Rebels of Vulvar (Vulvarian Saga Book 2), стр. 19

“That would be appreciated,” Haela said. “Though I am happy to help, I have little money to support myself in Thiva.”

Both of us fell silent as the veovarks continued to plod north at a steady pace. Some three hours after we had left the farm, the life-giving star of Vulvar broke above the peaks of the Emigas mountains to the east. There had been no signs of rebel pursuit, and no rebel patrols had molested us. Haela estimated we had covered about six legas as a team of veovarks travel at an average speed of around two legas per hour.

“We’ve long since passed the farthest point I’ve ever seen a rebel patrol,” Haela said. “Soon, I must stop to rest, feed, and water the veovarks.”

“Good,” I said. “I’m ready to stretch my legs, and I want to check on our passengers.”

A few minutes later, Haela steered the team off the road onto a dirt track that led us to a small running brook with grass beside it for the veovarks, which are herbivores, to eat. Beside the stream, I helped her unhitch the team so the beasts could feed and water. Haela told me they also required at least an hour of rest before we could continue.

I walked back to the rear of the gardo and climbed inside. Most of the women were asleep. Emer woke with a start when I brushed against her on my way to check on Idril.

“Where are we?” she said sleepily when she recognized me.

“About six legas north of Nisa,” I said. “We had to stop to tend to the veovarks.”

“How much farther to Thiva?” she said.

“We should arrive there before midday tomorrow.” Haela had informed me it was around twenty-nine legas to Thiva from her farm near Nisa.

Emer nodded. “We have only food enough for another meal. We will have no rations for tomorrow.”

“Is the jug empty?” I said.

“Yes.”

“I’ll fill it in the stream before we go,” I said, picking up the stone jug.

“There is a stream here?” Emer said.

“Yes, water for the veovarks.”

Emer stood up and rummaged around until she found a towel and the bar of soap I’d taken from the farm.

“I will bathe,” she said with a grin. Then she climbed out of the gardo.

I found Idril still sleeping. I touched my hand to her brow and frowned when I discovered she was feverish. It seemed her condition had worsened. She did not wake at my touch, and I had no wish to disturb her. Before climbing out of the wagon, I checked on the gravely ill woman. She also was feverish and still unconscious. She was breathing, but in short, reedy gasps. I hoped she would survive the journey.

Emer was still splashing in the stream. I walked to a tree where Haela sat with her back against it. I sat down on the ground with my back to the stream to allow Emer her privacy. I would fill the jug when she finished.

“None of the others wished to bathe?” Haela said.

“They are sleeping,” I said.

“That one is enjoying it,” Haela said.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” I said. “The rebels didn’t allow them to wash. It has been weeks perhaps since Emer felt clean.”

“I’ll hitch the team in about twenty minutes,” Haela said. “I know a place ahead where we can camp for the night.”

“With water?” I said.

“Yes, there is a stream there also.”

“Good, maybe the others will wish to bathe when we arrive there,” I said.

“How are they?”

“Most seem to suffer only fatigue,” I said. “The unconscious woman is no better. She is feverish, and her breathing is labored. Idril, the woman I’ve spoken of, also seems in worse health. She is also feverish.”

“They must only hold out another day,” Haela said. “We will be in Thiva tomorrow before midday. In the city, doctors can treat their conditions.”

Emer walked by wearing the stolen yellow tunic, drying her hair with a towel.

“That was refreshing,” she said with a grin. “Though the smell in the back of the wagon will now seem even less pleasant.”

We all laughed.

“Perhaps the others will want to bathe when we stop to camp for the night,” I said.

“I plan to encourage them to do so,” Emer said, walking back towards the gardo.

Sometime later, Haela got up to hitch the veovarks, and I went to the stream and filled the jug. I returned it to Emer, and we spoke for a while until I heard Haela climbing to the wagon seat. I joined her there. She steered the team toward the paved road, and soon we were rolling once more towards Thiva.

We continued north the rest of the morning and early afternoon. With each passing lega, I felt more confident the rebels had long since abandoned any pursuit. By the tenth hour, taking into account making stops every two hours to care for the veovarks, we had covered about eighteen legas. That is when we stopped for the day.

It seemed we could have continued traveling until dusk, but Haela had pushed the team harder than she would have because of the poor condition of our passengers. She told me she usually would not ask over twelve legas per day from a team of veovarks. If pushed too hard, veovarks might either pull up lame or balk and refuse to continue.

Again, Haela found a suitable site for our overnight camp near a running brook. After watering the veovarks, this time, she removed the harnesses from them and staked them for the night. The restraints allowed them to graze and rest but prevented them from wandering away.

Except for the unconscious woman, the others bathed, including Idril. She was still feverish, but it seemed her condition had improved from the hours of sleep. Afterward, several of the women washed the unconscious warrior using the towels and the metal basin we had brought with us. We had placed her on the ground on blankets near the fire.

We divided the remaining rations, which seemed a small meal. Yet Idril told me it was more