Free The Way of the Power by Stuart Jaffe Page B

get out there.”
    “I can’t spare —”
    “The Tilsons are still awake right now. I doubt they’ll sleep much at all tonight. They probably are itching to talk with somebody — everybody.”
    He glowered at Fawbry. “You may have some horses. No more requests. Leave. Now.”
    Fearing Fawbry might push for even more concessions, Malja cleared her throat and jerked her head toward the stairs. With all the energy of a funeral procession, she led her group to the surface and back to their quarters.
     
    * * * *
     
    For Malja, Stray, and the Artisoll, packing was easy. Malja always traveled light, and the others had nothing with them at all. Tommy put aside a few trinkets he had collected over the past months with the Carsites, packed his clothes, and in minutes, sat in the Artisoll’s room watching her every move.
    Fawbry took longer than the rest. When Malja entered his room, she found stacks of clothes, piles of painted rocks, and loads of wooden figures. “I have a lot of admirers,” he said, adding another wooden figure to the group.
    “All of these are from the women here? It’s amazing we weren’t run out of town sooner.”
    “I know how to be discreet.”
    “You also know how to deal in the world of words. Thank you for that. Without you, I don’t think we’d be leaving for a comfortable home, let alone on horseback.”
    “Just earning my place.” He kicked over the rocks and grabbed two days of clothes. “This is all I’ve ever needed. The rest can stay. Besides, I doubt we’ll return.”
    As they walked back to Malja’s place and gathered up the group, a young woman approached. Malja recognized her right away — the jealous one at the party. Lynoya.
    She ignored the eyes of everyone and moved straight to Malja. With her head lowered, she said, “Canto has ordered me to come with you.”
    Malja looked to Tommy. “We weren’t told about this.”
    “I’m to make sure that you stay in Cafloden unless you are leaving for good. I’m also to report back when you do leave, and if the rains come and you haven’t left, I’m to report that, too.” Lynoya lifted her head, revealing tears stained cheeks. To Tommy, she said, “I don’t have a choice. Canto’s orders.”
    Tommy stared back — as silent with his face as he always was with his voice.
    Before things could turn, Hirasa ushered her friend away. “Don’t worry. We understand. Let’s get you ready to go. You can ride with me.”
    After several quiet seconds, Fawbry and Stray lugged the few bags they had down to the horses. Malja stepped behind Tommy and whispered, “This had better not become a problem.”
     
     
     

 
    Chapter 8
     
    The horses had to have been the feeblest animals the Carsites owned. Six in total — two gray with age, one with a deep dip in its back, one that appeared to avoid putting pressure on its right hindquarter, and two in good health though wielding bad attitudes. Despite a few quiet mutterings, the group took the poor animals with grace.
    The Artisoll was afforded her own horse. Hirasa and Lynoya shared a horse, as did Fawbry and Tommy. Malja and Stray each took one of the feisty horses, and the one with the bad back was left to carry their meager possessions.
    As the day started out, they moved slowly away from the morning sun. The protruding rock formations cast long shadows across their path. Nobody looked back. Not even Hirasa or Lynoya.
    With her horse wanting to wander, Malja had to work hard to keep with the group. This involved a lot of pulling on the reins and squeezing her legs. Though her do-kha continually healed her wounded thigh, the act of horse riding caused the injury to flare warnings of pain.
    After an hour, though, Feisty (a simple enough name that worked well for the mare) had come to see that life would be easier if she followed what Malja wanted — mostly. Malja’s thigh welcomed the change as she shifted to using the reins exclusively for the time.
    She came alongside Fawbry