Rest and Relaxation

It seemed unlikely that Folly would ever have been in this area before, so far away from home, so Astra assumed that it had chosen a trail at random. But then a small lake, that had been screened from the main road by trees, came into view, and she wondered if Folly had smelt the water.

The horse slowed to a stop next to the mere, and she dismounted. "Drink your fill from the lake and find some grass to graze on," she told it. "Then take a nap. But don't wander off too far. I want to travel onwards at dusk." Folly neighed almost as if it understood her.

Astra drank from the lake, splashed some water over her face, and then found enough edible nuts and berries to make a meagre meal. After that, she stretched herself out on a patch of grass underneath a mighty oak, and quickly fell asleep.

When she awoke, it was almost dusk. To her relief, she could see Folly not too far away. Again she drank and ate some berries.

She felt sweaty and slightly stiff following her night in the saddle and then her sleep without any mattress, and the surprisingly clear water of the lake looked very inviting. The spot was a secluded one, and she decided that she would strip off and go for a swim.

1. Afterwards she got dressed, called Folly to her, managed with some difficulty to remount, and resumed her journey.
2. She had been swimming for about ten minutes, when a man appeared beside the lake. "Hey, you!" he shouted. "This is private property and you're trespassing."
3. She didn't notice anything, but when she emerged from the water she found that her clothes and - even worse - her horse were missing.

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