Carriage Ride

"You really need to relax."

"Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come."

The wheels of the carriage clattered as it carried them down the cobblestone streets of Oxford.

"Reminder: out of us two, you're the one who'll need to sleep in the end. What are we gonna do if you end up taking a nap in a middle of a fight?"

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."

The woman turned the page of the Holy Scripture.

"I've heard that a lack of sleep can ruin a woman's beauty."

She shot him a sharp glare. The man answered by raising his hands placatingly, and grinned when he noticed her putting the book away.

"Now, now. Anger doesn't help it either."

"What exactly are we doing here?"

The irritation in her voice was palpable.

"I've already explained. We're here to help oversee the ritual."

"That's it?"

"What else could there be?"

She stared him down, but he did not seem keen to expand, and the carriage came to a halt.

"Oh, and here we are, your stop."

"You're not coming?"

"I'll get out, but I still feel like patrolling a bit. You know I'm not one for dealing with the paperwork, so you can go ahead and deal with that for me."

They stepped out in front of a humble chapel. He helped carry her trunk to the gate.

"Are you sure I can't help you?"

"With a simple patrol? I know you must think I'm ancient, but I'm not decrepit. I can handle that much yet."

"If you did need help, with anything, you do know you can come to me, don't you? As fellow servants of the Church, we need to support each other in the times of trial."

There was a hint of sadness in her voice. And despite his smile, so was in his when he responded.

"Thanks, but I'll be fine by myself."