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“That water’s for everybody,” she said. “Leave it here.”
“Don’t see how you can take it from us,” one of them said in a matter-of-fact voice.
“I can make you drop it,” she said. “And then everybody loses.”
“Don’t think you can even do that,” he said.
He’d barely uttered the last word before she dove at him, ramming her head into his stomach with such force that he fell over backward. He hit the rocky ground so heavily that his bones crunched and the cask splintered, spewing water everywhere. He cried out in pain, clutching his head, but he didn’t try to get up. Jayla spun away from him, already in a half-crouch, to face his friends.
“What about you two?” she said. “Want to waste the water?”
They’d hastily set down their burdens and began circling her, their faces creasing with anger. She could see they both had blades in their belts, but they hadn’t drawn weapons yet, probably figuring they could crush her easily enough with their bare hands. She didn’t think either one was paying much attention to the way the spilled water was seeping into the spare ground, making a slick spot of mud over the hard surface of stone.
“This is none of your mix,” one of them said.
“It’s everybody’s mix,” she answered. “We’re all trapped here.”
That was enough conversation for them. They lunged for her, moving in concert, but they weren’t trained soldiers, so they just got in each other’s way. One of the blows meant for her landed on the other man instead, and there was a bellow of pain. Jayla spun around and got two good kicks on each of them, one in the kidneys, one in the knees. Each man staggered in first one direction, then the other, and the beefiest of the two stayed half-bent over, trying to regain his balance. Jayla snaked her foot around his ankle, and he went down hard. The third man came boring in, slashing at her with thick, heavy hands; she felt the impact on her right cheek and upper arm. But she danced backward, luring him after her until he was in just the right spot. Then she spun again, came around behind him, and kicked him in the back of his legs. Overbalancing in the mud, he landed face-first on the unforgiving ground.
The second man was up on his hands and knees, but cautiously, as if testing to see whether anything was broken. Big men weren’t used to falling, Jayla had always thought; they were accustomed to winning contests just by strength and size, and being on the ground caused them deep disorientation. If this had been a desperate fight, she would have taken advantage of his loss of focus to leap on his back and crack a few ribs, maybe even twist his neck. But this was just a skirmish. A warning.Back off. Play fair.
A movement on the periphery of her vision caused her to swing in that direction, but it was just Cody snagging one of the water barrels. A quick glance around showed her that he must have already rescued the first one, because it was nowhere nearby. He caught her eye and grinned as he heaved the barrel to his shoulder, and for the life of her she couldn’t resist grinning back.
He’d made no move to come to her aid. She couldn’t remember the last time any man had paid her such a high compliment.
The third assailant had scrambled to his feet, but he didn’t immediately advance on Jayla again. She saw him glance around and note the absence of the barrels. His gaze went to the people in line, all of them staring at him and his friends, some in stupefaction, some in anger. His attention came back to Jayla, and his expression was dark, but in it she could also read some of a merchant’s cold calculation.No payoff in continuing this brawl.His mouth twisted and he took a couple of careful steps forward to prod one of his partners with his foot.
“Enough,” he said brusquely.
His friend took a deep breath and nodded, pushing himself upright. The third man had come to a sitting position, his hand still pressed to his head. Jayla saw blood running down his temple. The other two helped him up, and they lumbered off without another word or a backward glance.
Jayla watched them go, then turned around to see if any other kind of trouble might be brewing. But the few people who remained in line were mostly just watching her, and none of them looked inclined to mayhem. She nodded curtly and settled her hands on her belt, adopting the pose of someone waiting and watching. In another ten minutes, the final water cask was empty, the last bundle of dried meat had been handed over, and all the travelers had returned to their individual campsites.
Pietro smiled as Jayla strolled up to the table. “That was impressive,” he said. “I can’t imagine we’ll have any trouble at all tomorrow if you just stand around looking murderous.”
Cody pushed his curls off his forehead. He’d been hauling heavy burdens all day; she figured he had to be tired, though his eyes still showed a roving curiosity. “Unless those louts go looking for Jayla in the middle of the night.”
She shrugged. “I read them as opportunists, not criminals,” she said. “Didn’t seem like they really wanted trouble—they just wanted whatever they could get.”
“Still,” said Pietro. “It might behoove you to bed down near friends tonight. Are you traveling with anyone?”
She shook her head. “I’m fine.”
“You could share a campfire with me,” Pietro offered.
“And me,” Cody chimed in. When the other two glanced at him, he added, “I hadn’t planned to spend the night, but I’m not crossing the canyon in the dark.”
Jayla grinned at him. “And here I thought you were a brave man.”
He laughed. “I’ve run the cables at night,” he admitted. “But there’s not as far to fall.”
“I saved a loaf of bread and a bag of fruit,” Pietro said. “I was assuming the three of us would share after our labors were over.” He rested his gaze on Jayla’s face. “And I would reiterate the thought that you’d be better off tonight with friends at your back.”
She wasn’t worried about the disgruntled merchants—not really—and she didn’t think that either Pietro or Cody would show to advantage in any kind of combat situation. But if she was wrong and the traders came looking for her, they might think twice if they found her with defenders nearby.
“It’s a kind offer, so I’ll accept,” she said.
“And I’m starving,” Cody added. “Let’s eat now.”
