It had been that way from the start. Nando tried to lead when she was supposed to be in charge. Of course, she had never been in charge of an expedition in her life, and Nando knew that she was a newly anointed Shama. That along with him being several years older made it a lopsided battle. She did not tell them their destination because it was the only thing that affirmed her leadership. As soon as Nando knew, then he would try to take over. Overall, her expedition was a lesson in quickly mounting irritation.
Then there was the silent communication between the men.
They could go for hours without speaking. Ironhide would raise an eyebrow ever so slightly at something she said, which sent Nando into sputters of laughter. Other times Nando would give the older man a narrow-eyed glance, which she figured out meant he was exasperated with her. A jerk of the thumb meant they needed to confer privately. They had a hundred variations of signals or facial movements that spoke without either saying a word. All considered, it was annoying to be on the outside of their silent world. It would have been nice to have someone on the trek with whom she could relate.
The fool tosses coins into the sea and expects fish for supper. The thought was so clear she could almost hear Mistress Ayna's voice. It was true. Wishing for something that wasn't going to happen was pointless. She tried to focus on the task at hand.
At the foothills of the Dragonspine she was to take the path to a refuge city called Asfrior, where she would find safety until Ayna came for her. She did not know the people, or how long she would stay. Not the best of guidelines, but no one said being a Shama was easy. That was the last thing Ayna told her.
They had not seen many other travelers since they left Halladen. Her guides blazed a trail known only to their kind and avoided strangers as much as possible. The Mandru castes were fiercely territorial and did not take lightly to travelers crossing their borders without permission. Many other dangerous types wandered the Steppes as well. Lawbreakers often chose to brave the wrath of the Mandru rather than those who hunted them. Yet she had seen other travelers only at a far distance, and it looked almost as though they'd reach the Dragonspine Mountains without seeing another soul.
That changed on the fifth day of the journey.
Ironhide was speaking about the siege of Letega when he suddenly stiffened.
"Hold."
Nyori pulled Lively to a stop. Miles of faded grassland stirred in the cool northern breeze. A large herd of massive, shaggy-haired wisents grazed a mile or so off, peppering the landscape as far as the eye could see. Nothing else was visible.
Nando materialized from the midst of the tall grasses, startling Lively, who reared and almost threw Nyori from the saddle. She glared at him as she calmed the mare, but for once he did not take the time for a smirk or wry comment. Ignoring her as usual, he spoke to Ironhide.
"There's a band of travelers up ahead. A mix of Outlanders, maybe mercenaries or marauders. They're armed and look like they can handle themselves."
Nyori looked around. "What are you talking about? We can see for miles in any direction."
Nando gave her an irritated glance that made her cheeks flush angrily. "We're actually above them, Shama. Everything here looks flat to the untrained eye, but those of us with experience know better."
It was true. The Steppes had low hills, but they were cunningly woven into the landscape to go unnoticed until one practically fell down them. The flush in her cheeks changed to embarrassment, but she was not going to let Nando take the reins from her again. She closed her eyes, focused her mind and expanded her senses.
The slight breeze became a rushing torrent in her ears, the swaying grasses clacked together like hollow reeds. She smelled the broken earth on the hooves of her horse, the oil on Ironhide's skin, and…smoke in the distance. The strangers had just started a fire.
She dropped from her saddle. "You're right. Just over there." She pointed, savoring the surprise on Nando's face. "Let's take a look, shall we?"
"Stay close and do as we do," Ironhide said.
Crouching low, he led the way. Nyori hitched up her skirts and followed, trying to match their stealth. She didn't think she did a good job. When Ironhide dropped even lower and shuffled on his knees and elbows, she did the same, trying not to think of the stains she was grinding into the fabric of her dress.
They stopped at the brink of the hill overlooking more grassland where a small band of armed men had erected a camp. Nando crept up beside her and peered with interest. There was no sense of uneasiness from either man. That made her feel better. Men actually could be a decent source of comfort, at the right time.
"It will take a long detour to circle around them," Ironhide said. "Besides this hill, there is no other way to escape detection."
Nando grunted. "I say we go to their camp. I don't hide from anyone. If they want to start trouble, we can give them more than they can handle."
Nyori rolled her eyes, and Ironhide smiled wryly. "Ah, the invincibility of youth. It has been too long since arrows bounced off my chest and I could shatter steel with my bare hands."
Nando glowered.
Nyori felt a chill as though dunked into a vat of ice water. The harbinger, it was called. To a trained Shama it was an indicator that something significant was about to occur.
One of the men stepped forward, shielding his eyes from the sun.
"Look," she said.
The man wore loose-fitting folds of faded greens and browns, and the black scarf wound around his head hung to his shoulders. He stood apart from the camp with his arms crossed, gazing in their direction.
Nando stared incredulously. "How can he see us?"
"He can't," Ironhide whispered.
"Well, he definitely knows something." Nyori stood up, producing startled exclamations from the men. It would have been more satisfying had her heart not tried to pound out of her chest. The camp below stirred as they noticed her solitary figure.
She brushed her clothes off the best she could. "I sense no threat from this man. I will meet with him." She started down the slope, followed closely by Ironhide. Nando trailed, muttering under his breath. His words didn't sound complimentary.
The man waiting for them struck her interest immediately. He was medium in build and height, yet carried strength across his shoulders, and a presence in his eyes made him seem larger. His skin was dark, his face squared and strong, his beard neatly trimmed. She had seen foreigners like him come to Halladen before, travelers from Jangala and beyond the Sea of Sand. Tales of exotic strangers and towering pyramids sprung to her mind as she met his steady gaze.
"Sholom, young sister." He bowed courteously with his palms pressed together. Sunlight glinted off the copper bands encircling his wrists. "My name is Rhanu'bis. To friends I am Rhanu. It pleases me that you have come down to introduce yourself. I was trying to decide whether to risk sending one of my men to flush you out, or simply to shoot arrows into your hiding place."
Nando growled deep in his chest. Rhanu glanced at him, and something flickered in his gaze. It was not recognition, but she felt as though awareness had occurred, something that went beyond words.
Rhanu returned his gaze to her. "I do not mean to offend. But these are strange times, and we are not many. When I detected what seemed to be spies, I had to think about those with me."
"You didn't see us," Ironhide said. "It is impossible from here. How did you know we were there?"
Rhanu just smiled.
"All of that is beside the point," Nyori said. "I am Nyori Sharlin, a Shama from the Northern Steppes."
Nando grunted but fortunately held his tongue. Nyori pretended not to notice. "Ironhide and Nando are my escorts. We mean no harm, and simply seek safe passage on our way east."