***Cadiz***
The exhaustion started on the third day of the march.
At first, I thought it was just the strain of constant travel, we'd been riding for hours each day, making camp late, rising early. The weight of leading twenty-five thousand soldiers toward an uncertain future probably wasn't helping either.
"You look tired," Raizel said during our midday rest, his hand cool against my forehead. "Did you sleep well?"
"Well enough," I said, which wasn't entirely true. I'd woken several times during the night, restless and uncomfortable, but that seemed normal given the circumstances. "It's just a lot to process."
"We can slow the pace if you need.."
"I'm fine," I interrupted gently. "Really, I'm just adjusting to life on the march."
Raizel didn't look entirely convinced, but he didn't push, one of the servants appeared with water and light food, a young woman with mousy brown hair who'd been particularly attentive since we left Ravenshollow.
