Five days later, Telo turned from his customary scan of the northern horizon and announced, ‘I see their dust, Reencha. We need big fire for roasting. When the sun sleeps tonight, we have many to feed.’
Without waiting for her reply, he lowered the carcass of a small deer from a nearby tree and took it downstream to prepare. She hoped he was right and that it wasn’t another Bergen looking for her. And she needed Leachim; the largest blister was infected.
Telo stretched the deer carcass over red-hot embers. When the juices began to drip and sizzle, he addressed her with both hands pressed to his chest. ‘When the time comes, griffinsinger, and your hurt healed, I hope, in your generous heart, you remember Sildahni as worthy people, not savages. Will you speak for us?’
Irenya wanted to rem
