Free Mist-Torn Witches 02:Witches in Red by Barb Hendee

narrow boards and began the slow process of wrapping them tightly with strips of bandages.
    This took some time.
    Wiping her head with the back of her hand, she finally said, “All right. That’s all I can do. The bone is secure, and it should knit. But he cannot travel until hewakes, and even then, we’ll need to make a space for him in the back of the wagon, so he can sit up with the leg straight. He can’t put any weight on it for weeks. Once he’s back home, he should be able to use crutches as long as he keeps his weight off.” Looking up at Jaromir, she hesitated. “I’m sorry, but you’ll have to choose another man to remain with us in Ryazan.”
    To Amelie’s puzzlement, a flash of relief crossed Jaromir’s face, as if a burden had suddenly been taken from him.
    “Yes, of course.” He stood up. “We’ll make camp here and see if he’s fit to travel in the morning.”
    Amelie raised an eyebrow. Why would Jaromir be relieved that Pavel couldn’t remain with them in Ryazan?
    * * *
    The following day, at midmorning, Céline pronounced Pavel fit to travel, and she supervised as Rurik, Jaromir, and Bazin lifted her patient into a cleared space in the wagon’s bed.
    “Don’t try to help us,” Rurik told Pavel. “Just let us do the work.”
    Once they had him settled, they leaned him against a large rolled-up piece of canvas, and he glanced down at his splinted leg. Céline had no idea how he was feeling. His expression was dark, and she guessed he was probably torn between gratitude that his leg had been saved and angry disappointment that he’d lost his place on the mission.
    “Remember what I said about not putting weight on it,” she told him, playing the part of the healer to avoidspeaking of anything else. “The bone must be allowed to knit.”
    He didn’t answer and didn’t look at her.
    She turned to Jaromir. “I think it’s safe for him if we press onward.”
    Jaromir exhaled through his nose, as if considering something, and then he stood up in the back of the wagon. “Everyone,” he called out, “over here.”
    Faster than Céline would have expected, all the men had gathered round. Amelie was among them, looking up at Jaromir curiously.
    “Ryazan is not far up this road,” he began, pointing north. “Guardsman Rurik will stay with me, but I’m sending the rest of you back now.” Turning his body slightly, he motioned down a wide, well-maintained road to the east. “I don’t want you crossing the river again, so head east and use the bridge up above Enêmûsk.” He handed the map to Bazin. “Then head straight home and make sure Pavel stays off his leg.”
    Almost everyone nodded in agreement . . . all except for Guardsman Rurik, who was aghast.
    “Me?” he asked. “Sir? Shouldn’t you choose someone else?”
    Jaromir wasn’t accustomed to having his orders questioned. “Guardsman?”
    “What if Prince Anton needs a message sent to his father?” Rurik rushed on.
    Jaromir’s jaw twitched. “He can send someone else.” His voice held an edge of threat, and Rurik fell silent, but he looked shaken.
    Céline wondered why. She’d found him to be a goodchoice on Jaromir’s part. Rurik might not be as strong a fighter as Pavel, but he was steady and of a cheerful disposition, and on this task, those two qualities might be of more use. Why was he reluctant to stay? Had he heard any hints about what she and Amelie had come here to do? Even so, he was a soldier and didn’t strike her as someone easily frightened.
    “Guardsman Voulter,” Jaromir said. “Tie the women’s travel bags onto one of the extra horses.” He continued giving orders in preparation for them to separate from the group, but Céline stopped listening.
    She turned and gazed up the road to the north, forgetting about Rurik’s strange reluctance and Pavel’s broken leg.
    Ryazan waited.

Chapter Four
    B y midday, the already narrow road had turned into little more than a path, but when Jaromir saw