| 265 Pallenten can do with the water and you can do with the rest. The stream is surrounded on both banks by a thick hedgerow of low brush, and it takes a short while to find a path amongst the bracken that takes you to the edge of the stream itself. Here the stream is bordered by a thin strip of soft, spongy earth. Here you can rest. Drawing Pallenten to a halt you dismount and lead her to the water's edge. She needs no invitation to start drinking the clear cool waters. Squatting beside the great horse you take a few handfuls of water yourself and drink deeply. Sitting back onto the stream's bank you watch Pallenten as she drinks, the horse has covered more ground in this day than you could have travelled in a week and still she appears as fresh as when you started this morning. You decide that for her sake it will be best to rest for a while longer. Sitting there, considering the tranquillity of the slow flowing stream, you do not at first notice the deep impressions on the bank to your right. Many animals must also use this stream for water, and you can always expect to see tracks and other sign that creatures of all types have passed with way. These impressions are different. They are bootprints, the unmistakable heavy prints of soldiers following the bank upstream as it meanders from the north. Getting up you tether Pallenten and have a closer look. In two columns you can see the prints heading north, following the progress of the waters. You estimate there are probably twelve individuals.
| Do you wish to follow this group? If you do turn to section 299. If you would much rather leave them alone and continue on to the west then turn to section 305.
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