“He’s married,” she said, quietly. “His wife is in Alexis.”
She splashed cold water on her face to cover her feelings. She’d have to warn Jade, as quickly as possible. There was no way they’d escape scrutiny if they told different stories, although it wasn’t a lie. Jade’s wife was in Alexis. Perhaps she should have told Linder that Jade was more interested in men than women, even though it would probably have annoyed Jade a little. He - and his mercenary persona–wouldn’t want people thinking he was gay. A homosexual mercenary would have good reason to want a beard.
Linder caught her arm. “He’s married? But he went into the woods with you!”
Emily flushed. Linder thought she and Jade had been making love? She thought fast, trying to think of an explanation. No one would think anything of a boy and a girl walking out together at Whitehall–she’d explored the mountains with Jade, back in First Year–but here…? No wonder Linder thought Jade was unmarried. He’d done something that could get him in real trouble if he’d been married…
And yet, no explanation seemed to fit. She could claim to be his sister–or his half-sister–but that would raise a whole string of even harder questions. Perhaps they should have claimed to be family, right from the start. Or perhaps she could claim to be a more distant relative, except that would raise even more questions. First-cousin marriages were rare in Zangaria, but second-cousin marriages happened all the time.
“We’re old friends,” she said, finally. “We…well, he saved my life and then I helped him and…and we just ended up staying together.”
Linder looked unconvinced. Emily didn’t really blame her. Male-female friendships were common in the magical world, but quite rare outside it. Girls were closely chaperoned by their parents, while boys were often told that there was something wrong with wanting to be friends with a girl. No one would fault a young boy for having a friendly relationship with his sister, but they’d make fun of him for spending time with a girl without a good excuse.
“We were in the same camp,” she added, as she dried her face. “It’s like…it’s like being in a convoy, only worse.”
Linder looked wistful. “Is it really as fun as they say?”
Emily sighed. Jade and Cat had told stories about the mercenary life, stories that were remarkably convincing even though neither of them had been mercenaries. They had made it sound exciting, she had to admit. There were men who liked to fight and the mercenary life seemed to offer all the fighting they could possibly want…and women, for better or worse, who found the concept of mercenaries exciting.
All women want bad boys, she thought, sourly. There was more truth in it, even in the Nameless World, than she cared to admit. And then they find out that bad boys don’t grow into good men.
“No,” she said, allowing her irritation to show. “If you’re a female mercenary, you will be expected to fight and fight again just to prove you have a right to be there. Your fellow soldiers can be more dangerous than the enemy, although you really don’t want to fall into enemy hands. If you’re a camp follower, you will spend your days cooking, cleaning and marching from place to place and your nights…”
She took a sharp breath. Sergeant Miles had spelled the facts of life out in what Emily had considered, at the time, to be unnecessary graphic detail. “If you’re lucky, you will partner up with a man who will look after you as long as you’re good to him. And if you’re unlucky, you will be little more than a whore. Except you won’t get paid.”
Linder swallowed. “And you…?”
“Oh, I was lucky,” Emily assured her. “I had a friend.”
She stood and stalked back to the wagons. Linder didn’t follow her, much to Emily’s private relief. She’d have to tell the boys what she’d told Linder, before one of them managed to say something that contradicted the story. And then…
At least we’re closer to Alexis, she thought, as she scrambled into the wagon. Jade was sitting in the back, sorting through the supplies while Cat tied the horses to the yoke. We can get there on our own if they kick us out.
“Get up here,” she called to Cat. “I need to tell you something.”
Cat jumped up to join them. “Is it good news?”
“No,” Emily said. “Well…it might be.”
She outlined what she’d told Linder, sparing them nothing. Jade wouldn’t be tempted, she was sure. He loved Alassa. She had no idea how Cat would have reacted…or how she would have felt about it if he’d been interested in someone else. Her feelings were a mess.
“Well, it could have been worse.” Jade looked pensive. “You might have done better to claim we were lovers.”
“Water under the bridge,” Cat said. “Besides, you don’t act like lovers.”
“Linder picked up on that,” Emily said. “She’s quite perceptive.”
Cat snickered. “Why do so many girls go for obviously unsuitable men?”
“Because women see different things than men,” Emily pointed out, wryly. “And because Jade isn’t wearing a wedding ring.”
“And because they’re looking for protection,” Jade added. “A strong man who can fight–who is willing and able to fight–would be a good husband, even if he happens to be an asshole.”
“That would explain a lot,” Cat muttered.
“We don’t know who actually asked,” Emily pointed out. “Linder might have been…advised…to try to court Jade by her parents.”
“Makes sense,” Cat agreed. “Who’d want to court Jade without being pushed?”
“Alassa,” Jade said, sharply.
Emily held up a hand before a fight could break out. “We’re clear on the details,” she said, flatly. “Jade has a wife in Alexis, someone who doesn’t mind him being a mercenary…”
“Probably a shopkeeper,” Cat said. “Someone who has good reason not to want him around all the time. A happy relationship, naturally, but also one where they’re better off staying apart for much of the time.”
That didn’t sound very pleasant, Emily thought, but she supposed it made sense. It was certainly not going to be easy to disprove in a hurry. Merchantwomen had a great deal of freedom, compared to both aristocratic and peasant women, but there were limits. A female shopkeeper wouldn’t want a husband who might assert his power over the shop–and his wife–whatever the law said. Hell, merchant law would back her, but civil law would support him. She’d prefer a husband who didn’t show his face too often.
“Fine,” Jade said, as they heard the trumpet announcing their departure. “I’ve got a wife in Zangaria.”
Emily sat beside Cat as he took the reins, then guided the wagon out of the clearing and back onto the road. She was grimly aware of Jade brooding in back, even though they were still on their way. Perhaps they should have risked the teleport after all. Or traveling by sea…they could have teleported to Beneficence, then sailed to Alexis. But that would have been too risky. They’d heard that the king’s men were searching every ship that tried to make landfall in the kingdom. Even transfiguring themselves into fish and swimming ashore would have been unacceptably dangerous.
“He’ll get over it,” Cat said. “It’s the only way to get into the city with a minimum of risk.”
Emily glanced at him in surprise. Had he read her thoughts? Or…had her face betrayed her? Cat was a combat sorcerer. He was far more perceptive than he let on. He had to be. A combat sorcerer who wasn’t perceptive was likely to end up dead after a short and exciting career.
“I know,” she said. “But he doesn’t like it.”
She leaned back and watched the trees slowly closing in. The locals were responsible for maintaining the roads, clearing the ditches and keeping the foliage back from the cobblestones, but it was clear they’d been neglecting their duties. She gritted her teeth as the wagon rattled over potholes and splashed through puddles of water. She was going to be aching–again–by the time they reached the next campsite…
…And then she heard the trumpet sound the alarm.
Chapter Seven