'Hmm... That actually went rather predictably,' Kal thought. He was almost disappointed. The best duals always were always exciting, but this one was clearly not going down in history. 'At least they had the good sense to end the fight when they did. Many a young wizard is killed because they do not know when to rest.' Kal turned and walked away towards the direction of his room. He had his own preparations to make.
--THE NEXT DAY--
"I'm sorry, young Kal. There is nothing we can do. We can't allow you to ride dying horses."
"Are you saying we will all have to to walk to Delmore? Madness! That would take a month at least! How did this even happen?"
"We... Do not know. They all suddenly fell ill overnight. Most of them will be dead by this afternoon. No healing magicks have worked yet."
Kal swore. What an ugly morning this had turned out to be. He had woken up early to talk to the stable master, only to find this catastrophe. If the group could not ride by horse to their destination, then there was little point in leaving the castle at all. Unless...
"The nearest town is Gant, isn't it?"
"Aye, about 2 days walk."
"Right. If we make that trek, would it be possible to to get horses there? Or some caravans, even?"
The stable master thought about it. He was a huge man, with an equally large beard, which he was constantly scratching. "I know a lad who works at the stable there. I could send a bird out to him, if you like."
"That would be much appreciated. I'm sorry about your horses."
"My thanks, young wizard. I got some nice foals I could raise, but in the meantime..." The master wandered off mid sentence, lost in thought.
Kal left the stables and started walking back towards the castle. "The others aren't going to like this," he thought aloud.