Emerahl looked away. “I think robbers will be the least of our problems. It’s the soldiers we’ll have to watch out for. They’ll think fighting earns them a free roll with us whenever they want, and we don’t have enough of our own guards to prevent them. This is going to be rough, dirty work.”

Charity grimaced. “Let’s not talk about it any more. I’d rather delude myself that we’re going on a great adventure, during which we’ll witness great events. Events I can tell my grandchildren about.”

“Just as well grandmothers are allowed to edit out the bad parts,” Brand said, chuckling. “And embellish the good parts. The soldiers will be brave, the generals handsome, and the priests virtuous and even more handsome…”

At the mention of priests, Emerahl felt the knot in her stomach clench. She leaned past Tide and lifted the door flap. They were halfway to the gates. Her mouth went dry. She resisted the urge to reach for the formtane. Soon.

“Have you ever bedded a priest?” Tide asked Brand.

“A few.”

“I haven’t. What about you, Star? Charity?”

Star shrugged. “Once. And he wasn’t handsome. He was fat. And fast, thank Yranna.”

“Quite a few,” Charity admitted with a grin. “I think they like me for my name. They can go back to their wives and say they spent the evening in Charity work and be telling the truth.”

Brand burst out laughing. “Rozea certainly knows how to pick names. What about you, Jade?”

“Me?”

“Have you ever bedded a priest?”

Emerahl shook her head. “Never.”

“Perhaps you’ll bed your first one on this trip.”

“Perhaps.”

Brand wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. “They’re supposed to be quite good at it.”

“About as good as any nationality or creed that is supposed to be good at it, I’m guessing.”

“You’re too serious, Jade—and why do you keep looking outside?”

Emerahl let the flap go. She sighed and shook her head. “Travelling makes me sick.”

Star groaned unsympathetically. “You’re not going to throw up, are you?”

Emerahl made a face. “If I do, I’ll be sure to lean in your direction.”

“You’re cranky. Here.” Tide stood up, bracing herself against the flexible cover. “Sit by the window. If you feel sick you can open the flap for some fresh air.”

“Thank you.” Emerahl managed a smile and slid across the seat. Tide sat down in the middle and patted Emerahl’s knee sympathetically.

Looking outside again, Emerahl judged they were not far from the city gates. She let the flap fall and turned to the other girls.

“I brought something,” she told them. “Something for the nausea. It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t share it.”

Brand smiled knowingly. “The formtane?”

“Formtane!” Star exclaimed. “Where’d you get that?”