Pustakawan and Vevie walked on one of the smaller roads that Pustakawan had previously drawn on his map. Pustakawan carried most of the bags and weight despite Vevie's protests.
"You can stop complaining," Pustakawan huffed, starting to become annoyed with all the noise that was affecting his mood. It made his voice sharper. "When you can take a step without wincing and get up and down off the ground without almost fainting, then I'll let you carry your fair share and your share of work. I'm not carrying everything because of what or who you are. You are injured and your body may not cope with much more, right now. I've seen some of your wounds and I saw how you've been treated. Honestly, most people would be happy about this kindness. Do you have some perverse enjoyment of pain?"
Vevie shut up. Having to sign the simple agreement in Pustakawan's book of contracts had already dampened her mood. Seriously, what person insisted on drawing up a formal contract when normal people would have been happy enough with a verbal agreement? He hadn't just mentioned their identities, he had also included their travel arrangements, although he had at least left it open ended, saying they would travel together 'until both parties agreed to go their own ways and end the contract'.
Anyway, Juta was right. Her body couldn't cope with much at the moment. When she was fighting fit, she was going to have a fight with the man, just to prove to him she wasn't a weakling princess. Unlike her younger sisters, she had enrolled in the army at a young age. Her parents had seemed to have been unable to bear anymore children after her for a long time and Velor having been a military country, the army was worried that they would not have a strong leader in the future.
Then her mother died and her step mother had given birth to many new heirs. Which led to her step-mother scheming against her, in order to remove her from contention for the throne. Vevie had had the army behind her, but when her brother had insulted the Bloodsuns and Warlord Engar had laid his eyes on her, it had been the end. Perhaps the insult and subsequent threat to her kingdom had all been her step-mother's plans. The Bloodsun army was too big and her father hadn't been given much of a choice.
It was all too depressing. Not worth thinking about right now.
She was a soldier and they hadn't travelled far, but she was already tired. Vevie wanted to cry with frustration, but soldiers, princess warriors like her, did not cry. Neither did they complain. They weren't supposed to show any weaknesses.
"Vevie," said a voice in her ear, making her jump. Hands on her shoulders guided her to a rocky outcrop. The hands seemed remarkably firm and gently insistent. "Come and sit."
"What? Why? We've hardly gotten anywhere," Vevie puffed, trying not to show how much just puffing hurt through the swelling in her face and bruises around her throat. Juta had probably been watching her while she'd been immersed in thought and concentrated on taking one step at a time.
"It's morning tea time," Juta said cheerfully, making a small sandwich and putting it in her hands. He only nibbled on a roadside leaf he'd picked, Vevie noticed, but couldn't be bothered pointing it out. She was too grateful for this opportunity to rest.
***
Pustakawan watched the woman bite into her sandwich with winces that sometimes spangled her eyes with unshed tears. Vevie was tough and didn't want to show him how weak she was. He could understand that. Even respect it, but it slowed their travel speed down and made things a lot harder for him. In order not to offend her too much, he was going to have to come up with all sorts of excuses for them to take a break and rest. Just breathing must be quite painful for her. It was a good thing they weren't in a hurry.
Pustakawan could empathise. There had been that time he was in prison and had been beaten within a finger tip of his life. Every breath had been like he was breathing fire and he'd barely been able to eat or drink because of how hard he'd been throttled. Every movement of the jaw had been like burned and swallowing had been like trying to swallow a mouthful of glass shards.
Vevie didn't need to worry he was showing her too much kindness. He only wished someone had done the same for him.
Pustakawan stalked the surrounding area while Vevie ate, sitting on that rocky outcrop. Perhaps there might be some wild vegetables or herbs he could forage. At some stage, he would have to go hunting and make more dried meat or something they could carry with them in their stores. See if he could find or make things to trade for flour and less perishable food. Vevie's bag of fresh food and bread wasn't going to last them long.
When he looked back, he saw Vevie swaying where she sat. It almost looked as if she were drunk. The bread fell from her hand and Pustakawan raced back just in time to soften her landing on the ground, protecting her head. Rolling her up in his bedroll, he carried her away from the road and made camp. After a bit of effort and fighting with the slightly damp wood to make a fire, Pustakawan went exploring in the surrounding area.
They needed a water source if possible and relative shelter. It looked like it might rain. Before it rained, Pustakawan itched to go hunting. He felt like eating fresh meat.
Shelter first. He didn't want Vevie to catch a cold. Falling ill in her condition would be miserable for both of them. Once camp was set in a sheltered area and they had enough firewood to last the night, then he could go hunting.