Following the midday meal, Ulrich extended the scheduled rest period. His own stamina remained uncompromised, and the seasoned knights of his escort were trained to march for days on minimal sleep. However, the physical tolerance of his adopted witches remained the deciding factor. Pushing the convoy to its limit would only guarantee that the three sisters arrived at the capital exhausted, nauseated, and physically compromised.
Once the food had settled and color returned to their cheeks, he finally ordered the convoy to resume the march.
The carriage lurched back into motion. Esther, wielding her quiet, pleading expression with surprising effectiveness, managed to convince Ulrich to crack the window slightly to let the fresh pine air circulate. The concession deeply irritated Hermione. She had demanded the same an hour ago and received a flat refusal. The apparent double standard in Ulrich's handling of the three sisters was not lost on her.
