<strong>No-Longer-Abandoned Cart<br/>The Imperial Highway<br/>Somewhere North of Ostagar</strong><br/><br/>"I prefer to walk," Abe said hastily with a hasty bow.  "I'll walk alongside, it ain't no bother to me."<br/><br/>The cart made it out of the snow easily enough.  Although the horse was surely stiff and cold, it nonetheless moved forward with the powerful strides of a farmbeast.  The cart shuddered worryingly as it wobbled over the uneven edge of the Highway, but once it was straight on the road, it rolled along smoothly enough.  The steadily accumulating snow muffled Abe's footsteps and the horse's ironshod hooves.  For a while, the only sound was the rhythmic creaking of the cart's wheels.  After the horrifyingly violent events at Ostagar, it was a paradoxically peaceful moment, even soothing.<br/><br/>With a loud smack, Abe clapped a hand to his head, sending snow fluttering off of his black hair.  "Beggin' my pardon!" he said in a shocked expression, turning to walk backwards so he could face Eluv'yan and Mathius.  "My manners have fled me!  I gave you my name but never asked for yours!"