She said, “Are there any signs of pursuit?”
“So far, none,” said Leeanne, and Jaelle, who had slid down from her horse, came up to them, and stopped, shyly, at a little distance. She said, “How do you know we are not pursued, mestra?” She spoke the language of the mountain country with a faint accent, but understandably; and Kindra smiled at the child.
“I hear no sound of hooves with my ear to the ground; and there is no cloud of sand rising where men ride, within the distance my eyes can see.”
“Why, you are as good as Jalak’s best trackers, then,” said the little girl in wonder. “I did not know that women could be trackers.”
“Living in Shainsa, little lady, there is much you do not know about women.”
Jaelle said eagerly, “Will you tell me, then?”
“Perhaps when I have time; just for now, do you know enough about horses to know that these must be watered, and cooled?”
“Oh, I am sorry-am I delaying you? Can I help, then?”
Kindra handed the small girl the reins of the horse Melofa had ridden. “Walk him slowly back and forth, then, till his breathing quiets and the sweat is almost dry around his saddle. Then lead him to the water and let him drink what he will. Can you do that, do you think?”
1 “Oh, yes,” said Jaelle, and walked off, holding the horse’s reins. Kindra followed with Rohana’s horse, and Rohana stood, looking after Jaelle. She seemed tall for her age, lightly built, with delicate bones, her hair flaming red, hanging halfway down her narrow back; she wore the nightgown in which she had been wakened-fine-spun Dryland linen, smoothly loomed and embroidered-although one of the Amazons had put a short jacket, much too big for her, around her shoulders. Her feet were bare, but she walked on the hot sand without apparent discomfort. Rohana could not see that the child resembled Melora, except for her flaming hair; but there was no discernible resemblance to Jalak, either.
She returned to Melora, who had stretched out her clumsy body on her riding cape, and closed her eyes. Rohana looked at her with disquiet, then composed her face hurriedly as Melora opened her eyes. “Where is Jaelle?”
“She is helping Kindra to water the horses,” Rohana said. “Believe me, she’s quite safe and well, and seems not over-wearied by the ride.” Rohana lowered herself to the shade beside her cousin. “I wish I had even a little of her energy.”
Melora stretched out her thin fingers, clasping Rohana’s hand in hers as if hungry for the reassurance of the touch. “I can see how you have wearied yourself for me, too, cousin . . .. How came you into the company of these-these women? You have not deserted husband and children as they do…?” The question was evident without words, and Rohana smiled in reassurance. “No, love. My marriage-as I knew it would be-is well enough: Gabriel and I are as happy as any other couple.”
“Then how-”
“It is a long story,” Rohana said, “and not easy hi the telling. It seemed to me that everyone had forgotten you; I had all but forgotten myself, thinking you dead or-or resigned to your life.” She added, half defensively, “It had been so long.”
“Yes, a lifetime,” said Melora with a sigh.
“When you came to me, at first I thought it a dream. I made the journey to Thendara and spoke to some of the Council; but they said they could do nothing, the time was not right for war with the Dry Towns, and they would send no others to die. I had all but resigned myself to thinking that nothing could be done, when by chance-or who knows, by the work of some Goddess-a little band of Free Amazons met with me on the road. They were hunters and traders, and had a mercenary soldier or two to protect them; and in talk with them, I learned that while their band did not venture into the Dry-Towns, they knew of one who would. So I went to their Guild-house and spoke with Kindra; and she agreed to attempt the rescue. And so-“