Chapter 15
Vera
They had been at the camp for five days, and Vera knew the children were feeling anxious. Venn worried about them wandering Salvation, so they mostly stayed in the tent Venn had managed to buy. He’d found a few games for them, but the air grew hot in the afternoon, even with the flaps open, and the children were restless.
The first two days had passed without word from the record master, so Venn had spent most of the subsequent days in the camp’s center square, waiting for a chance to speak to the man.
When Venn ducked into their tent late that afternoon, Vera knew that yet again a conversation hadn’t happened, as the vexation was clear on Venn’s face.
Finn still perked up from the corner, where he played quietly with Sarah. “Did you see Saul?” he asked.
“No.” Venn sat beside Vera, who was rocking Rebecca. “They said all I could do was come back tomorrow, and I will. The man can’t avoid me forever.”
“Do you think he’s actually avoiding you?” Vera asked.
He shook his head. “Not really. I’m not the only one asking for an audience. There were others in the square waiting to see him. One man said he’s come every day for a week, but can’t get an appointment. He also hasn’t seen anyone actually meet with the record master, which is strange. If they bother with the records, you would think they’d have a system in place for families and friends to see the logbook.”
That was a fair point. Despite the strangeness in the air, Salvation was run with organization and precision. There were designated places for bartering, for buying food and other supplies, and even for beggars to gather. Vera hadn’t seen any evidence of thievery or other crimes, despite the crush of desperate people. The Keeper’s guards patrolled the dirt-packed streets, and no one seemed inclined to break the rules. It was like a small city, and there were even weekly taxes. When Venn questioned the tax, he’d been told that the fees were to pay for the patrols that kept them safe, as well as those who kept the camp running. Vera had overheard at the well the other day that some of the coins also went to the Keeper. “He’s petitioning the Mortisians in Zahdir and sending messages to the serjah himself in Duvan,” one woman had told another. “He wants to build a real city for us, protected by Mortise.”
Vera had never heard of such a thing; refugees generally sought to integrate into foreign cities, not establish their own. Then again, she’d never heard of such masses fleeing their kingdom, either.
There were more men than women, and even fewer children. But the lines of refugees entering the city continued every day as word had spread of the safety found in Salvation. Vera and Venn had both made attempts to talk to some of their neighbors, but most people in the camp seemed closed off, reluctant to even meet the eyes of a passing stranger. The only ones who seemed remotely happy were the representatives outside the Keeper’s tent, greeting newcomers.
Venn agreed with her that something felt amiss. But as anxious as Vera was to leave and make their way to Duvan, she knew they couldn’t do so until they saw those logbooks.
But they needed a diversion.
“We should go into Zahdir,” Vera said.
Venn glanced at her. “Any particular reason why?”
“The food selection in the camp isn’t great, and there’s no dried milk for Rebecca. Besides, it wouldn’t hurt any of us to get a nice meal at a tavern.”
Finn and Sarah both perked up, and Venn flashed a smile. “All right. You’ve convinced me.”
Despite the lack of apparent crime in the camp, Venn didn’t feel comfortable leaving their horse, so the children rode while Venn and Vera walked out of the camp. A man asked for their names as they left, and he made a notation in a book, telling them to be sure to re-enter the camp through the same gate.
Vera breathed a little easier once they left the camp behind. The evening sun was warm, but not too hot as they made their way to the city of Zahdir, and it was a relief to be free of the strange heaviness of the camp.
Perhaps that newfound relief was why she felt it so strongly—the sudden feeling of eyes digging into her back.
She twisted, searching the lines of people waiting to enter Salvation as well as the group on the road heading into Zahdir. There were so many people, she couldn’t tell who might be looking at her.
Her heart kicked in her chest as the sensation only intensified.
“Vera?”
She jerked toward Venn, who eyed her with a frown. “Is everything all right?”
She flushed, aware of Finn and Sarah watching her from atop the horse. “Yes.” Her paranoia was not something she wanted to share with the children—or Venn, really.
He didn’t look convinced, but he glanced at the children and apparently decided to let it go. They started toward Zahdir again, but she noticed him scanning the people on the road.
She did the same, and though she saw no one staring at her, the inexplicable chill lingered as they passed through the city gate.
The city of Zahdir seemed just as sizable as Krid, but Vera was surprised at how much cleaner and nicer it was. She noticed the patrols that walked the streets, which was a marked improvement over Krid. The crowds were thick, and she heard many talking about the serjan’s death, and Serjah Desfan’s upcoming coronation.
With a few brief directions from a helpful woman, they found a place to stable their horse for the evening and then began their errands. They picked up some essentials, as well as a small sewing kit that Vera could use to mend their clothes. She didn’t protest when Venn suggested they pay for warm baths, and after they were all clean, they found a tavern for dinner.
