Chapter 42: Welcome To Bannock

ALIAH

Mona handed out hotcakes and flasks of cool milk for the travellers to eat and drink as they walked. Aliah could see Seamus' ox ate most of his share of hotcakes when the boy was not looking. It did nothing to improve Seamus' mood as they joined other farmers heading towards Bannock. He still mumbled to himself and frowned under his hat.

As they walked towards Castle Bannock they each took a turn riding in the back of a wagon catching up on the sleep they had lost riding through the night. Just as the sun came up, the castle came into view, magnificent sitting atop its rock, and a lump caught in Aliah's throat as she got her first view of home.