The Marquis gave a small smile and nod at Honey's arrival, blinking as her rather enormous badger zoomed down the road at a generous clip. "I'm afraid we can tarry no longer. Let's be off." Turning, she approached the guard tending to her horse, and with a few murmured words exchanged, and a bow from the guard, she easily climbed into the saddle. Guiding the mount around to face the front gate, she turned to offer a hand to Shani, "If it pleases you, m'lady."<br/><br/>After a brief pause to ensure everyone was ready, the Marquis took off at a gentle clip. The stone roads continued for about a mile out of the city, with dirt roads branching off in myriad directions as they passed by, until it finally leveled out into lush farmlands. The countryside was beautiful this time of morning, the fog burning away to leave dew-covered grass to the waist lining the soft dirt road. Beyond the large wooden farm houses dotted the landscape, surrounded by massive fields of vegetables on all sides. Even now at such an early morning the farmhands were hard at work among the fields. A few, those closest to the road, took a brief moment to stand and sip at their waterskins, offering a wave or respectful nod to the entourage as they passed.<br/><br/>The pace Elspeth set was a modest one, quick enough to be more than a meandering ride, yet slow enough to not tire the horses needlessly. Despite the soft wind of their passing, it was easy enough for voices to carry between the riding party without shouting.