Zakroti wrapped an arm around Miry protectively, taking up the reins in his other hand as the Ganaut began to rise from the ground to its standing height. The creatures were somewhat bigger than the horses the Gems were accustomed too in the east, though Zakroti wagered even Drakken horses would be a significant step up in size. 

"It's okay, I've got you." Zakroti whispered to he reassuringly, keeping a firm grip around her so that she could be sure she wouldn't fall. He felt Nenra's hands at his waist and peered back to her for a moment before facing forwards again as the group fell in. 

The men at arms were similarly mounted, mostly, an entire trains worth of them with spare horses. They were dressed fairly lightly, in gambesons with swords hanging from their belt in scabbards rather than geared up for war, though a few of the sturdier men stills wore haubergeons. Armour was kept upon the baggage mounts rather than on their person; There was far too mich travelling through far too temperamental weather conditions to wear their full armour. In total there must have numbered 20 or more of them. Nastaki was remaining with his own Zuthi for now, and for that Zakroti was grateful, for Miry and his grandfather had started off extremely poorly. 

Those men who rode closes to Zakroti were those whom he trusted most closely. A handpicked body guard of men personally loyal to him. Having chosen men and champions was not an uncommon custom in either the west or east, the names, cultural connotations and legal standing differed from duchy to duchy, but typically a lord having a handful of particularly loyal and honoured retainers who acted as both his personal guards and his most trusted servants - or thugs, as the case may be - was commonplace, and Zakroti used it to its fullest extent to protect himself. He had learnt long ago how dangerous life could be when one is involved in political and strategic wrangling with Drakken. Amongst the Great Drakken especially, by his reckoning, right or wrong. He has taken care to find and earn the loyalty of a number of highly skilled and exceptional individuals, though the one who stood out most obviously to the naked eye was Kzaar, who was tall even by Drakken standards. In fact, he seemed positively like a giant, standing a head above even the next tallest Drakken man at arms, who was already impressive in stature

"As far as we can get by evening, stopping for food along the way. We will wish to reach Kazark as swiftly as we can, from there the journey gets easier along the steppes and eventually to the proper roads." Zakroti replied to Nenra as the the column of travellers began to set off forwards.

**

The train rode hard throughout the morning and into the afternoon, stopping at about two hours past midday atop a small and rocky hill. An underground aquifer here had caused a small spring that had given rise to a relative abundance of plant life by comparison to elsewhere, and the group would use this for shade. 

The crags and jagged rocky terrain that punctuated their descend from the mountains and the begining of their journey towards the steppes had been easy going thanks to the Ganaut mounts, but Zakroti knew that the Gems would find the horses less objectionable, and the softer travel on the road system that lay around the Drakken capital and particularly further west would do them well also.

For miles around, as they could see from their elevated position, rocky bluffs and ravines could be seen, outgrowths of red blood glass and tough, wirey plants sprouting from between rocks. Occasionally too, all manner of creatures, herbivores and carnivorous, could be glimpsed stalking across these relatively desolate lands. These most furthest east parts of Drakka had not done well for themselves, folklore would have it told that they were cursed by the gods themselves, scholars had speculated that it was a result of weather conditions caused by the structure of the surrounding mountains and lands. Whatever the case, it was apparent that this was a harsh land.

They had started a fire for cooking, and pots had soon been produced. They had soon begun to produce a stew using vegetables and mushrooms such as fae stools, with diced salted Reabak meat in with the mixture. Herbs and seasoning was added and before long the simple dish was served up with a small amount of bread, composed of more than a few ingredients which were likely somewhat unfamiliar or exotic to the Gems. 

"I should hope you've had the opportunity to try some of our cuisine before, travel and trade across the mountain can hardly be that bad." Zakroti commented as he took a chunk of the Reabak meat upon his fork and lifted it to his mouth.

"Even if it is with the easterners." Aurien added with a slightly dismissive chuckle, as all too often the Oshwel were of the Great Drakken given their conflicting history.