Chapter 11

In the morning, Torvin laid down on the bunk across from Quin, and fell asleep. Indeira and Mirria hitched Stout to the old wagon and headed for the mill. With both Bonnie and Frida standing guard over the vardo, they were not concerned about leaving Torvin sleeping.

They watched the miller's boys load their grain and flour on the wagon, and thanked them. Indeira handed them a package of teas and herbs.

"Please give this to your Mother, with my thanks." She said. "Everything is labeled with names and pictures."

They visited a hay dealer, and bought as many bales as could be loaded on the wagon. Then they drove back through the market. Indeira decided to stop at Sorren's stall, where they had sold the first knives, and offered him the rest of the knives, daggers, and two short swords. He made them fair offers, and they settled with no haggling. They then bought out the entire stock of fruit and meat pies from two of the bakers, and headed back to their camp.

Torvin woke when they returned, and they agreed to leave immediately. Quin had still not awakened, but they had had enough trouble with Haugen, and wanted to be gone. Torvin hitched Bonnie to the vardo, saddled Frida, and they pulled out of the camp.

They stopped for the night at the same clearing where they had met, on the way in. Had it really only been four days ago? They had begun to feel like they had known one another for years, by this point. They unharnessed and unsaddled the horses, rubbed them down, lit a fire, and made tea.

As they sat around the fire, Indeira looked at Torvin.

"You never found a guard position for the winter." she observed.

He looked back at her for a moment. "Hmm. Well, that depends." he said finally.

She raised an eyebrow at him.

He looked down at his hands, then back up at her. "Did you hear what Haugen called our young friend?" He nodded toward the vardo where Quin still lay comatose.

"What, boy lover?" said Indeira. "So?"

"That didn't bother you?"

"Should it?"

Torvin looked down with a half smile. "I was hoping not." he said.

"Ah." she said. And after a moment, "We all have secrets we don't share until we know someone better."

Now Torvin raised an eyebrow.

Indeira shared a glance with Mirria.

"We can hearr animalss sspeak." Mirria said.

"I had wondered." Torvin responded.

"By the way," Mirria continued, "the cat, Bitssy, ssayss the young man'ss name iss Quin."

Torvin looked a bit surprised at that. "And what else have the animals been telling you?" he said with a smile.

"Frida thinks you are a good man." said Indeira.

He looked over at the mare. She snorted at him, and went back to grazing.

Torvin chuckled. "I dare say if she didn't, she wouldn't be hanging around with me"

He looked down at his hands again. "I have been wondering what I would do when I retired. I've thought about finding a piece of land to farm. I don't want to wander forever."

He looked up at Indeira. "I was hoping I might winter with you."

She looked over at Mirria, who gave a small nod.

"I suppose you could, as long as the children don't hate you."

"Children?"

"Yes. Haugen's niece and nephew, to be more specific."

His eyes grew wide. Then narrowed. "Ah, I can see why you did not mention them."

"They were very worried when we told them we were coming to Rosewood."

"I can imagine." Torvin said, grimly. "I wouldn't give that man custody of a rabid skunk." He shook his head ruefully. "So how did they end up with you?"

"Oh, the wolves found them." she said brightly.

"Wolves?!"

So she had to tell him how the wolves brought the children to them, and what had happened to their farmstead that had led them to be found by the wolves in the first place. Then they had to explain how the wolves had come to trust them. And then more detail about how the raiders had been killed. By the time they had Torvin caught up on everything, it was full dark, and the fire was burning low.

-x0x-

The next morning, Quin woke up.

Torvin was pulling his boots on when Bitsy, the cat, suddenly sat up and stared at Quin's face. Quin moaned and turned his head. His eyes flew open, and he tried to sit up. He failed, falling back with a groan. Torvin went to his knees in the aisle, putting a hand on Quin's chest.

"Easy. You're safe."

Quin's eyes locked with Torvin's.

"You! You're... you're... who are you?"

"My name's Torvin. My friends and I found you after Haugen attacked you."

Bitsy walked up Quin's chest and rubbed her cheek on his chin, purring.

"Bitsy! You're ok! … My harp!"

"Is also ok." said Torvin.

"Oh. Good." He looked around. "Where am I?"

"You're in our vardo. We left Rosewood yesterday."

"Yesterday? How long was I...?"

"A day and a half." Torvin touched his cheek. "How do you feel?"

"Like I was kicked by a horse."

"Mmm, that's not far from the truth. Haugen broke your nose, and you have some colorful bruises."

"I think I need to go outside." Quin said suddenly, struggling to get up again.

Torvin put an arm around him and helped him sit up. Then waited until Quin's head stopped spinning. Between them, they managed to get out of the vardo without either of them falling. Torvin got under Quin's arm and half carried him out to the bushes.

When they were done, Torvin helped Quin over to the fire, and sat him on a log. He gazed at Mirria and Indeira while Bitsy rubbed back and forth at his ankles.

"So it wasn't a dream." Quin said. He turned to look at Torvin. "Or not all of it." His face flushed red, and he looked away.

Torvin cleared his throat. "I...don't think that part was a dream, either." He said softly.

Quin looked back at him sharply.

"I know why Haugen was beating you, or at least some of it." Torvin said. "And its ok."

"oh." Quin said in a small voice.

After a moment he turned to the others, saying, "And you?"

"I am Indeira. This is Mirria." Indeira introduced them. "Bitsy … called to us."

Quin blinked. "Bitsy?"

"The girls speak to animals." Torvin said. "But I... think I heard you."

Quin turned, and the two men stared at each other for a long moment. Both of their faces reddened, Quin's a bit brighter.

"We had finished our business," Indeira said, "and decided to leave rather than deal with Haugen's abuse any longer. We …. couldn't exactly ask if you wanted to go with us. Was there anything you still needed to do in Rosewood?"

Quin shook his head. "No. I would have gained nothing from staying. I had a pack with some clothes, and a blanket and cloak, but that is of no matter. I have my harp, my cat, and my life."

"We have extra blankets." said Torvin.

"That would be nice. Then I will not freeze at night."

"We also have room in our vardo, the bunk you awoke in." said Indeira.

Quin looked over at her in surprise. "I...would be grateful for that. I had expected to be travelling alone and afoot."

"Therre wass a ssmall rrabbit sskin bag and a pack with yourr harrp." said Mirria

"Oh! My pens and ink! My pack! Thank you!" he said.

Indeira offered him a cup of willowbark tea and a fruit pie. While he ate, the others cleaned up the campsite and harnessed the horses. Soon they were ready to leave.

Quin rode beside Indeira as she drove the vardo, while Mirria drove the old wagon. Torvin rode Frida. The mare would have it no other way. After a short distance, Quin admitted to feeling very tired, and Indeira sent him back to his bunk.