The middle of the square was quiet, with no sign of any people. In the center was a large stonewell with windlass, and spare buckets so that any could help themselves to the water. Thesquare was surrounded by buildings, all wooden and built snug next to its neighbor to fit withinthe stone walls. Of course, not all of the walls remained, some sections had been replaced withwooden palisades. But what should have been a village preparing for the evening meal wassilent. It was quiet except for some house swallows that were squabbling over somethingnearby.
Epor and Isdra were both on alert, weapons out and held high. Epor had his club, and Isdra hadher shield and sword. They kept me up against the gate, ready to get me out at the first sign oftrouble. But the silence continued, and no one appeared in the square.
"The scout said someone shot at him from the walls." Epor spoke softly. Isdra nodded, and Ilooked up. There were small battlements on both sides of the gate that were higher than thegate itself, with two wooden ladders leading up. "I'll go." Epor said.
I nodded. "I can check the—"
"No." Isdra interrupted me firmly. "You'll stay right here."
It was no more than a few steps to the ladder. Epor secured his club, and pulled a daggerbefore climbing up. He moved fast, choosing the one to our right first, and was standing up atthe top in but a moment. He knelt, disappearing from our view, then his head popped up again.
"There's a man up here with a bow, but I can't rouse him."
I took a step toward the ladder, but Isdra interfered. "No, Warprize. He'll bring him down tous."
I bit my lip in frustration, but Epor already had the man heaved up and on his shoulder. Wewatched as he carried him down and brought him to lay on the ground at my feet. I knelt andeased my parcels and basket down next to me. The man was older, his skin tan and weathered.
I
placed a hand on his forehead to find it cold and clammy.
: "He's sick."
Epor and Isdra had maintained their watch, focused out, observing the buildings for anymovement. "So, it's illness?" Isdra asked, without looking at me.
"One ill man doesn't make it so." Epor growled. "Let's wait a bit before we decide, eh? Let'scheck further."
"That house, the one with the shutters. It's close and it looks like it might be a—" I paused forthe right word. "A warleader's home."
Epor snorted at my use of the word, but he got the idea. "Come."
"But this man—"
"Leave him." Epor's tone was hard, and I understood that he wasn't giving me an option. Theymoved carefully, keeping me between them as we headed to the structure. Isdra rapped on thedoor with her pommel, even as Epor guarded our backs. When there was no response, shekicked the door in.
"Isdra…" I scolded.
"Sorry." She shrugged, then stepped through the wide-open door as I peered over hershoulder. It was a sitting room, with a hearth, and chairs. There were stairs up, and a back doorinto what appeared to be a kitchen. There was no outcry, no response as she strode across theroom and through the opposite door. I took a step, but Epor stopped me with a gesture.
Isdra reappeared immediately, with a grim look. "There's a dead woman on the floor. Nowounds." She moved to the stairs, and disappeared. I could hear her footsteps on the floorabove. She was back down in a moment. "A boy, dead in a bed."
Epor grunted. "Illness, as you said, Warprize." He was fussing with the cloth in his nose, tryingto get it to stay in place.
"I wish I'd been wrong."
He nodded his agreement, and stepped out of the building, back into the square. He put hishead back and warbled a long cry. That was the signal to let Keir know that it was indeedplague that we faced. As the cry ended, we heard a response from over the wall.
Epor turned back to me. "They understand. Joden asks what kind of illness."
I shook my head. "I don't know yet."
Epor warbled again, as Isdra joined me in the doorway. "Do you wish to look at the dead?" sheasked.
"In the morning. I'm more worried about the living." We hurried back across the square. Eporheaved the man into a sitting position as we gathered our parcels. "I need to get him in a bedand tend him." I looked up at the sky. "You two need to start checking the buildings before welose the light."
Epor frowned. "Where?"
"There's a shrine to the Goddess over in that corner, Epor." I stood, and gathered up myparcels. "I can use it as a healing house. I'll be fine there."
