Then the music started for the Cotton-Eyed Joe. Kaevin and Alora linked arms with Beth and Wesley and started the feisty dance, humming and laughing.
*****
“We should keep moving,” Morvaen argued. “We can’t allow the other search group to overtake us.”
“Arista is ready to fall off her horse. She can’t continue without rest.” Graely nodded at the slim girl whose head bobbed forward as she rode.
“It was a mistake to take them with us,” said Nordamen.
“We had no choice,” said Graely. “We’ll rest now and leave early, before dawn.”
“Should we eat our cold stores tonight or set up cook fires?”
“Let’s use our available time to cook a meal, and save our cold stores for the next two nights. Perhaps, we can reach Selvenshire by the third night. We’ll make more rapid progress after we deposit Jireo and Arista with their relatives.”
Soon the cook fires were burning, and Jireo joined the camp with two rabbits in hand. “I’m sorry. It’s not much between so many, but at least it will give a flavor of meat to the stew.”
Craegon, the cook, gave him a gap-toothed grin. “Excellent, my boy! Fresh meat is always welcome. We would have none without your work.”
Exhausted, Jireo collapsed near the campfire, propping his head on a log. His sister was already sleeping soundly, lying on the ground out of the way, still wearing her green cloak, with the hood drawn over her head. He’d have to wake her to eat supper. He could never stay angry with his impulsive sister. She was no end of trouble, but he couldn’t help being proud of her boldness.
She complained often at having been born a girl, but she was growing into a beauty despite herself. Their mother wouldn’t allow her to cut her long locks, or she would have shorn them off to get them out of her way. She usually plaited her hair and tucked it away, but sometimes, like now, she forgot. Such times her hair became a tangled mess, and she would shed many tears as their mother worked out the knots.
Jireo was startled from his reverie as the sentry led two unknown men toward Graely. Both wore nondescript clothing and hats. He noted their eyes were green. Even so, he eyed them warily. Any stranger could be in league with Vindrake.
“These men asked
permission to speak to you,” the sentry explained to Graely.
“We’re sorry to bother you,” said one, removing his hat and holding it in his hands. “We were traveling and saw your fires. We only ask if we could beg for the favor of some water. Our skins burst, and we’ve ridden some distance without drink.”
Graely kept his hand on the hilt of his knife. “From where do you hail, and what is your purpose on the road?”
“We are humble farmers,” the man said, bowing his head. “We come from Oustenshire, en route to Selvenshire. We’re only going to visit our kin. I am Blenden and this is Forsaethe.”
“Oustenshire?” Graely questioned. “Were you not hit heavily by the plague?”
“Aye, but we are not infected. My friend, Forsaethe, lost his wife.” The other man lowered his eyes.
“Very well. We will give you drink and see if we can spare a skin for you.”
He assigned one of his men to attend to the two men. Jireo stood, still uneasy with the presence of the strangers.
“I don’t like them,” Jireo told Graely. “We can’t afford to trust them.”
“I agree,” said Graely. “I don’t intend to leave them alone.”
“The horses are restless,” said Jireo. “Should I check on them?”
“No doubt these two have tethered their horses with ours. When they leave I’ll have two men accompany them to ensure they take only their own horses.” Graely frowned. “I’ll be glad when we’re rid of them. I feel inhospitable to not offer to share our dinner, but I want them on their way.”
A scream rent the air.
“Arista!” shouted Jireo. He turned to run toward her, and froze in shock. The two men were standing together, knives drawn. The one called Forsaethe was holding a squirming Arista with a knife pressed to her throat.
She managed to land a solid kick, but the man responded by pressing the knife harder so the tip drew blood. Arista cried out in pain, but stopped her thrashing.
“Make no sudden moves. We don’t want to hurt the girl.” Blenden leered as they backed away. Two more men appeared behind them, brandishing swords.