Haven: A Trial of Blood and Steel Book Four by Joel Shepherd Read Free Book Online Page B

her.
    “That's why they make you guard prisoners,” he guessed. “Instead of doing anything exciting.”
    “Exciting,” she said scornfully, rewrapping his arm. “Were you excited in battle? Does all this suffering excite you?”
    “We're not barbarians.”
    “Hmph,” said the girl, utterly unconvinced. “I'm sure you don't even think a woman should be performing these duties.”
    “For a serrin,” Andreyis said drily, “you seem awfully certain of things you can't know. One of my best friends is a girl who could best your entire column single-handed should she come to rescue us.”
    The serrin girl frowned at him, finishing her wrapping. And sat back on her heels for a moment. “You're that one.” Andreyis just looked at her. “The friend of Sashandra Lenayin.” She said something in Saalsi, and to Andreyis's amazement, looked a little flustered. “I am as'shin sath ,” she explained, a little awkwardly. “You have made me…” She waved a hand, searching for the right word, and slightly embarrassed that it eluded her.
    “Wrong?” Andreyis offered.
    The girl frowned. Then shrugged. “Perhaps,” she conceded. “Though it is yilen'eth. Indelicate.”
    “But accurate.”
    The girl rolled her eyes in exasperation. “You argue like my brother. What kind of a girl is Sashandra Lenayin?”
    Andreyis frowned. It seemed an odd question, from a serrin. “Most serrin seem to know all about her. You didn't know I was her friend, though you knew her friend was in this column. And you know nothing about her.”
    “And?” the girl challenged, eyebrows arched.
    “I'd heard serrin were curious.”
    The girl's eyes flashed. “I'd heard humans were arrogant. You seem to presume that my lack of interest in you or your friend is some kind of failing.”
    Andreyis found himself smiling, just a little. “You really do think we're barbarians, don't you?”
    “So?” she said, defensively. “You march halfway across Rhodia to attack Enora, you fight in the service of bloodthirsty murderers, and your culture seems to love nothing but war.”
    “And how much of Lenay culture do you know?” Andreyis retorted.
    “Deny to me that Lenays love war!”
    Andreyis shrugged. “I can't. But we also love music and dancing, and good food and family and weddings…you shouldn't judge a people so narrowly.”
    “When that narrowness threatens my people's very existence, I see no reason why not,” the girl snapped. “Your arm is fine, it should heal straight and you can take off the splints in another five days.” She got up. “ My people have a love of healing, even our enemies.”
    Andreyis sighed, and leaned his head back against the hay. “Thanks,” he murmured, and closed his eyes. “If you only knew how much I'd rather we fought with you than against you.”
    He opened his eyes to watch her walk away, but found instead that she was crouching once more, staring at him. She'd heard him. “Why don't you?” she asked him, faintly horrified. As though she simply did not understand.
    Andreyis felt very sad. “I don't know,” he murmured. “Perhaps we're barbarians.”
    The girl looked disgusted. And confused. And…she got up, and stood over him, looking very odd indeed.
    “What's your name?” Andreyis thought to ask.
    “Yshel,” said the girl.
    “I'm Andreyis.”
    Yshel stared a moment longer. Then shook her head in disbelief, and stalked off.

 
    A t midday the Lenay column paused at a lake. Sasha dismounted, removed her boots, and, barefoot, led her horse into the shallow water. As the gelding drank, she looked about at the shore. Upon the far bank, fields climbed a slope to a village on the crest. To the right and west, a stream meandered to the lake edge, framed by an old stone arch. To the left and east, virgin forest, lovely green and dappled shade.
    Men and horses joined her in the shallow water, hooves churning the shallows. Damon left his horse to another man, and stood on the lakeside talking with