Riley’s heartbeat pulsed through her side. She didn’t want to wake up. But she needed to relieve herself. That pulled her back into her body.
She opened her eyes to see torchlight. She was on a cot. Riley turned her head, and her vision swam. Then she saw grass on the ground.
How long was I out?
Slowly, she pushed herself up with her hands. Her side throbbed, and her head felt like a snow globe. Every time she moved, stars burst before her. She couldn’t remember where the latrine was, but it didn’t matter. This camp was different. The air was different. The grass was lush and sparkled under the torchlight.
From behind her, Cora let out a cry, “Riley! Careful!”
Riley turned, letting her eyes focus on her friend. She spoke slowly, “Hi, Cora. Where should I go to use the latrine?”
Cora rounded the cot and put Riley’s arm over her shoulder. Riley was grateful her friend pressed herself against her good side. The other one was wrapped in a stiff bandage.
Riley let herself be led into gleaming starlight. She asked, “Where are we?”
“We moved camp two days ago. They wrapped you up and put you on a sled behind a horse,” Cora explained. “I was terrified when you didn’t move the whole trip. I thought I’d lost you.”
“All this after failing the trial. Maybe they’ll let Lissie go on without me.” Riley felt despondent.
Cora turned to look her in the eye. “You passed. Lissie misunderstood the terms. Translation issues. Injury of either the beast or yourself qualified.” They reached the latrine and Cora helped her inside. Riley’s head stopped spinning so much.
Riley felt desperately thirsty. And starving. “Do you have any water? Food? Maybe back at the tent.”
“Lissie’s been feeding you, and it was hard to get you to swallow. They are going to want to have a feast now that you’re awake.” Cora led her another direction, toward a huge tent.
Riley looked around.
This isn’t a camp, she thought.
The tents were similar, but they looked established. There was a permanence to them. They went on as far as she could see. There must be thousands. “I could do with a feast. Where is Lissie?”
“She’s protecting Alexander from Tlaso. That’s our guide.”
Riley had no idea what that meant. Cora kept walking, but Riley had to ask to sit down a few times. Sitting was worse than standing. Riley couldn’t decide if her back or her side hurt more. There were no chairs or stools in this place. Everyone she saw was crouching or walking. They waved and cheered as she passed.
Riley and Cora were wearing tunics made of leather and soft cloth. Mostly white, but with beautiful tiny beadwork around the neck and sleeves. Riley felt naked without her sword belt. She asked, “Where is Sugarsnap? Is she safe?”
Cora turned to her and smiled. “She’s with all the other horses. She’s having a great time. The only one that doesn’t like being part of a herd is Anvil. He’s snorting off to the side. Such a prima donna.”
Hundreds of questions were flickering through Riley’s mind, but the smell of cooking meat dispelled them all. Cora opened a tent flap and led her into a kitchen like Riley had never seen before. There was a whole bull-creature in a pit lined with glowing coals.
I wonder if that’s the one who almost killed me.
There was an open fire with a half-dozen people around frying and baking different things. All eyes turned to her and a cheer erupted. Riley offered a weak wave. The group laughed and went back to their work.
Cora went to a huge earthenware jug and flipped open a straw lid. She used a dipper off the side to pull out a cupful of water. She poured it into a clay bowl and offered it to Riley.
Riley drank a mouthful, but her throat felt strange and tight. She tried to relax and drink again. She coughed. Her stomach seized and she cried out. The cooks cheered. Riley tried to ignore them.
She felt full, but still so thirsty. “I think that’s all I can drink right now. Can you take me to Lissie and Alexander?”
Cora wrinkled her brow. “Tlaso has them in the smoke tent. I don’t think you should be somewhere that will make you cough. I can send them over to you, though. You should really lay back down.”
Riley barked a little laugh and forced her back straight. “I want to see their ‘smoke tent’ and I should meet this Tlaso.”
That elicited a crooked smile from Cora. “He’s cut from the same cloth as Alexander. You’ll see.”