57
Rinaldo searched beyond the boundaries of the camp for any sign of his sister.
He could still see the smoke from Orlando’s side of camp, although the density of it had lessened.
In the opposite direction he saw the long column of men and horses continuing their slow and careful descent down the snow-covered path. He wished Martel could have mustered them sooner, but at least they would make some advance toward the valley before nightfall.
In this weather, the journey might take them two or three days.
There were wooded areas along the way where they could spread out and find shelter among the fir and spruce trees, and meadows where the horses could forage overnight.
But only if the grass wasn’t too deeply buried in snow. So much depended on whether the snow abated or continued to
