"I am so glad you are getting better, Tess," said Vera, taking another corner.
Tess smiled vaguely, not trusting her, but Vera looked and sounded sincere enough. Perhaps the shock of almost losing her husband would make her appreciate him more. Varia Telyegin was the fourth, and with Niko trailing meekly behind, they carried her on the blanket through a suddenly empty camp and installed her in what seemed glorious comfort in the outer room of Arina's great tent. The three older women left, leaving Yeliana to tuck pillows behind Tess and arrange her suitably while Niko watched.
"How did you get here?" Tess demanded.
Yeliana glanced up at Niko, then back at Tess. "I ran away. If you could ride with the men, then why shouldn't I do what Vladimir did and go to Bakhalo's jahar-ledest and train? And gain a place for myself in a jahar?''
"How did you come here then?"
"I found the-I found Sibirin, and I rode back here with Vladi. And-" She paled, looking almost scared. "She who was Mother Veselov had just died, and-well, Arina Veselov has only the one brother, and he is married into the Charnov kin, so she hadn't anybody to-" She faltered. When she spoke again her voice had dropped to the barest whisper. "She gifted me her tent, Tess. The one she had when her mother was alive. She says I am to be her sister." Yeliana put a hand to her cheek and wiped away tears. "She trusts me, that I will not break this bond. Even after I broke service with the gods and ran away from the shrine."
"And will you break the bond? To go and train?"
"Never!" She rose and turned to survey Niko, a slight, passionate girl arrayed with an adolescent's fierce loyalty. He smiled at her. "Sibirin. I cannot ask so much of my sister yet, but if in a year, when she is married and perhaps things are more settled, might I ask her about Vladimir? If he is my brother, then wouldn't he be welcome in my tent?"
"Yeliana, I cannot answer that question. I am not an Elder in this tribe, and in any case, Vladimir has a duty to his dyan. And, perhaps, an interest in a girl in the Orzhekov tribe."
"But what woman would want an orphan for a husband?" Yeliana asked.
"If he has made a place for himself, and hers is secure enough, then any woman, I think, who cares for such a man might allow him to mark her. Vladi cannot just mark whom he wishes, after all. Her brothers might well kill him for his trouble."
"Oh," said Yeliana, looking quite as young as she was.
"Yeliana," said Tess. "Could you leave us for a moment?" Yeliana nodded and hurried out. "Niko, why would Arina take her in?''
"Tess, Arina's position is not exactly strong. You must understand that. She is young and unmarried, and she also must contend with a cousin who is, may I say, the kind of relation with whom one's best dealings are done from a position of strength. As etsana, Arina has every right to gift Yeliana into the tribe, as Irena Orzhekov did with you, though many will consider such a gifting rash. As well it might be. But Vera is not well liked, and her only other relation is her father. And her husband, of course. I do not count Vasil because he is no longer welcome here. So Arina has gotten herself another pair of hands, one, incidentally, that will be utterly and personally loyal to her. Don't think Yeliana's life will be easy, though I don't think it will be harsh either."
' 'When is Arina going to marry?'' Tess could not keep a certain roughness from her voice. "Soon, I suppose."
"That, my girl, is none of our business. Do you understand me?''
"Yes, Niko," she said meekly. "When can I walk?"
"You can walk when I say you can and not sooner. But I think you will find your confinement less irksome here. By the way, Tess, I would not let anyone know about the Avenue. Yeliana has been spoken to, as have Konstans and Kirill and Vladi. Arina knows because she must. Otherwise, we won't speak of it until Ilya returns."
"What about Tasha?"
"Tasha does not need warning."
"Why must it be a secret? Are you ashamed?"
Niko laughed. "Ah, I'm beginning to hear that refreshingly brutal tone in your voice again. You must be getting better. We will wait for Ilya's return."
It was all he would say.
The days began to have a certain pattern to them. She was allowed to sit for longer periods of time each day, and while she was awake, there was always someone to sit with her: Yeliana most of all, Arina when she could, other young women; even, surprisingly often, Vera. Tess was forced to admit that Vera could be good company when she chose to be, and for whatever reason, Vera chose to entertain Tess. Occasionally Vladi was allowed into the tent in Yeliana's company, but he rarely had anything to say. Anton Veselov had ridden with Bakhtiian to the coast. Niko was the only other man she saw, until at last, seven days later, the damp weather ceased and she was moved out under the awning, where she was permitted to receive visitors.
Tasha came by, and Petya, and Vladi, and Konstans, and two young riders she did not know very well, who had been with them in the battle. Finally Kirill came by. Arina, seeing who it was, excused herself and reminded Yeliana that there was work to be done elsewhere.
Kirill sat down beside her. He glanced at her sidewise and blushed. "You are looking much better, Tess."
"How is your arm, Kirill?"
He shrugged, but the gesture was awkward and unbalanced. "I have a little movement in my shoulder again but I can feel nothing at all in my right arm. If I could not see it there with my eyes, I would think I had lost it. Niko says perhaps in time it will heal.''
"You must exercise it. Keep moving it."
He glanced at her again, the briefest touch, and looked away. "Over fifty young men have ridden in to camp here over the last eighteen days. Already they speak of Bakhtiian's great ride beginning next spring. Twelve rode in this morning from Bakhalo's jahar-ledest, and they say that Bakhalo himself may bring the rest here. It's good land with enough water and forage and close to khaja lands. So," he paused, looking down at his hands, the picture of modesty, "all these young riders need someone to teach them. And I can't fight."
"Oh, Kirill, I'm sorry."
He lifted his gaze to look directly at her for an impetuous moment, and then wrenched his gaze away. Silence stretched out between them. At last, in a whisper, he spoke. "All I ever wanted was to be a rider. It would have been better if I'd died."
She felt herself pale with fear. She grabbed his good hand. "Never say that, Kirill. Never!"
"We are in camp, Tess. Everyone can see us. I have my reputation to think of. Forgive me."
"There is nothing to be forgiven," she said, but her voice shook and she let go of his hand. "So you will train them." They spoke on in this fashion until the subject was exhausted, and even then Kirill lingered, and they discussed whether Yeliana might teach her to spin so that she might have something to do with her hands. Niko arrived finally and chased Kirill off.
"You must be circumspect in your dealings with unmarried men," he said mildly, watching Kirill walk away.
"I think I'll ask Arina if she has any mending I can do," said Tess, ignoring his rebuke. "When do I get to walk?"
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow!"
"Yes. I think twenty days is time enough. If you are not healed inside now, then-well, let me say that differently. I think resting has achieved as much as it can. Now we must work you again."
"Oh, Niko, how kind you are."
"One can only be as kind as one is willing to be ruthless."
"Oh, God." She pressed her hands over her eyes and wiped hard along her cheeks. "That's exactly the kind of thing Yuri always said. I miss him so much."
He knelt beside her and rested a hand on her hair. "As do we all, my child. Juli and I had six children, and three of them died very young. But I carry all of them in my heart, and I always will."
Tess sighed and rested her head against his chest. They sat that way for some time.