He silently berated himself for such thoughts. His actions were detestable enough without adding to her burden. He remained silent as his internal monologue castigated him, stirring a self-loathing so familiar to him. Often his mind would remind him of his flaws, his failures, but there was always another voice, albeit a quieter one, justifying his actions and granting him a semblance of peace. Today that voice remained silent.
He hired a single horse from one of the stables, and lifted Taya to sit atop its bare back. Even then her eyelids never fluttered. She reached out, her breathing calming slightly as her fingers buried themselves in the steed's coarse mane. She let out a long breath, resting her head upon the back of its thick neck, and became alarmingly still. If not for being able
