[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
compared with what he had seen of the rest of northern Darshian, so the Prij
weren t just eating stolen Darshian grain.
He wondered again how the countryside and the villages would sustain all
the extra people thrust upon them, and suddenly felt rather guilty to be able to
eat his fill when his friends and family might yet go hungry this year. He
sternly told himself that he had a duty to stay healthy regardless of what was
happening back home, because he had to look after the people held captive.
It never got easier, this being held so far from those he loved. The damn
Rulers had better get off their own well-fed behinds and sort this problem out
it was, after all, why anyone ever paid them any attention at all, the
supposed ability to keep Darshian safe. They d lost the south, Kei hoped they
had some idea how to regain the north.
He relieved himself, washed his face and hands and then helped himself to
the bread and stew. Myri and Urki had gone outside, and Kei was now the
most alone he had been...gods, it felt like in forever. At least since they had
begun the march south. Not being able to feel other people s emotions unless
he put some effort into it, was very restful. He felt rather stupid to have had to
have another gifted person point out how careless he d been. His mother
would have scolded him soundly, even though she would have then done
what she could to help him. The problem was that people without gifts didn t
really know what it was like at all for those with them. It was one of the
reasons that being with Reji was so easy and undemanding.
Reji. A sharp pang of loss and sadness filled him at the thought of his
absent lover. Kei was so proud of him, having got everyone to Darshek safely,
when it had to have been a difficult, dangerous trip, but it wasn t as a caravan
leader that Kei valued him. He missed the smell of Reji s skin, the way his big
hands would cup Kei s buttocks as he kissed him. He missed his laugh, and
his silly sense of humour. He hoped Reji was not feeling low, living on
Darshekian grace for who knew how long. Reji didn t like to be confined, that
was a certainty.
Kei shook his head at his maunderings. He was supposed to be trying to
avoid emotional turmoil, not add to it. He ate and scrubbed the bowl out with
sand before rinsing it and hanging it out to dry with the other bowls. He noted
a small collection of knives and other potential weapons the Prij were clearly
not worried about an attack from within. As well they need not be none of
the hostages would risk doing anything to bring punishment on their own or
their comrades heads, nor upon their villages. It was, Kei reflected, an
amazingly simple way of keeping control over an unwelcoming population.
He collected a clean set of clothes, and his little-used drying cloth from his
pack. The door was unlocked so he wandered out, and was directed in
friendly enough tones by the soldiers standing guard as to where he could
find the other captives. They were actually outside the fort, by a stream that
ran behind it. Some were bathing, some were washing their clothes. Others,
like Peit, were sitting on rocks and idly watching proceedings. There were
twenty or so soldiers keeping guard over the fifty hostages, but they weren t
paying a lot of attention. Kei noticed a screen of canvas had been erected
upstream, and from the sounds of the voices, it was where the women were
bathing. He d learned the Prij had some odd notions about modesty and
apparently thought it shocking that nudity was no cause for scandal or
concern in Darshianese communities. The soldiers who brought them south
had been surprised that men and women would sleep so close to each other,
but since the barracks weren t segregated, their captors seem to have
accepted this oddity of their prisoners. Such a stupid thing to consider sinful,
Kei had thought.
He was aware he smelled appalling, and his clothes were disgusting. Since
others of his fellow hostages were sitting nude on the bank, he couldn t see
any reason not to strip, wash himself and then his clothes. He begged some
soap from Gonji, undressed and left his clothes in a heap on the bank, and
strode into the water. Which was incredibly cold. He yelped as his balls tried
to crawl up inside him to get away from the water and then he turned to look
at Peit accusingly. You could have warned me, you urs fart.
It s not like the water would get any warmer for being warned, Peit said
placidly. You d best get clean and scrub your clothes. I ll hang them with the
others they ve got a place inside for them. With the rains, they ll never dry
otherwise.
A wise bit of planning Kei wondered whose it was. Peit s advice was good
standing in the chilly water wouldn t do him any good. He scrubbed away a
month s worth of grime and mud, then unbraided his hair and washed it
carefully, finger combing out the tangles. He tied it into a knot as he scrubbed
at his filthy clothes they would need patching, both shirt and trousers. At
least his overshirt was sound. Still nude, he walked back over to Peit who
accepted the sopping bundle from him, and held out a bone comb. You might
need this.
As indeed he did, having forgotten to bring his own with him. He sat on the
rock Peit had just abandoned, and let the sun warm his chilly flesh as he
carefully combed his hair dry. Would you like me to braid it for you?
He turned and saw Jena, freshly washed and in clean clothes. That would
be kind, thank you. It was almost luxurious sitting in the sun, having someone
attending to his hair.
You look much better.
I feel very much better, thank you. Also ashamed.
She tugged his hair a little. No need to be, Kei. Soul-touching is a very
difficult gift, and more two edged than most. You ve had a lot to bear even
without it. I ve been talking to your people. They consider themselves very
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]