Marcus was not sure what had urged him to pull away from the main line, but many factors made him ride along side the army. Acting as a rear guard, he was subject to the horrid conditions of a trail long abused and destroyed, any man who was foolish enough to ride through it would experience fatigue rapidly. Along the trail an occasional village buried deep in the forest could be spotted, nothing more than a second glance given to the small bundle of huts. He let his horse travel at a comfortable pace, understanding that the conditions and his weight did not make it easy on it. A slight pat on the horse's neck assured the loyal creature that it would be given a chance to rest soon.<br/><br/>