Why not make some kind of mount_with_benefits? Like a cowardly minotaur friend who will carry hero on his shoulders(and run faster than hero) but vanishes the same moment fight starts. Carnal Instinct has some minor quest with that kind of mount - and it is kinda refreshing - a mount who not only talks to you duting a ride, but can offer a different kind of ride.I've heard the travel feedback a few times. I think the biggest reason for this feedback right now is that the map isn't very detailed. There's large open stretches that I haven't had the time to fill with content yet. I'm hoping that as content gets filled in then it'll make it interesting to go between one location and another. But currently on top of the fast travel carriages there's also the town portal scrolls that can be bought in Redtree. I'll also most likely add a mark + recall set of spells similar to Morrowind. So the player can set a location to teleport back to whenever they want to.
A mount can help you with "it is interesting to go between one location and another / I want to reach a specific point fast" dilemma.
Besides, with that kind of game simple fast travel is just too booring) Those fast travel drivers could at least accept another kind of payment)