Isdra accepted kavage as well, and settled down on the floor not far from the child. Shearranged her weapons at her side, close at hand. They had raided the nearby homes forsupplies, so instead of the rations that we'd brought, there were two chickens on the spit, abroth simmering on the hearth, and bread and cheese. The well had provided the water, therewas plenty of wood out back and they found bedding and blankets for all. Epor had even carriedin another bed for the healer. It was cramped quarters, but it would serve for tonight. Theyhadn't been able to catch the one man, and Epor was determined that he and Isdra would standwatch through the night.
Epor settled by the fire opposite Isdra, arranging his weapons close at hand, too. He lookedtired, and I had to admit that I was feeling worn myself. He was reaching for water to wash withwhen I spoke. "Did you cry out to the others, Epor?"
He looked up at me, his eyes wide, then laughed. "We would say 'signaled', Warprize. Aye, Idid, gave the 'All's well' cry." Epor moved an empty bucket between himself and Isdra, andpoured the water for us to wash.
"Who replied?" I tried not to look like I cared about the answer.
But nothing got past those two. Isdra flicked a glance at Epor, but his gaze stayed on my facewith a knowing look. "Joden."
I said nothing, just settled down with them. We washed, and they pulled their masks down justenough to be able to eat. I removed the pads from my mouth as Isdra reached for the chickens.
Epor broke off a chunk of bread and handed it to me. "The others?"
"Sleeping." I looked about the room at the quiet figures around us.
"Do you know the enemy yet?" Isdra had a chicken leg and was tearing into it as she passedme part of the bird.
"No." I bit into the warm meat. The old woman had broken down after she revealed that shewas the healer. I'd managed to get her on to a pallet and calmed to the point that she'd fallenasleep. I'd save my questions for the morning. She'd mentioned the Sweat, but the symptomsthat I was seeing were nothing that I'd ever heard of. Tomorrow I'd go to her home and seewhat she'd been using, and take any supplies that I could.
I'd taken to calling the man that we'd found on the wall 'Archer'. He was so deeply unconsciousI hadn't been able to get him to swallow any liquids. I'd settled for scraping a small amount offever's foe on the roof of his mouth, hoping that it would melt down his throat. His breathingwas rough, but there was no cough and the fever seemed to have vanished.
Thankfully the babe glowed with health. Isdra was smiling at the sleeping child as she ate. Eporpassed me more food and urged me to eat. We sat quietly, eating and enjoying the peace of themoment.
After we'd picked the bones clean, Epor settled back, and gave a quiet belch. Isdra pouredmore kavage. I drank some of the bitter liquid before I spoke. "Tomorrow, I want to go to thehealer's home, Epor. She will have supplies that I will need."
"We must also start to deal with the dead or the filth of this place will overwhelm us." Eporresponded.
Isdra wrinkled her nose. "It already does. I have seen enough that I will never live in a tent ofstone. Dirt and mouse droppings in every corner." She waved her hand for emphasis. "A tentyou can clean, shake free and be off. How can you think to keep a 'house' clean?"
Epor chuckled, but I admonished her. "Isdra, they have been sick. Maybe they haven't beenable to clean."
Isdra shrugged. "Still, Warprize."
"Warprize, you give your dead back to the earth, yes?"
I turned toward Epor. "Yes, we bury our dead. What is your tradition?"
"We give ourselves back to the elements, as do all. Some by fire, earth or air. It is rare to giveto the waters, but it is done. Each according to their preference."
"Air?" I tried to imagine how that would work and failed.
"The body is lifted on a platform, left naked to the sky. Over time, the platform decays, andfalls to the ground, usu-ally pulled down by the snows." Isdra gave me a look when I tried notto show my disgust. "Cleaner than giving back to the earth. But if earth is your custom, we willfollow it."
"I suppose." I responded politely. "Epor, you and Isdra alone can't bury the bodies. From whatyou say, there are too many."
"We can start. A shame we can't let the army know to dig for us. But none of the cries aredesigned to carry that message."
"We can't risk exposing them."
Epor shrugged. "We will do what must be done. We can use fire as well, if we can find a clearclean place to build a pyre. Fire is my preference. We will finish our search tomorrow, thenstart on the dead." Epor drained his kavage. "You will stay in here, with them?"
"Yes." I finished mine as well. "I will tend them through the night, catch sleep when I can."
"Then I will take first watch. Isdra—"
"Needs a bath." Isdra stood, securing her weapons. "There is a well and buckets and I amgoing to bathe."
Epor laughed softly. "As you say." He stood. "I will watch… to keep you safe."
