It only takes an hour or so from the glade to reach the road, where the party turns southward. Old cart tracks line the path, though even here the trees grow tall and strong right up to the edge of the 'road'; connecting overhead in a canopy dozens of feet above.
The path proves wide enough, and Nocturno mounts his mule. Activating the saddle, wings once again sprout from the beast's shoulders! Heeling it forward, he trots the mule, and tries to guide it gently into the air. The equine flaps its new wings and gradually rises off the ground as it continues to gallop in mid-air! The elf puts the mount through its paces and learns a little more about the saddle's limitations.
After no more than another hour or two, they come across a downed tree lying beside the road. It is not large, considering the other trees about, but it is long enough that it could cover the entire road. It appears to have once lain just so, but has since been dragged out of the way.
Ah yes, i remember this. There was a troll-hole at the base of that tree. It seemed like someone burned them out, though it must have been a week or so ago now.
====
The saddle basically bestows Flying Class D maneuverability. so to stay airborne the mount must move at least half of its base movement rate per turn (mule standard movement is 12, same as a med sized humanoid) but can move up to its normal speed. For Class D maneuverability, a turn of 60 degrees is the maximum for one round, so it would take 3 rounds to reverse direction while in the air.
The forest here is generally too dense to fly the saddle through, but along the road there is enough room. or through a wide clearing.
[Time is abt 3:30 pm]