Speed of Couriers

[X-Elinie/RiD (Niels)]

I am assuming that some dispatches are put into semi-formal coaches and arrive when they happen to arrive.

But other dispatches, such as "There is war!" or the opposite "Stop Fighting!" I imagine is in the realm of relay couriers, where they pretty much comes near to killing their animals between each waystation, getting a fresh mount at each and passing the bag on when they themselves need to rest.

In other words, messages get relayed at speeds far beyond normal travel speeds.

In such a system, what is the typical transit time, between two provinces of average size and average roads, with assumed way stations to provide mounts and rest?

[X-Mhoried/Constantine Mhor (Wiktor)]

Wizards have to somehow make a living!

They are faster and very sensitive about personal data 

[DM B]

Any realm/domain can be assumed to have a system of dispatch riders/pigeons/ravens/magicians/whatever that will enable them to effect semi-fast communication within their province/holding network (real wizards can make it go even faster as Regien so wisely pointed out).

Assume that within the span of a single week/war move a dispatch rider/whatever can move hundreds of miles - assuming good weather, friendly territory etc. Not exactly instant, but not so slow either. But then figure into this that someone has to observe, think, discuss, write, and then send...and then there is bureaucratic reception in the other end...

Let's say that you can respon more or less instantly to things taking place in the same province as your regent, within the week if within a province or two (under the assumptions made above), and beyond that considerably longer.