Chapter 28
 
            The horse-drawn wagon rumbled on across the broad countryside, the amiable Gill Cowan perched on a precarious looking seat. Andrija sat beside him, closing her eyes as she slowly inhaled the fresh fragrance of meadow grass. Bird song filled the air with a cheerful melody and dew shone on every blade of grass in the jade-green fields.
            Andrija’s eyes sparkled as she looked ahead.  “Look there! Is that Lake Hayle?”
            Gill squinted at the pale blue ribbon far ahead. “'Do believe it is.”
            “Do, do make the horses go faster!” Andrija pleaded, bobbing up and down on the creaking seat.
            Gill chuckled. “Now, now Miss! What’s the hurry? Me old horses can’t go much faster than this, I’m afeard.”
            “A dear friend of mine is staying at Lake Hayle. I haven’t seen her for ages and ages. She doesn’t know I’m coming.”
            The good-natured peasant tipped back his hat, grinning. “Well, now, I shan’t keep ye waiting much longer.” He chirruped to the horses and wagon sped onward along the dusty country road.
                   Before long, the wagon stopped before a tidy, white cottage in a grassy meadow. Gill helped Andrija down from the rickety old seat. “Gerbye Missy! Should ye need anything, don’t be afeard to call for Ole’ Gill Cowan!” And with that, the wagon started down the dusty path. Andrija waved, smiling, until it vanished far beyond the horizon of the rolling grassland. Then, she slowly turned, taking a deep breath.
                   The warm sun shone down upon her as she walked along the dusty path leading to the wooden door of the cottage. As she neared, she could hear rapid footsteps from inside. Then the door burst open, and a taller, tanner, Jane than she had remembered was running down the path to meet her.   
           
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          “You seem…flustered, Matrim,” Will remarked, as the two lads walked among the Palace gardens in the late morning sunshine. “I’ve never seen you in such a state in all the days I’ve known you.”
          Matrim shrugged with elaborate nonchalance. “I must be tired from all this business about the city. Surely you’re mistaken.”
          “Surely…” Will muttered, shooting him a disbelieving glance.
          Matrim quickly changed the subject. “What goings-on have taken place at the Palace since I’ve been around the city?”
          Will began to recount various happenings of the past few days, but Matrim suddenly interrupted. “How long did you say it has been since you sent the letter to the village?”
          “For one thing, I didn’t say anything about the letter.” Will said, “And for another…”
          Laughing, he dodged Matrim’s mischievous blow. “Alright! I sent the letter to the village three days ago, I suppose. By this time, Andrija must have arrived at Lake Hayle as planned.”
          Matrim muttered unintelligibly to himself, then fell silent, apparently deeply absorbed in thought.
          “Shall we ride out to the mountains this afternoon?” Will asked suddenly.
          “What’s that?”
          Will sighed, rolling his eyes. “There you go daydreaming again. What has come over you? I was just wondering if we were going to ride to the mountains this afternoon like we planned.”
          Matrim studied this over in silence, then looked up, grinning for the first time in days. “Yes! I do believe you have it, Will. We are going on a ride—but not to the mountains! I’ll meet you at the Palace fish ponds in one hour!”
          With that, the dark-haired lad ran off in the direction of the Royal stables without another word of explanation for his strange behavior. Will watched with raised eyebrows. Then shaking his head sagely at the mysterious foolishness of his friend, Will made his way back to the Palace.
 
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Sorry it's been so long since I last posted! I've been so busy, as well as struggling with writer's block. I'm not very pleased with this latest chapter, so let me know what you think! :)