Riley would have stayed here forever. The Plains were green and vibrant, Sugarsnap beneath her, and friends on all sides, the moon and stars above lighting the grass swaying in the wind. The smell of her horse thick on her fingers and in her hair.
Ahead of her, Tlaso rode bareback. And sidesaddle. And standing. He switched positions as easily as Ruskin in Alexander’s lap. Riley stared at him, and was enthralled by his accent. Even his off-key singing, punctuating his words, was like honey to her ears. The dog had taken to howling along with the songs.
“Step step, two three,” Tlaso sang, bouncing along.
“The Dust Women see!”
“Step, step, four five,”
“Dust keeps her alive!”
Riley wasn’t used to riding at night, but the plains were a horse’s paradise. The moon shone bright in the clear sky, and the stars fought against her light to be seen. A lacework of clouds decorated the show.
“Tlaso, you sing such quips, and yet you say so little. Forgive my impudence, but what can you tell us about these Dust Women?” Alexander inquired.
“They Ride the Wind, not horses. They come in dreams, and speak in riddles.”
“I wonder what that would be like.” Cora muttered to Riley, and Riley laughed under her breath. Alexander and Tlaso were far enough ahead of her that she hoped he didn’t hear her.
“One showman to another, I feel you are not being direct,” Alexander pressed.
“How can one direct the wind? How can one turn the tide? Force the earth to tremble.” Tlaso’s tone shifted, and with it he turned around fully on his mount. “Though if you’d give me a chance I think I could put in a good effort.”
“You speak as though they are ephemeral, but you don’t seem at all concerned about going to see her,” Alexander deflected, “Have you met her before?”
“I have no true business with the Dust.” Tlaso spun around again. “I will only take you far enough that you’ll get good and lost. Once you are lost, she can find you.”
“I’m already lost,” Cora whispered.
Lissie shushed her, though Riley saw the blonde girl was smiling.
Riley ventured, “Tlaso, do the Dust Women ever settle arguments?”
Tlaso’s voice rose in song, “Trouble her not with pettiness or disputes. Hers is the way of the Wind, the way of truths.” With his accent, he made it rhyme.
“He said from experience,” Riley whispered to Cora.
They camped for the day. Alexander hissed in Riley’s ear, “Save me.”
Riley whispered back, “I thought things were more open with the Ellium?”
Alexander turned and looked at Tlaso setting up a large tent. “I have had my share of all sorts of fruits, but that is not a flavor I wish to sample.”
Riley announced, “Alexander, I know you need rest, but I need you to make some adjustments on my sword. Can you share my tent with me today so we can discuss it without bothering the others?”
Tlaso looked over his muscled shoulder, and frowned. “Don’t keep him too long!”
Sequestered away, Riley couldn’t help herself from giggling. “At least he’s an enthusiastic guide!”
“He’s enthusiastic about everything!” Alexander’s eyes darted around.
“Wonder what that would be like.” Riley gave him a wry look. She drew her sword from the scabbard. “I wanted to ask you about this.”
“I worked on it night and day while you slept. I believe it is my finest creation,” Alexander explained, “The craftsman had a great time pantomiming to me about how to work their black ice.”
“I’m worried about how to use it without breaking the edge. That warrior’s sword broke so easily, and this one is far narrower.”
“As soon as I saw their swords, I realized a possible improvement. Reinforcement. I have made a slit here,” he pointed at the edge of the hickory, “I padded it with cork, and a glue that can be melted in alcohol. The swords they carry are impressive, but those blades are very wide.”
Riley examined the sword in her hand. The rim of black stone was thinner than the tip of her fingernail. Now she could see that it was made of a line of tiny chips. “Are you saying these can be replaced?”
Alexander reached for one of the pouches tied to a pack. He shook it and it jingled. “I made some while I waited for you to wake up. I needed something to keep my hands busy. And it helped manage Tlaso.”
Tlaso’s head poked through the tent flap, “Lissie has dinner ready.” He smiled with a shark’s grin. “I hope you’re hungry.”
Riley slid Ruskin’s blade back in the scabbard. She noticed the edges had been reinforced with leather.
He thought of everything.
The meal was simple and nourishing. Riley was grateful that she was able to eat more than a few bites. Everything was infused with the spices she had tasted at camp.
The meal finished and the dishes clean, Tlaso began hanging off Alexander’s arm. Cora put her hand on Tlaso’s shoulder and said, “Please, may I share your tent. I’m so very frightened to sleep alone.” She tossed her hair and looked up with big green eyes in the golden dawn light.
She’s as clever as her mother, Riley thought.
Tlaso looked from Alexander’s face to the girl’s, “Surely the newly sprouted warrior kept you safe so far?”
“Riley is nursing grave wounds. I’m so far from home. I feel exposed.” Cora trailed a finger down his arm.
Tlaso’s shoulders slumped and he dropped his hand from Alexander. “I suppose it would be a bad wind to turn away a child in need.”