Page 127 of Sun Warrior

Nik collected himself and nodded. “Yes, and more, smaller boats, too. We call them kayaks. I… I don’t like to think about stealing from the Tribe, though. There is just no honor in it.”

“Then let’s not steal the boats. Let’s trade for them,” Mari said.

“What?” Nik said, though he sat up straighter, his eyes lighting.

“I have an idea.” Mari looked to Sora. “When I was in the Tribe, I saw how much the people value beauty and art. Is there any way we could repair the tapestry of the Great Mother over the next few days?”

“We could. I know we could,” Sora said. “That’s a wonderful idea, Mari!”

“Wait, what?” Nik said.

“I saw the beauty in your City in the Trees,” Mari said. “Well, we have beauty here, too. You’ll see, Nik. And I assure you, the tapestry our women will leave in place of the boats will make it clear you didn’t steal anything.”

“I can live with that,” Nik said. “So, it’s decided. We’ll travel down the Umbria River to Lost Lake, and from there we’ll go through the Rocky Mountains to the Plains of the Wind Riders.”

“Dawn, six days from now,” O’Bryan said.

“In six days.” Mari nodded her head. She turned to Antreas. “What else do we need to do?”

“Everyone takes only what they, or their canine, can carry. We’ll need those cocoons you Tribesmen use when you’re traveling. Sometimes we can tie together and stay on the river all night. That’ll be a good night. Most times we’ll have to beach and find somewhere to sleep. And that somewhere needs to be up, away from bugs.”

“Mari, can the women weave large rectangles of strong plant fibers into cloth-sized cloaks?” Nik asked.

“Yes, no problem. Right, Jenna?” Mari said.

“Right. I’m on it, Mari,” Jenna said. “Easily done.”

“Lydia and Sarah can help braid rope and can show some of the others how to put the cloaks together to make our traveling cocoons,” Nik said.

“Good idea,” Antreas said.

“We’ll need some kind of pack we can use to strap on the canines,” O’Bryan said. “That’ll increase our supply load substantially.”

“We can do that,” Jenna said.

“Impressive,” O’Bryan said.

“Basically,” Sora said with a quirk of her full lips, “if you can describe it, our women can weave it.”

“Then weave some floating packs, too!” O’Bryan said. “Those boats are small. It’ll help if we can float supplies beside them.”

“But we have to be able to carry the supplies. Don’t make the mistake of getting bogged down by too much stuff,” Antreas said.

The small group nodded and studied the map.

“So, five days to do all this, huh?” Sora said.

“Five days, then we leave,” Mari said. “Let’s get to work.” As everyone started to head to the door, Mari took Nik’s hand, holding him back. “Let’s talk.”

He waited until everyone else had moved outside earshot. “Sounds serious.”

Mari raised her brow. “Of course it’s serious. Nik, if we’re leaving at dawn, six days from now, when do you think you’re going back to the Tribe to get the Mother Plant?”

“In four days I’m going to sneak into the Tribe, harvest a young Mother Plant or two, and then return here to you in time to leave at dawn on the sixth day.”

“But you know Sora said you wouldn’t be healed yet. You promised.”

Nik threaded his fingers with hers and she reluctantly came with him to a pallet close to the hearth fire. “Here, sit with me.” He waited for her to sit, her face turned from him, and then, still holding her hand, said, “Mari, don’t do this. I know you’re worried for me. I’m worried, too. I don’t want to go back—not to steal a sacred plant, not like a thief in the night! But we must leave this place quickly. Whatwould you have me do? Wait? Tell Antreas to push back our departure? And if that one or two or three days cause us to get trapped in the pass?”