Page 50 (1/1)

They had not gone far before Briar noticed that Evvy aying in the saddle Rana allowed hi horses so he could take Evvy up in the saddle in front of hiht Evvy was exhausted Lately the work didn’t wring her out as it had today, but she had not shaped the paths of so many rocks in such different ways before this

Briar asked Rana if they could stop long enough to make hot tea or soup, but the man refused Briar understood -- if there was one coht be more -- but he was desperately worried for his two coan to slide from her mule and pulled her up to ride with him as well At least the captain sent riders ahead to his camp to prepare hot liquids and food in advance of their arrival

In camp Parahan and Briar wrapped Rosethorn and Evvy in blankets and propped theeant Kanbab joined them Briar was startled when Kanbab reth braid of black hair She grinned at his obvious surprise

"Sergeant Kanbab is ht hand," the captain said "I would be in bad shape without her A good nuxin women serve in the army before they eant and General Sayrugo"

Kanbab bowed to Rosethorn "The men wish to know if they may eat the honored dedicate’s chickens"

"My cats!" Evvy cried wearily, trying to struggle out of the blankets "They’re really cats You can’t eat them!"

"I’ll take the spell off," Briar told her "Finish that tea and have another cup" He rose, trying not to groan He had put out a lot ofable to draw more from his best shakkan, which was now on its way to Hanjian Every muscle in his body ached

The crates had been placed beside the small round tents that were to serve Rosethorn, Evvy, Briar, and Parahan Approaching them, Briar shook his head at the soldiers who stood nearby "Sorry, lads," he said in tiyon, hoping they understood "They aren’t as tasty as you’d think" Kneeling aht by the mione Frooing tonap they’d had froh an opening in the side of his carrier and squeaked For a large cat, he had a very tiny voice Briar grinned "You don’t hold a grudge, do you, old ered over, her eyes swollen with exhaustion "I can’t do gate stones to keep the," she whined "I’m too tired!"

"I’ll do herbs," Briar said "Don’t worry That tent’s for you and Rosethorn Go to bed"

Evvy ed to crawl into the small tent When he looked in shortly afterward, Briar discovered she had collapsed onto her open bedroll without crawling into it He tugged her blanket off and covered her, silently thanking whoever had set up the tents

Once he’d made the herb circle around the women’s tent so the cats could roam inside it, he released them from their baskets and fed them dried meat soaked in water Then he went in search of a meal for himself

The soldiers invited hih mixed with cheese and tea, apparently the normal ration meal Briar had eaten worse, and more unusual, dishes He devoured his and thanked his hosts

They chuckled "Usually foreigners just spit it out," the cook explained in tiyon Briar wasn’t about to tell thes served by the ereed to keep silent about their time in Dohan, for one For another, he didn’t want these people thinking he was a snob

"You won’t catchdecent food," he said truthfully He bowed and returned to the captain’s fire

Rosethorn was gone "She went to bed," Parahan told hi his swords "Captain Rana here says the eth up the Ice Lion Pass, the Green Pass, and out along the northern plain a week ago General Sayrugo only had word of it two days ago She wasn’t convinced until today that Yanjing ht have sent forces up the Snow Serpent Pass Most people have left it alone for attacks in the past It’s too narrow for getting real nuxe"

"We didn’t see any soldiers before today, so they were ahead of us for certain If they try to send more soldiers, they’ll have a fun ti with thorns They won’t get through those without a really good e We ic, Rosethorn and me"

"The emperor hasn’t sent an army this way," the captain replied "Still, he can bleed us a bit, and tie up our troops here in the south with only the smallest portion of one of his armies if he chooses He can afford to waste soldiers here; we can’t" He got to his feet "We ride before dawn and we’ll be riding hard all day Get soxe was done, Briar never wanted to hear the words "ride hard" again His bu, were as blistered and chafed as if he had just sat on a horse for the first time Rosethorn and Evvy were no better off, and Parahan, after years afoot in Weishu’s palaces, was even worse Night after night the four applied salves to their sores and did their best not to complain It was too important to reach the people who had been their friends for those long winter months