“You’re leaving, you’re in trouble! I’ll never see you again! Oh, Cija, Cija, don’t leave me. By All the Gods you mustn’t leave, I’ll never see you again, don’t leave me—1” And she said it all in the darkness, only her hands clutching at me, the little-girl’s voice whispering, muffling her fast sobs. “Cija. Take me with you. Oh, take me with you.” She whispered very low, afraid of embarrassing me, but saying it out of despair. “I love you.” She couldn’t control her frightened sobs now. “Take me with you, I promise not to be a nuisance, I can cook, you know I can, you’ve tasted it, I can sew—”

I heard marching.

It might have been the slaves coming to pack up the tents ready for leaving, it might have been any soldiers, it might have been the guard of Ooldra’s latest dupe. Narra’s sobs were hysterical now. I pushed my hand over her mouth. I thought of leaving her in the entourage now that she had known friendship and could know loneliness after it. I pulled her sideways to the ground behind a tent, throwing myself on top of her. Blob jerked Urns with us.

The marching passed.

Peeping, I saw the captain of the guard, looking significantly grim, a sword unsheathed in each hand. His men were orderly behind him.

Blob pulled me out, shoved me up on Urns. I’m a tolerable bare-back rider and Urns’ll take any sign from me, but that wasn’t the point. “Another bird for Narra!” I said.

“I can’t,” he said.

“We’ll need one! It’ll be miles alone through the mountains, take weeks maybe. And one for yourself.”

“I’ll get some mules later. Come on.”

He put a hand on Urns’ neck to guide him by, as there was no rein, but Urns jerked the hand off.

.175

“He doesn’t like to be touched,” I said. “You go ahead and I’ll make him follow.”

Grumbling, Blob showed us the way and Narra pattered on behind. A narrow stony way that was presently a rocky ledge led swiftly aside out of the camp and out of the town too. Remembering that I had once been told Blob rated me a poor rider, I made Urns go as fast down that ledge as Blob could lead, and presently he had to drop behind us, panting and wearing. I had no fear for Unis’ footing and balance, he’s as sure and swift and wily as a thoroughbred forest bird can be.