68
Sometime during the night, the solid mass of the Great Carradorian forest gave way to broad farmlands, so that The Woodland Rover now drifted between open fields on both sides, only thin borders of trees and shrubs here and there along creeks, roads, and some fence lines.
As the sun rose, a mist hung over the river and streaks of soft grey wafted over the fields. The Woodland Rover drifted on a strong current down the final stages of the river. Jackson and Marjorie were now at the tiller, Waterstone and Tarkyn having retired many hours previously.
Well before anyone else had risen, Maud and Sheldrake emerged from below and with a nod at Marjorie and Jackson, moved to the bow of the boat. They embraced briefly, then Maud was gone, and in her place, a peregrine falcon rose swiftly into
