Page 14 of The Summer Pass

“I am—I was—that is, before I was imprisoned in Umtúshta. Not that there was any formal breaking of the engagement,” he admitted hastily. “But under the circumstances … ”

“You’re still betrothed,” Mikhi growled. “You’re betrothed to another girl, and you’ve been pestering my sister to marry you. Did you think you were going to have a bunch of wives, like a lowlander? Oh!” Her hand flew to her mouth. “You are a lowlander.”

“I assure you, I had no thought of taking another wife in addition to your daughter, my lord. Certainly not anytime soon.” Halza attempted an uncomfortable laugh. “A man of my humble station would not expect to have more than one wife, unless of course there should be a—a lack of children.”

Mikhi looked in no state to translate properly, so Vanu spoke aloud. “I hope Auxshna will have as many children as the two of you want. She’s here.”

Halza looked as if he’d suddenly run out of air.

“Her mother, too.” Vanu twisted the knife.

“How? Why?”

“They followed us from Tawakhura,” Vanu signed. “They believe you to be our prisoner—which you were at one time but haven’t been for a while.”

“They followed me,” Halza repeated hollowly.

“I believe they think that you need rescuing.”

“What are you going to do?” Halza choked out finally.

Vanu frowned at him. Of all the pitiful things to say.

“I am doing it. I’m telling you that your fiancée went searching for you, followed you for days, believing you to be my captive—knowing whose train she was following—and was not scared off when Barda told her we’d noticed her.”

He paused, after Mikhi had finished translating, in case Halza had anything to say, but of course the man just looked confused.

“Don’t you think she’s owed something for all that? She is clearly devoted to you.” The Blue Heaven knew why.

“I—I—should I go to her? Is that what you’re saying?”

“That is what I am saying.”

“Of course that’s what he’s saying!” Mikhi howled.

Halza gulped. “I … I can tell her I was a captive, can’t I?”

“Barda already told her you’re not,” Mikhi supplied smugly before Vanu could say anything.

“You can tell her you were a captive,” said Vanu, “but that you have followed me from Umtúshta because I am a great leader who is going to bring peace to Hawakhurta and Akramarra. Or you can tell her you followed me because you were trying to get my daughter to marry you and she’s turned you down three times. I wouldn’t, though, in your place.”

The party heading to Manáshta assembled early the following morning. They took two carts for the women and their luggage, with Tirtu and Barda and a couple of other guards riding alongside. Barda had been unsure whether he wanted to go or not. He’d been rather puffed up at the idea of being Vanu’s handpicked scout, but the idea of protecting his mother and the other women appealed strongly to his better nature. Vanu had left it up to him and his family to decide, and in the morning, Barda was there with his horse saddled and ready to go. So, to Vanu’s surprise, was Padunu.

When he thought about it, perhaps it wasn’t so surprising. He’d half expected Padunu to stay behind in Dukka or part ways with them there. The shaman had been under the protection of Faru, and now Faru was dead, Vanu wasn’t sure where his allegiance lay.

“You’re coming with us?” said Tirtu without enthusiasm. “Why?”

“For the same reason as you, I imagine,” said Padunu.

Tirtu reared back his head with a look of affront, and Padunu rolled his eyes.

“Not that, you fool. I am a shaman, please recall. I am coming with you because I don’t care to find myself in the epicentre of an armed conflict if I can help it.”

Tirtu gave him a blank look.

Padunu rolled his eyes again. “I’m coming to look after the women.”

“Yeah, well. Just don’t get any ideas about looking after anyone the way you looked after Arakhu Vinu’s wife.”