Thoughtful Thursday 5

Now for some more of Kiera’s adventures.

Since she and Jace are still on the road, it was Kiera’s turn to learn a little about the people she would be traveling with. Wouldn’t you want to know before you met them? I would.

So…
more of:

The Ciaran.

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The pace was slow enough that Lian never lathered, and so a quick bite of grass for the horses while the riders ate dried meat and bread at mid-day seemed plenty for them all. They pressed through until dark, found a campsite and settled down in much the same way as they had the previous night.

Kiera asked more about the mob as they ate what they could put together for an evening meal and let the horses rest. “Gregor is the butcher? How can one learn the butcher trade and not be beholden to a Craft Master?” It was a little prying but a question she had pondered over often during the slow travel of the day.

“He’s one of our younger lads. A fair hand with a knife, he is even better with his curing recipes. At least, he’s been traveling with me for over a year now and we’ve never had any cured meat go bad.” Jace shook his head. “He was apprenticed over in Imer, but his master died. None of the others were willing to take him on – he may infect them all, it was said.” This time the man shrugged. “He was living hand to mouth when I met him, trying to make the forest into a home.”

Kiera shuddered at the thought. The forest was all right as a temporary shelter, much like they were using it now during travels. But once winter came, and the winds blew chill, there was nowhere one could get warm. The bears and wolves den in any caves, the trees rock and bend behind the gusts, and the creeks dried up or froze over. “I am glad you found him.”

“He found me.” Jace chuckled and pulled out a small pipe. Tapping the bowl with a little tobacco he had kept in a pouch around his neck, he shook his head again. “We were passing through, and he stepped into our campsite, bold as you please.”

“The way you did last night?” Kiera laughed.

“Just so!” Jace laughed back. “Except I had a good chance I knew who you were. He knew no one. And he stepped, virtually unarmed, into a camp full of men. We could have been thieves. But I suppose he thought better to live or die with thieves than alone in the forest.” He took a brand from the fire, held it to the pipe and puffed until it caught. “Lucky for him and for us, we were not thieves. I expect the Craft Masters think we are worse.”

Kiera was surprised. “Then they know about you?”

Jace nodded. “They know. Some places we come to we are asked to leave without so much as a drink, a bite or a bath. But there are always those who come to our camps right outside the gates, knowing we will do for them what no other can – or at least charge a better price for it.”

Kiera considered his words. “It might be different with me. The hall sees me as dangerous, as if I caused the disease, not just survived it.”

Jace shook his head. “It’s all the same to us. If any Craft Master gives us a difficult time about one of our own, we know then we chose right in letting them travel with us. Matter of fact, it may be best for you if the hall does try and make you leave when we get to Elura. That will seal you belong with us.”

Kiera laughed again, feeling a little uneasy. What sort of men where these that were so willing to boast about flouting the current order? And did she really want to be a part of it? She studied Jace across the fire, his dark eyes glittering in the flame. He seemed much the same as the older brother who teased her, but much was different. She would have to wait to decide.

The next morning they set out before breakfast, although Jace insisted on a cup of coffee. They were still over a day’s ride to Elura and he wanted them to reach his home base. “We have been here about two fortnights now. We have our own bathhouse set up. You will love the hot water we can pump into the tub. I don’t know how Kulain made it happen, but he did.”

“Another miracle worker cast out by his hall?” Kiera asked. Her voice was quiet as she saddled Lian.

“Nope, this one walked away from his Hall. He said there had to be a way to mend the old ways with the new.” Jace smirked. “Dangerous sentiment, I am sure you can see, but one we don’t mind having about.”

“It sounds to me like you are starting a new hall. All skills welcome, but innovation a necessity.” Kiera cocked her head to one side. “Have you ever thought of cross training them? Perhaps a whole hall of multiple skills will be valuable no matter where you go.”

“Advertise us as Masters of all trades?” Jace sipped at his coffee. “That is intriguing. I don’t see how anyone of us can become skilled at everything, there just isn’t the time.”

“Well, no. I don’t think it is possible to become skilled at all things, but what if the carpenter trained with you on repairing wagons, and in return he could train you on the skills necessary to repair tables. They are similar, and you expand both of your skill sets.” Kiera sighed and looked down into her dark cup. “It is clear having a second skill may save my life. Once cursed, it is unlikely I will work as a midwife ever again.”

“Just wait for the next war, or plague.” Jace tried to sound encouraging. “No one with healing skills goes long without work. Right now, between hardships, people have room for superstition. You will see.”

Kiera smiled. “I suppose that is true. At our leisure we can discriminate but in emergencies we take advantage of what is available.” She drained her cup. “How much further is it to your camp? I know Elura is always described as two day’s hard ride from Nykos, but I realize I just have no idea how far that is in actual time or distance.”

Jace took a long drink, not wanting to hurry the soothing feeling of warmth as it passed down his throat, but also realizing they still had a long way to go. “It did take me about two days to find you, but we are traveling much slower, being sure not to lather the horses. I would say probably one more night out, then about half the day to arrive. I am sorry, if you want a hot bath we would have to ride harder.”

“It is all right.” Kiera stood and shook the coffee grounds out of her cup. “I would rather Lian have an easy time, unless you have pressing business.”

“There is nothing pressing.” Jace shook his head, finished his coffee with a sigh and stood as well. “We are set for at least another fortnight. Several projects have come out to us, and so far the soldiers are willing for us to squat outside the town walls. When we finish our work for them, I fear we will be asked to move on, but so far there is plenty of leather work they are waiting for.”

“You have a tanner as well?” Kiera paused and looked at him.

“Did I forget to mention?” Jace’s smile showed it had been an intentional error. “Her name is Kaitlin.”

Kiera stared, and then smacked him on the arm. “You dog! Here I’ve been feeling sorry for you, and the loss of Rae. How long have you two been together?”

Jace rubbed the shoulder ruefully. “Not really together. She’s just come of age recently. Her father was a tanner, it’s where she learned her hand at it, but being a woman no hall would have her. When her father died in the plague, she dressed as a boy to try and get accepted as an apprentice. We happened upon her just as she was to be flogged for impersonation.”

“They were going to flog her?” Kiera was still blinking, trying to take the information in.

“Aye, it seems Cavagh was not tolerant of change. Short of hands, they still were unwilling to let a talented woman in a man’s field.” Jace shrugged.

“I wonder where Ronar came from – he said something about where he was from it took a man to get the flavors from the food.” Kiera mused out loud.

“It could be Cavagh. They seem to prefer their women home and pregnant.” Jace laughed. “Needless to say, that is not how Kaitlin prefers it to be. We find her refreshing, and she travels under my safe conduct.”

Kiera felt her back stiffen. “Is that what we have come to, women must have passes to travel? Are you my safe conduct as well?”

“Easy!” Jace held his hand out as if to calm her, and then drew it back. “I just meant around Cavagh. Better to do as the locals want then risk a torch thrown at our wagons.” He sighed. “A lot has changed since our mothers’ time, Kiera. We grew up with stories of women in power, but it has been well a generation that has grown up differently.”

She sighed and mounted her pony. “Perhaps the Lady is angry with us, for the way we treat Her people, Her land and Her knowledge.” It was her turn to shake her head. “Perhaps it is time to return to the old ways, when we were all partners and equal to the tasks at hand.”

“I won’t argue with you.” Jace answered cheerfully. “Even if the old religion is passed, I prefer a woman to walk beside me – or ride,” he grinned and hoped it helped her find her smile. “I see no reason to keep her from doing her fair share.”

It worked. Kiera laughed at his lazy attitude, shook her head and rode on. There was nothing else to be said, for now.