rung and the gates are opened, welcoming the group within. The men guarding the gates are only lightly armed and armored, with leather and padded cloth rather than the full plate armor worn by Lenore's soldiers. The expressions of the town guards are variously wary, shifty, bored, and hostile, but they exchange only a few brusque words before allowing Lenore's party to continue on.
There are stone walls around the town and a winding path up a hill, but it's still tiny enough that one could throw a stone from the entry gate to the small town square, the church to one side and a stone manor to the other, with other houses and shops clustered tight all around. Lights flick on in a few buildings, and unlit faces peek out of a few more buildings, gawping at the passing soldiers and the fine covered sleigh.
Finally, at the stone manor house, Lenore emerges from the sleigh and they're welcomed by the mayor himself, who looks like he's only barely restraining yawns. Unlike her earlier warmth with the village headwoman and the miller, Lenore is cool and aloof with the town mayor, all regal dignity. She glances over at Gideon only once, expression impassive, before Lenore turns to enter the manor and Gideon is led away to the town's jail.
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Esfir ties Gideon's wrists, but she ties a slip knot, silently but clearly showing Gideon how to hold it convincingly tight and how to loosen it in an instant. The end of the rope is tied to the horse of one of the soldiers, a pair of whom are given authority over Gideon and explained that they're to deliver her to the dungeons and make very sure that she's not searched or accosted at all by the mayor's people on the way there. Gideon's fine black horse is swapped out with another soldier's, so that the horse going spare is one that looks more convincingly like a pack horse.
Lenore climbs into the sleigh for the final leg of their journey, leaving Zohreh to handle everything else. There's not far at all to go, since the mill is just on the edge of town, but it is a miserable mile's walk for Gideon through the deep snows that are difficult for even the horses to traverse. As they arrive to the walled, medium-size town, bells are rung and the gates are opened, welcoming the group within. The men guarding the gates are only lightly armed and armored, with leather and padded cloth rather than the full plate armor worn by Lenore's soldiers. The expressions of the town guards are variously wary, shifty, bored, and hostile, but they exchange only a few brusque words before allowing Lenore's party to continue on.
There are stone walls around the town and a winding path up a hill, but it's still tiny enough that one could throw a stone from the entry gate to the small town square, the church to one side and a stone manor to the other, with other houses and shops clustered tight all around. Lights flick on in a few buildings, and unlit faces peek out of a few more buildings, gawping at the passing soldiers and the fine covered sleigh.
Finally, at the stone manor house, Lenore emerges from the sleigh and they're welcomed by the mayor himself, who looks like he's only barely restraining yawns. Unlike her earlier warmth with the village headwoman and the miller, Lenore is cool and aloof with the town mayor, all regal dignity. She glances over at Gideon only once, expression impassive, before Lenore turns to enter the manor and Gideon is led away to the town's jail.