All the players protested, except Ciro.
‘The forest will be less dangerous to us than the village,’ he said.
Dario grinned. ‘A few villagers? Mina could take them all!’
‘You should have seen them run, Mina,’ Jal said with a grin. ‘You must have looked like a Muse, riding them down.’
His light tone broke the solemn mood. The players all surrounded Mina, congratulating her. Uberto and Mama Tina stood apart, speaking with apparent urgency. Then Uberto returned.
‘Bed now! We start at dawn tomorrow. We must reach Irsha by nightfall. And we will travel through the forest. Despite our brave lady Mina, the village is a risk I will not take.’
With a few last words, the players scattered to the wagons.
Uberto took Mina’s hand before she left. ‘You bring us much excitement, sweetling, like a l
