Travelling Cross-Country

"How far do you think it is?" Paula asked Astra, as they began walking.

"We should be able to keep walking for a long time before we tire - dwarves are renowned for their stamina - but our legs are much shorter than they were. The terrain is rough, too, and we won't be able to head in anything like a straight line. I doubt that we can manage much more than fifteen miles a day. I'd say the mountain was the best part of forty miles away. So to get there will probably take us the best part of three days."

"What are we going to do for shelter at night?" Paula wondered.

"Dwarves are tough. We can sleep under the stars if need be. We'll have to leave someone on guard, of course, taking it in shifts. I imagine your next question will be about food and drink. Water should be no problem; there will be plenty of streams. There will be nuts and berries to eat. Also Frederica looks to be pretty useful with her sling. So with any luck, we can supplement our diet with a few rabbits and the like. I can prepare the meat with my dagger easily enough, but making a fire to cook it may be a problem. But we can last for three days without any meat if we have to."

"Are there no villages en route?" Berenice asked. This was the first time she had spoken to Astra since her betrayal of the Aqualarian.

"I doubt it. This is wild country, and also too near the dragon's lair. Even if we find one, the inhabitants are unlikely to be too welcoming towards dwarves."

1. They walked till dusk and then looked for a good spot to spend the night.
2. After a while, a sizeable river intersected their path. There had been a bridge once, but it was in ruins. Should they attempt to get across or make a substantial detour that might add a day or more to their journey?

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