Zara the Wolf by C. R. Daems

Author:C. R. Daems [Daems, C. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Talon Novels
Published: 2015-01-20T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

JQEDIT: Earl Arriaga

We stayed three days while Shelly and Eaton did whatever snooping Wetzel had assigned them. Fully provisioned, we left the morning of the fourth day for Jqedit, following the Areva River. Given no problems, it should have been a three-day journey.

"What do you think, Zara?" Eaton asked as he joined Shelly and me at the head of the caravan.

"I don't know anything about this part of the country. The trail does run close to the Broken Mountains, and it's summertime, which is the most likely time for an Indian raiding party, but Duke Dewan claimed he hadn't heard of any incidents over the past two years. I'd say we need to assume there will be an attack while at the same time hoping this isn't their year to raid," I said.

"Their year to raid?"

"If they are anything like the Indians in the Black Mountains, they live high in the mountains. So it's a two or three-week trek to the lowlands. Consequently, they don't tend to conduct raids every year or even every other year. Of course, if they haven't been active for two years or if there’s more than one tribe there, who knows?"

"So you don't know." Eaton grinned.

"True. And I can't see this caravan as a good target. We have too many guards and little to steal besides the mules. But Lady Shelly is reason enough to be cautious."

Eaton nodded. That night, he posted four guards instead of two, which I thought a good idea. Two years of inactivity was sufficient reason—supplies could be running low and the young were always eager for excitement. And although I didn't think the group was a likely target, warriors were unpredictable.

Unlike the rest of the nobility, Shelly was satisfied with cold meals at breakfast and noon, so we were off early each morning and didn't stop except for short rests. The second night, Eaton and I worked out. I thought it helped promote a feeling of a common purpose and eased his initial resentment of me.

The next day we would reach Jqedit, and that night would be the most likely time to attack a caravan this well-armed. With bows, the thought sent shivers through my body.

"What's wrong, Zara. Are you cold?" Shelly asked as we sat around the fire eating.

"I need to speak to Lieutenant Eaton," I said preparing to stand, but she stopped me with a hand.

"Lieutenant Eaton!" she shouted. When he looked up, she waved him over. "Please join us."

That had him up and at a double-time run to her. "Yes, Lady Shelly?"

"Sit. Zara has something on her mind which I'd like to hear." She looked to me.

"Lieutenant, if Indians are going to attack a caravan of this size, they will attack tonight. Your four-man guard would be sufficient for almost anything, except arrows." Every Ojaza was an expert with the bow and arrow, so I had to assume the same would be true of the Indians in these mountains. "How will you protect yourself against arrows?" I asked, since they didn't carry shields.

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