Part 54 (2/2)

There was more cracking and sweeping of limbs, then a female's voice. ”Hoy. Anyone?”

”Sugar!” Legs shouted. He let go of Talen's grip and darted out of the barn, running toward the sound, one hand high, one low in front of him. ”Sugar!” he shouted.

”Quiet,” the Creek Widow commanded.

Sugar ran to her brother and wrapped him in a hug. ”Thank the Creators,” she said.

”Thank Talen,” said Legs.

Talen walked out of the barn in awe. ”There was no way you were coming back from chasing that monster,” he said.

”You obviously underestimated me.”

”Have you been followed?” asked the Creek Widow.

”No,” said Sugar. ”Well, I don't think so.”

Sugar looked over at Talen. ”Thank you for taking him,” she said.

”Oh, we've become bosom buddies,” said Talen.

The Creek Widow waved off their conversation. ”Tell me what you did. Hurry, girl.”

”I trailed the monster to its lair. But I did not go into the cave because it returned. I was close enough to almost reach out and touch it. It chased me for a time, but I haven't seen sign of it since this afternoon.”

”You're a brave one,” said the Creek Widow. She looked at Talen meaningfully. ”That's something to mark, boy.”

He couldn't tell if that meant Sugar was to be lauded or that he was cowardly in comparison or that this should be tallied in her favor as a potential quality mate.

”Are we going to help my mother?” asked Sugar.

”What happened to River?” Talen asked.

”Everything in its time,” said the Creek Widow. ”And now is not a time to chat in the yard. You three will follow me. And not a word until I say so.”

Talen looked at Sugar for his answer.

”It took her,” she whispered. ”I saw it, in the morning light, carrying her like a baby.”

”Sst,” said the Creek Widow to silence them. She pointed at Legs. ”Get him up.”

Then she walked out into the road.

”Was she alive?” Talen asked.

Sugar hesitated. ”I couldn't tell.”

Talen nodded, then lifted Legs onto the Tailor's back. At least River wasn't twisted in a broken heap like the Shoka back at the house. He took the reins and followed the Creek Widow into the night.

At their departure, Warrior hauled himself up, padded over to the chicken coop, and dropped his bones squarely in front of the door. Talen considered the dog. Perhaps liveliness wasn't the only a.s.set a hound might possess.

Sugar walked alongside the Tailor, holding her brother's ankle. She had been brave to follow that creature. Braver than he. The thought had never occurred to him to follow River. It was true that she'd ordered him away, but he hadn't given it a second thought. He looked at Sugar with new eyes.

They walked in silence, the Creek Widow in the lead, Talen coming behind, leading the Tailor and Legs. As they walked, Talen whispered a prayer to the ancestors to protect River, Da, Argoth, and Ke, whom he hoped was waiting at the refuge.

The moon rose and moved across the starry heaven. Talen weariness threatened to overwhelm him. He tried walking with his eyes closed, but stumbled over a rock and upset the Tailor.

The old stallion jerked his head back and lurched to the side. Legs, who had drifted asleep, lost his seat and fell to the ground. He landed with a thump and cried out. Obviously, Sugar herself had been too tired to react swiftly enough to catch him. Talen steadied the horse and moved him away from Legs. Sugar knelt at her brother's side, feeling for breaks and cuts.

”I'm fine,” he said and climbed to his feet.

”Tie him in the saddle this time,” said the Creek Widow.

Talen moved to the saddle bags to find the rope the Creek Widow had put there.

”Look at the three of you,” the Creek Widow said. ”Bone tired,” she tsked. ”This will help.” She produced a little satchel and removed three square pieces of crystallized honey that had been cooked with vinegar and h.o.r.ehound. She'd given them to Talen before-they were bitter and sweet. Then she cupped each of them in turn about the neck just as Da had cupped him about the neck when he'd tied the G.o.dsweed charm about his arm before they'd gone to Whitecliff. Just like Da's, the Creek Widow's hand was icy cold.

She smiled at him. ”We cannot afford to be caught sleeping.”

In moments, Talen's fatigue lessened, and he knew she'd just worked some sleth business on him. He sucked on his honey h.o.r.ehound. ”What else have you got in those pockets?” he asked her.

She smiled. ”That's my secret.”

They continued on around hills, through black ravines, always traveling the smaller roads. Twice they took disused trails that had surrendered to weeds and thin saplings. And while the honey didn't last long, the effects of the Creek Widow's magic did. But eventually the fatigue returned. He'd been up for more than twenty-four straight hours, fleeing, and lugging Legs all over creation. He soon wanted nothing more than the lie down in the dirt. He looked back at Sugar walking alongside the Tailor. The effect didn't seem to be wearing off on her. She smiled at Talen and he turned back round. When they finally branched off onto what could be no more than an animal trail, the Creek Widow spoke. ”I think we're safe. The refuge is only a mile or so away.”

”This is by Boar's Point, isn't it?” asked Sugar.

On the south end of the settled lands, at the edge of a vast, fertile valley, a line of hills ran like a great crooked finger down toward the sea. At the tip of that finger two rivers converged. Sometimes, in the heat of the summer, you could see hundreds of boar there. They came to wallow in the mud on the banks of the shallow, wide river, not only to cool themselves, but also to protect their hides from insects.

”It is,” said the Creek Widow.

”Does this refuge have a bed?” asked Talen.

”Beds, baths, and dancing girls,” said the Creek Widow.

”You can watch the girls,” said Talen. ”I'm going to sleep.”

”That's a good boy.”

They walked a few more paces, then Talen asked, ”And how will River know to come here?”

”Because it is the refuge.”

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