The Wildlands (working title)

Chapter 8 - Tiya

The first thing Tiya noticed was the smell of smoke and roasted meat. Before opening her eyes, she imagined that she was in her caravan's camp surrounded by her people, or better yet that she was already in Marentra. Although the cold ground pushing against her back in all the wrong places ruined that illusion. She took a deep breath as she prepared herself to face her less than ideal reality. She opened her eyes and slowly sat up, stretching her back and her arms. Sigey was the only person she saw at their little makeshift campsite. He was sitting by the fire, roasting something at the end of a stick.

"I trust your night was more restful than mine, warrior," she said, her voice still a little raspy from sleep, but her tone sweet as always.

"It was... informative," Sigey muttered, perhaps more to himself than to Tiya. "Good morning, good chieftain."

"You haven't slept much, have you?"

"There will be more opportune times for sleep later."

Tiya shook her head with a slight smile. "Well, I appreciate your vigilance. What is it you're roasting?"

"I managed to catch a bird stuck in the redthorn bushes not far from here."

"That explains the scratches on your hands." As Tiya said these words she could already hear rustling... footsteps past the trees, and soon she spotted two figures approaching; the mercenary and the captive. Her mercenary. For now - she reminded herself.

"Stretching your legs?" Tiya asked the new arrivals. Well, she asked in Odzak, so she hardly expected this Imperial man to understand or answer her question.

"Sure..." Yala grumbled.

"I hope you treat your captive with as much respect as you'd like to receive if your places were reversed."

"What is it with you two lecturing people?" she let out an irritated sigh. "You," she gestured toward Tiya,"I understand. But you," she turned to Sigey now, "you're no chieftain, are you?"

Sigey shook his head, still focused on the small bird at the end of the stick.

"Where were you anyway?" Yala asked the warrior while she tied her captive to a tree, who startled babbling in Yashandi about how grateful he was, but fell silent as he was ignored.

"I went scouting again. Sadly, I saw no sign of janti survivors. But I did hear the Imperials talk. They're of no mind of leaving, at least not yet. They were planning to send out riders during the daylight to find people who had escaped."

There were a few moments of silence as Yala stood right next to Sigey, and just stared at him. Suddenly she kicked some dirt over the fire. "Then what the fuck are you doing roasting shit over the fire like an idiot?!"

"We'll need the energy. A few bites of meat is better than nothing." Sigey looked at Tiya and gave a little bow, "if it's alright, good madam, I would like to join you on your journey and offer my protection."

Tiya sent him a subtle smile. "And what about the villagers of Barigbal?"

"There's not much I can do for them alone, especially with the Imperials still here."

"I understand... Then I accept your offer, and look forward to traveling with you."

"Yes, yes, very nice and cute..." Yala interrupted. She had already tied the captive's rope to her saddle and had the reins in her hand. "I don't care who's coming, but we gotta go now. Before they notice the smoke coming from your little kitchen setup," she spat the words in Sigey's direction, then began to turn her horse around.

"Good madam, I was being careful," the tall man gestured toward the flames.

"I noticed it..." was all the reply Yala graced them with before disappearing behind the trees.