Witch Song (Witch Song #1)

Chapter 32

32. KEEPERS

 Woodenly, Senna put one foot in front of the other. She had a feeling Reden had put her at the front of the line so he could keep an eye on her. She couldn't fathom why. She was filthy, hungry and had needed to empty her bladder for hours. But after two days of marching with the Tarten army, she'd learned there would be no stopping until the evening meal. It was hard to judge in the rain, but she was sure supper had come and gone and Reden showed no signs of stopping. Yet.

 It had taken less than an hour for Reden's soldiers to round up the fleeing Witches. Other than bruises and one turned ankle, all of them had returned intact. Even Arianis. At least Joshen and Desni hadn't been among them. More soldiers had set off in search of them. Senna missed Joshen fiercely. She hoped he wasn't caught.

Senna glanced back and saw Tiena stumble and nearly go down. She looked pale and weak. Some of the other Witches didn't look much better. Apparently, recovery from their imprisonment wouldn't come all at once. "Weden!" she shouted through the damp gag. Either he didn't hear her, or he chose not to respond.

Her anger flaring, Senna planted both her feet. Chavis plowed into her from behind and then grunted as Coyel ran into her. With grunts and scrambling, the whole line of Witches came to a shuddering stop. Immediately, her guards trained their muskets on her. Giving both men an angry glare, she mumbled, "I'll not go 'anover wep until I weap to Weden."

"General!" one of her guards shouted.

Reden surveyed the situation before pivoting his horse and coming back to them. "What is it, Paner?"

"This prisoner refuses to go any farther," he said with a heavy accent.

Reden cocked a single eyebrow. "Is this true?" "Wake out the wag," Senna managed.

Amused, he nodded to Paner. After the gag was out, Senna worked her jaw, enjoying the ability to close her mouth and have wet cloth away from her skin. "Well?" he prodded.

"We're hungry, tired and desperately need to relieve ourselves."

Reden flipped his reins in irritation. "We're an army. Not a caravan. I want to reach Carpel in two days. That means we have to push ourselves. You'll survive until I say we stop." He began to turn his horse around.

"Reden!" Senna shouted. "You promised us fair treatment—we are women! Some of us old! Where's your honor?"

He whirled around and fixed her with a fierce stare. Senna knew she'd gone too far. But she refused to take any of it back, or cower in fear—by the Creators, she was done cowering! She raised her head higher and squared her shoulders. Something in Reden changed at the sight. The harsh lines around his mouth and eyes melted away and a chuckle surfaced. "Very well, Witch. Go relieve yourself. It means another night sleeping on the ground for all of us, but we'll make camp here." He brought a stern finger to bear on her, "But in exchange, you must give me something."

Senna stiffened with sudden dread. "And what is that?"

He tipped his head to the side. "Answers."

She remembered Coyel's warning at the circle. "There are many things I'll not tell you."

Reden leaned forward. "I promise, your craft secrets are safe."

Senna looked back at the other Witches. Directly behind her, all the Heads but Prenny nodded. Prenny's shoulders were drooped, but she still managed to look fierce. "I 'an mar' all nigh'."

Senna shook her head; she was past finding Prenny's stubbornness annoying. The woman was like a hive of angry bees. To Reden, she said, "All right, but we want to bathe as well. And a chance to wash our clothes," she added as an afterthought.