Free Winter Be My Shield by Jo Spurrier

the strong one, Issey, and I always knew you had my back. Well, now it’s my turn to look out for you and by the Black Sun herself, I swear I’ll see you through.’
    Â 
    â€˜Our biggest problem — apart from the cursed war — is the matter of supplies,’ Cam said once they were all seated around the stove and the meagre ration of the morning meal had been doled out. ‘We’re nearly out of flour, butter, beans, meat … well, everything, really. And there’s onlyabout four days’ worth of grain left for the horses — five if we cut their ration again.’
    â€˜It’d help if we moved camp,’ Garzen said. ‘They do well enough on graze, but they’ve cleared all the snow they can here.’ He turned to Rhia. ‘Is Isidro strong enough to move a little way?’
    â€˜Perhaps, but not today,’ Rhia said. ‘He finally sleeps. I will not have him woken.’
    â€˜I still say we should get rid of the horses,’ Brekan said. ‘Their grain costs a fortune and we can’t even use them so long as Balorica keeps to his bed.’
    Cam rubbed a hand across his eyes. ‘I’ve told you, Brekan, we can’t get rid of the horses  — especially not with the soldiers nearby. We’ll need them come spring, if not before.’
    â€˜Spring’s a long way off. A lot could happen by then.’
    â€˜You want to sell the horses now and hope we’ll have the coin to buy more in a few months’ time?’ Cam didn’t bother to keep the scorn out of his voice.
    Eloba scowled at both of them. ‘Don’t start this again. We’re not selling the horses … unless you want Cam beheaded and me and Laki and Rhia passed around between the soldiers when they finally catch up with us,’ she said as her gaze settled on Brekan.
    â€˜I’ve told you before, the horses make us a target,’ Brekan said. ‘The Mesentreians don’t look twice at peasants travelling on foot, but once you’re on a horse they get suspicious.’
    â€˜We’ve been over this,’ Garzen said. ‘I call a deciding. Raise your hand if you think we should sell the horses.’
    Brekan immediately raised his hand. When no one else followed, his face darkened until Lakua hesitantly raised hers.
    â€˜Anyone else? No? Two for, four against. The horses stay.’
    Brekan’s face was thunderous, but Lakua looked faintly relieved. She leaned over to stroke her husband’s knee, but he studiously ignored her.
    â€˜Well, there’s nothing for it,’ Garzen said. ‘We’ll have to head to a village and restock — I think we should have enough time and perhaps we can get some news, as well. It does leave the question of how we’re going to pay for everything. How much coin do we have?’
    â€˜Not a lot,’ said Eloba. ‘Eight or nine silver crowns; that won’t go far.’
    â€˜There’s more in the cache we left at the start of winter,’ Cam said.‘But that’s a good six days’ ride away, though at least it’ll take us away from these cursed armies.’
    â€˜It’s a pity you didn’t start riding two days ago, then,’ Brekan snarled. ‘We wouldn’t be in this situation if the hunting hadn’t been so bad. Something’s made our luck go sour, I swear it.’
    Cam swallowed hard on the urge to call him a superstitious prick.
    â€˜I’ve got a few ermine furs set aside I can throw into the pot,’ Garzen said.
    Kasimi, who had been listening in silence, hesitantly cleared her throat. ‘May I speak?’
    â€˜Of course,’ Eloba said.
    â€˜I have a few things that might be good for trade. Two swords, a knife, and perhaps the horse — I don’t know how to ride the beast anyway. It’ll be a few days before I’m able to move on and I’ll need some clothes and