Braving the winter chill, Annie rode into Countryside. She was used to the biting cold of the north, had to be from spending her whole life here. On horseback, the travel through the snow wasn't that bad. It was quite, with the only noises being the sounds of the horse and the rattling of arrows in her quiver. Today was supposed to be the day, wasn't it? The day the wizard from White Castle was to arrive in Countryside. Or at least, that's what the rumor was. What was he to look like, Annie wondered. Or was the wizard even going to be a man? Were they elf, or human, or something else? Annie's father had said her grandfather dressed strangely. In mulitcolored cloaks, carrying a large staff and pointed hat, with a great white beard. Was that normal dress code for all wizards?<br/><br/>A snort from Annie's draft horse brought the woman out of her thoughts. She patted her horse on the side of it's neck. The familiar wooden huts greeted Annie as her horse walked into town. She would pick up the things her family had ordered from the market for the ranch, then perhaps she would wait around to try and spot this wizard entering town.<br/><br/>As she rode further into town, Annie passed a pair of unfamiliar men. She gave Ian and Dayyan a polite nod as her horse walked by. But not too far behind the two unfamiliar men was a more familiar face.<br/>"Well, howdy Val!" Annie called out to Valentine. Annie's horse stopped next to Val, and she smiled down at the young man. "Thanks again for fixin' up Onyx's here's bridle. Prolly would have had ta replace it if ya hadn't done that magic of yers ta fix it up."<br/><br/>Annie dug around in her bag, looking for a moment before producing a small loaf of fresh bread.<br/>"Ah know it ain't much, but mah Ma told me t' give this t' you if I ran into in town. Made fresh this morning, with raisins and cinnamon."  Annie said, handing the bread towards Val.