“No.” As if to accentuate her point, the woman dropped her pack right on the road. “We need to conserve our strength, and the sun is going down. We want a camp set up before the night’s chill sets in.”
“But—”
“Who’s traversed the desert more, you or I?” Jayme asked pointedly.
“Fine, you… but let’s make it far from the road. I don’t want any search parties to see us.”
“If they were sending a search party this way, they would’ve by now. I’d bet they’re keeping the search local. The soldiers underestimate you; I don’t think they’ll suspect you’re capable of wandering too far on your own.” Jayme picked up her pack and started off the road anyway. “We’ll set up camp off the road, but not too far. We want to avoid desert wolves or scorpions. We’ll also avoid making a fire that would draw attention to us.”
“I didn’t see any animals other than a bird in the sky on the way here.” Vi followed behind.
“That’s because you’ve been marching in a huge party along the road. Creatures are less likely to frequent where there’s established traffic.”
“A desert wolf could make a good meal,” Vi mused.
“You’re the hunter between us. If you can nab one, go for it and we can cook it in the morning.” Jayme shrugged. “I brought rations though, just in case.”
“Me too.” Vi set her pack down next to Jayme’s about fifty paces into the desert sand. “At least enough to get me—well, us, now—to Inton.”
“Inton?”
“It’s a small town, well, more of an outpost really, a little more than halfway between the Crossroads and Norin. I figured we could resupply there.”
“I’ve never heard of it before.”
“A lot of maps leave it off, it’s so small. I’ve only seen it on the enlarged Western-made versions Elecia sent me.” Vi set down her pack, rummaging through and producing her journal. “This is just a summary… but we’re about here and—”
“Youwouldbring a map.” Jayme chuckled, pulling multiple short poles and a large top from her bag. She’d brought several maps, in fact.
“You didn’t even look.”
“Because I trust you to get us wherever it is we need to go. I’m just here to make sure you get there safe and sound.” Jayme began setting up one of the dome-shaped tension-rod tents the soldiers were using on the march.
“Can I help with that?” Vi shoved the journal of her map scribbles and notes back into her pack. “Or are you going to insist you set up my tent because I’m the princess?”
“Oh shut it with that and help me.” Her friend laughed.
Jayme was a patient teacher, showing her how to fit the poles together and slip them into pockets that’d support the roof when arched. They filled pouches at the sides with sand and skewered the corners to weigh them down against the wind. Jayme explained how the Western design allowed the wind to smooth over the material, rather than picking it up in a gust.
Vi sat back on her heels, looking up at the sky. Without the city lights or military fires, it had never looked so bright.
“I don’t recall the last time I saw you in such a good mood. Perhaps we should run away more often?”
Jayme laughed. Vi couldn’t recall ever seeing her so free, so relaxed.
“I like being on the road. It’s what I’m used to.” She looked Westward. “Perhaps it’s also knowing that we’re so far in trouble with this stunt that, if we’re caught… well, there’s no point in stressing about it because there’s no escaping what is certain to be a swift and stern punishment.”
“We won’t be caught.” Vi didn’t know if she was reassuring Jayme or making a threat to the universe. “The further we get from the Crossroads, the less likely people will be looking for us.”
“People in the West seem to recognize you well enough.”
“That’s true…” A thought crossed Vi’s mind. “Let’s not call me Vi any longer, just to be cautious.”
“What?”
“Call me Yullia.”
“Where did that name come from?”
