It started raining again at night.
The shadow of the trees swayed outside the window, and from the stable downstairs came the anxious neighing of horses frightened by the thunder and lightning.
The lantern outside the posthouse was suddenly extinguished by a gust of wind and rain, plunging the only warm, illuminated space of the rainy night into darkness.
If it were at home, on such a rainy day, with thick tiles and high walls for shelter, those within would feel a peculiar sense of comfort and relief.
But on the journey, outside the posthouse, within a radius of five miles lay only desolate mountains and wilderness, and the torrential rain only served to make one anxious.
A silver lightning bolt struck, briefly illuminating the dim interior.
Two figures, one in black and one in white, were fully revealed in the light.
In that instant, the white-clothed woman lazily leaning against the bedpost met the gaze of her opponent, curling her lips into a disdainful smile.
