Interlude - A carriage conversation

A carriage rocked from side to side as the four horse pack drove forwards on what constituted for a road in rural Ravenna. Dust and grit spat from under the hard rimmed wheels as the coach roared on.
The only two passengers within could be mistaken for a single man staring into a mirror. They were, in every practical physical way, identical even down to the brocade on their impeccable jackets and the broaches on their chests.
The man facing the rear of the carriage was idly watching through the side windows while his twin sat facing forwards paging through the latest sensationalist publications of the Town Criers.

"We'll be in the moutains soon." The window starer mentioned in a bored tone.
"Yes."
"Not too long now then."
"No."
"Anything interesting in the press?"
"Obviously not, the usual agricola nonsense. At least they've taken less of it harping on about that Justinian girl" The paper reader cast his diversion aside onto the cushions beside him.
The window starer didn't even look back into the carriage, remaining transfixed by the rolling hills passing by. His companion could clearly read that he was extremely bored, possibly more so than himself.
He broke from his window gazing to look at his companion; "Why on Earth has our honourable cousin stuck himself all the way out here?"
"It was a "reward", you know that."
"He could have turned it down."
"Pah."
"Asked for a cash alternative?"
"Don't be foolish."
"That's right, that's your job isn't it?"
"You always get insulting when you are bored."
There was no immediate reply.  He could be petty when he felt like it, they both could, but there was no other company so he soon relented.
"Why are we doing this again?"
"You know why."
"We're just glorified messenger boys."
"He asked us to aid him and, as you well know, it suits the plan."
"Whose?"
"You are being foolish again. Both our plans. We scratch backs and have ours scratched in return."
"I don't like it."
"Neither do I but at least he got the answer he wanted."
"You've read the letter?"
"I didn't need to."
"I don't understand the urgency nor the necessity for this to be done in person."
"You fret too much, it's all for the greater good"
"I hope so."
"We'll make it so."
"Yes, I suppose we will." With that he lent forward and picked up the discarded Town Cryer pages while his companion took his turn to stare out of the window.
 
The coach driver shifted nervously on his bench seat. His Mate, sat beside him, budged up against him jabbing him in the ribs with his elbow.  "Stoppit willya.  you can't keep still this run."
"Course an' I can't. I don' like it." He screwed up his face as he said the words, as if tasting sour milk.
"Wos not ta loike?  We be gettin' our shillin' fer tha' work."
"Ay, but is unnatural work" The driver instinctively drew in the reins a little as he made the sign of the Jumpgate cross.
"Wot you mean.  They jus' be nobles."
"Yeah, but how come they ain't said a word the whole journey?"