3.5

Although Remal had taken extra effort in washing up, Brylin lost no time in finding something else to criticize him for. He'd walked right into it, after all. She quickly observed that her younger brother hadn't put on the woolen hat and poncho she'd selected for him. Reaching for them, she saw that he'd also left aside the undershirt. Picking the undershirt up, she attempted to hand it to Remal but he fixed her with what he hoped was his best impassive stare, standing with his arms folded in front of him and his hands tucked in.

"It's getting colder-" Brylin started what Remal assumed would be a lengthy lecture, but he wasn't having it. Not this time, not today.

"I don't care how it feels to you!" he snapped, snatching up the undershirt only to throw it over Brylin's shoulder. "When I'M the one who feels cold, that's when I'll put on more layers!" He re-folded his arms and glared stubbornly, expecting some sort of verbal retaliation.

Brylin, to his great surprise, seemed momentarily at a loss for words. He could tell by the way she picked the undershirt up, however, that she was quickly recovering and would soon put together a response. A tirade, most likely.

Faver had other ideas. Stepping up to Brylin and whispering something in her ear, Faver pulled the undershirt out of her hands and re-folded it as he had already done a short time ago. Setting the undershirt once again with the poncho and hat, Faver re-directed Brylin's attention by asking her about the others. In particular, he asked something about Nathley and the medicinal poultice.

Remal, marveling that it actually worked, stood aside and thought to himself that Faver was probably the only person in the world who could get away with persuading Brylin to do (or not do) something different than what she'd already set her mind to. Remal was momentarily envious of that power, but it quickly faded upon considering that the only times he ever wished for any control over Brylin, was when he wanted her to leave him alone. He really didn't want any influence more substantial than that.

Meanwhile, Brylin was telling Faver that Nathley would be along soon, with Nina and Emri. She also said something about dinner preparations, but Remal didn't pay any attention to that aside from noting that it should be ready at a reasonable time, and that some people were helping with dinner who had just returned from the secondary campsite.

Remal would rather be at that other campsite than here now. No, actually he'd rather be trekking up the rocky rugged mountains' feet, or even wandering the rolling hills in the opposite direction, closer to the inhabited local area, where the grass-covered heights offered a good view of the distant but also now-too-close burg beyond the nearer farms and grazeland. Reportedly, there was decent hunting for wild game in the forest to the North - now, that's where he really would prefer to be right now.

Sitting heavily on a stool in Faver's work tent, hearing Brylin prattle on but not really listening to her, Remal felt bored. Bored and impatient, and anxious to be just sitting there instead of off doing something useful. Almost anything, so long as it kept him a comfortable distance away from his older sister.

Idly, he thought again of his cousin who had gone off looking for her family instead of coming away with the camp. Although a surely-hopeless quest, maybe he should have gone with her instead. But he knew that if given the choice again, he'd still have chosen to travel with the camp, on account of his mother. He considered at least leaving this tent for a while, but he didn't want to go against Faver's orders... and he had work to do here, as long as there was a stranger in the camp.

I guess I have principles after all, Remal thought glumly, but it makes me feel like a dog on a leash. Or confined to a crate. He looked around the tent. It was one of the larger ones in the camp, but it still felt small to him.

Hearing Nina's bright, high-pitched voice, Remal perked up. Soon after, he heard Nathley's voice as well - not as high, but cheery as it usually was. Both voices approached outside and he heard another voice with them, quieter and more subdued. That would be Emri. The first voice was like brass, polished to a shine that reflected everything. The second was like sunlight glittering off of water in a brook tumbling over smooth rocks. The third... was like the surface of a pond in a shaded grotto where hardly a whisper of a breeze crept in to ruffle the water. He had heard Emri speak in far more animated tones, but it seemed that more often than not, she spoke the way she sounded now. Not monotone, but level. Smooth and a little deliberate. It reminded him of her eyes, which appeared capable of much expression at times, but far more often were like that same still pond. Maybe the pond was deep, containing unusually large fish that almost never even barely rippled the pond's surface, but now and then unexpectedly leapt open-mouthed out of the water to snatch at dragonflies and splash the walls of the grotto.

Yes, Remal would even rather be out fishing, though he had little patience for it these days. He still knew how to spot the best fishing places. It was one of the skills he'd probably never forget.

The three girls - with their variety of voices, varying ages, and even more widely varied gestures and mannerisms - had walked into the tent nevertheless as though they'd been friends for years. The topic of discussion apparently was all about what kinds of clothing Nina liked best, what Nathley believed was most fashionable, and what both thought would look good on Emri. She seemed to have opinions on colors, but little else.

Remal rolled his eyes. He usually found Nathley to be likable, but was there any way she could be more of a stereotype of a teenage girl right now? Make a new friend and set to talking about clothes! Well, maybe it would be more of a teen girl stereotype if she were gossiping about youthful crushes, relationship drama, or the like. He sincerely hoped that Nina would avoid getting too much like that when she reached a similar age in several years. He also hoped she wouldn't take after her mother as she grew up, but that was a different matter altogether.

Remal sat with crossed arms and a stony face, looking between Faver and Brylin, and the trio of girls. Hearing both conversations but neither included nor interested in either, he mostly ignored the words and studied the people instead.

Nina had seen him and waved when they walked in, and Nathley was far too engrossed in her conversation to notice, but Emri quite obviously noted both his presence and his observation of them. She kept glancing between her companions and Remal, seeming to be carefully keeping track of him. Occasionally, the bland expression (or lack thereof) she had when listening to Nina and Nathley, altered from what might have been mild interest or polite attentiveness, to a stony look sent back at him. The only difference was in the eyes. Subtle, but he swore it was there. Remal wondered if she ever played card games. Or any games.

Finishing his conversation with Brylin, Faver interrupted the three girls' talk of clothes in order to smother Nina in a brief hug, picking his daughter up off the ground and depositing her back in the same spot, which made her giggle. Then Brylin pulled the girl aside, and Faver quizzed Nathley about her assignment applying the poultice mixture. He offered reasonable praise and encouragement, then added some instructions about the next assignment he was giving her.

Adding to the crowd in the tent, Acker had also returned, deposited the bottle of medicine he'd taken with him onto the work table, and started writing. No doubt he was making notes for Faver about his errand, in that sort of a shorthand notation that Faver used with his apprentices.

Smaller and smaller, the tent seemed to get by the minute. Again, Remal wished to be elsewhere, but did his best to hide his irritation. He pretended he was playing cards, and when Emri fixed him with a stony stare, he maintained the stony-faced look he'd been practicing this whole time.

By the slight alteration in the set of Emri's brows, Remal guessed that it annoyed her. Or, he hoped it did. Amused at the thought, he felt the corner of his mouth twitch, but put in extra effort to do his best to look impassive still. At least until Emri looked away. Then, he allowed himself a moment for looking smug.

Brylin had enlisted Nina's help in setting aside the wash basins and cloths, and arranging the bench and stools for people to sit on while both now passed out some seed-cakes and berries from a basket Brylin had brought in with her. Dinner was expected before much longer, but Brylin insisted they eat something, especially in the case of everyone who had been out walking "up and down the hills" and "in and out of marshes" most of the day.

Nathley accepted the snack that Nina handed to her, then left to do whatever it was that Faver had assigned her to next. Faver gave Emri a dose of the medicinal drops that he'd already administered to himself and Remal, (from the bottle that Acker had returned with) and then had her sit by Acker, insisting the boy take a break off his feet before going back out to check around the patients. Brylin shoved a snack into his hands, then gave some to Emri with an overly-polite air.

Remal noted how bossy Brylin was with everyone. Although it was gratifying to know that he wasn't the only person she bullied, Remal disliked the way that Brylin alternated such bossiness with politeness. Though not outright rude, she was pushy and insistent, while also pouring the politeness on thick for Emri as a designated guest. Honestly, he found it a little disturbing, the way Brylin was extra-bossy with family, then instantly turned around and put on her best manners for a guest. He didn't think she was being fake and only pretending to be polite. Rather, that's just how she was: sincerely both at the same time - or, in the same breath.

Thankful that she wasn't bothering him at the moment and instead his snack was brought to him by Nina, Remal invited his niece to sit by him while she ate her own snack.

In between bites, Nina enthusiastically relayed some news. "Guess what, Uncle Rem? Emri's going to stay with us! I mean, in our tent. Ma invited her."

Remal heard all that with what he hoped outwardly remained a relatively calm expression. Inside, however, he felt like his stomach was pushed up, his heart was shoved down into it, and his ribs were threatening to squeeze both into jelly. Holding his breath a moment and quirking an eyebrow at Brylin, he wondered if she had done it just to vex him. It was one thing to be all polite and hospitable towards a visiting stranger, and he knew Nina was a very outgoing soul (which he wouldn't want to squash by discouraging her since she seemed determined to be friends with this visitor) ...but for Brylin to take that stranger in like family? He knew that Brylin was also rather outgoing, but he also knew full well that she wasn't as innocent and open as her little daughter was. No, Brylin had a careful, calculating side to her and it made Remal wonder what she was up to. Surely some other arrangement could have been made for Emri?

Brylin shot a stern look at her little brother and then explained, apparently for Faver's benefit as much as anyone else's, though Remal now wondered if some of it had been relayed to her husband just a short while ago when Remal hadn't been paying attention to their conversation.

"Not tonight, of course. I expected you all would keep the same arrangements as last night with sleeping here in the work tent, and our family tent has been packed up and moved along with a lot of other people's tents. Nina and I will sleep in Mother's tent. It's smaller, but should be adequate for three since the rest of you will be here. I had Mother's tent moved closer, so we'll be nearby. When the whole camp is all together in once place again, we'll get the family tent back up and there should be ample room for Emri next to where Nina sleeps. It simply won't do for everyone to keep napping here in the work tent at nights. You all need proper sleep."

"Of course, Dear." Faver said, patting Brylin on the arm. Remal was sure that Faver wouldn't want Brylin to keep fussing over the arrangements, but wouldn't seriously try to stop her if she insisted. "I should have thought of it myself. it's a perfectly reasonable idea."

Should have thought of it sooner? Except that Faver has had far more important things to worry about. Remal sniffed.

Nina grinned at Emri, who had remained silent since Nathley left, aside from perhaps an expression of gratitude when Brylin had given her the snack that she seemed to be nibbling slowly.

"There really is plenty of room in our tent." Nina insisted cheerfully to Emri, who nodded politely.

Meanwhile, Brylin started lecturing Faver about "proper sleep," and with that, there were once more two conversations going on, neither of which included Remal. Brylin kept going on about how she understood that for now, it was convenient for a lot of the tents to be packed up, and for people to be staying close by their debilitated relatives and ready to help move them in the morning, with many others sharing tents while they had family away at the other campsite or in the sick tents; but she insisted that as much as possible, once the camp was back together, Faver needed to be encouraging people to all sleep in their own tents instead of only napping by their sick loved ones. Especially if people are getting better, she said, and also because Faver had a duty to be concerned about the health of everyone and encourage them to take proper care of themselves, and he should set an example, and so on... and on.

Tired of Brylin's chatter, Remal paid more attention to Nina and Emri, though he hardly had much more interest in that conversation. Nina seemed to be having a mostly one-sided conversation with Emri, talking about the family tent and how it differed from this one, and prattling on about a lot of the things she did and didn't like about living in a tent, and the ways in which it was different from living in their old house.

Observing them, Remal noted that in addition to Nina clearly being friendly towards Emri, Emri did not appear indifferent to Nina. Just because she didn't seem to have much to add to the conversation didn't mean she wasn't paying attention to it, more than she had seemed to be earlier when Nathley kept talking about clothes. Emri's eyes appeared calm - even friendly - when she looked at the girl and let her talk on and on. Was that the closest Emri ever got to smiling? He squinted, imagining that those would look like smiling eyes, if only the rest of Emri's face would match the expression.

Momentarily forgetting his annoyance with Brylin, Remal began considering possibilities. After all, he realized that that he couldn't reasonably follow Emri everywhere, but Nina could easily be around her most of the time when Remal wasn't. Nor would it be a bad thing to have careful Brylin around to supervise them, if they did share a tent at night. Nina had a disarming way about her that could be useful. Yes, possibilities.

Acker finished his snack before Emri finished hers. When the boy indicated that he would go around and check on the patients now, Emri passed what remained of her snack to Nina and got up to go with him. Faver agreed, acting like he might follow in a moment. He probably expected Remal to, as well.

Brylin set to gathering up the wash cloths into her basket and would likely have Nina help her carry the basins out, but stopped to say something else to Faver.

Seizing on an opportunity, Remal kept Nina to one side for a moment while Emri followed Acker out.

"Would you do me a favor?" he asked her, conspiratorially.

"Sure!" Nina's cheery manner suggested that she did not follow the clandestine undertones of Remal's manner. At all.

"Would you keep an eye on Emri? When I'm not there, I mean. Watch out for her."

To one side of Remal's field of vision, behind Nina, Remal saw Faver throw him an odd, maybe-skeptical-maybe-cautioning sort of look.

Nina giggled. "I know how to be nice to a guest."

At that, Faver looked amused, but with a wry look to hint that he'd understood exactly what Remal meant - but preferred Nina's interpretation.

Remal shot Faver a brief, sneering look instead of verbal sarcasm. Instead of a satisfactory look from Faver, he got a scolding look from Brylin. Faver strategically put a hand on her arm, as though to tell her not to interrupt.

Undaunted, Remal went back to attempting to enlist his niece in helping him with his assignment.

"Nina, we really don't know much about Emri. Look here, if she tells you more about where she came from or how she ended up traveling here, then tell-" Pausing as he glanced at Faver and Brylin both leveling serious gazes at him (each in a personal style of parental concern) he finished with a nod to Nina's parents. "...us."

A look of sudden understanding washed over Nina's childishly innocent face. "Ohhh... oh! You want to know more about her! Sure, I'll help with that!" Nina attempted a wink, but clearly she hadn't practiced the gesture enough yet, instead giving a sort of momentary, squinting look where one eye closed completely and the other hovered close to doing the same. Casually, she added the following: "So, what do you think of her? I think she's nice... do you like her?"

Remal frowned at the slight emphasis on the word "like," no matter how innocently and entirely un-serious Nina said it. Perhaps she was spending too much time lately, with the likes of Nathley. He could see Faver stifling a laugh, and Brylin looked like she was working up to some kind of interruption.

Annoyed, (though more with Brylin than Nina) Remal took the kind of tone he almost never used with Nina, though nearly everyone else was by now used to hearing it from him. Not really scolding, but impatient-sounding and stubborn.

"Like her? How could I like her? I don't even know her! She's a stranger to us all!" Uttering a minor oath (quite an exceptionally tame one, considering his little niece's age and that she'd probably heard worse by now in the camp) he added a muttered caution to Nina along the lines of saying that she shouldn't listen if her mother ever tries to talk about him and matchmaking in the same breath.

As soon as he'd said it, he wished to take it back but didn't know how. He'd immediately forgotten the way he'd said it, and just as immediately realized that he'd taken an irritable tone with Nina, which is the part he regretted most.

Brylin glared daggers at him, while Faver failed to suppress a laugh. Nina looked confused. Remal decided to cut and run.

"Sorry." He said to Nina, with a pat on her shoulder as an attempt to reassure the child that he wasn't annoyed with her. He didn't know what else to say by way of apology, how to say it.

"I'm going to check on Mother." Remal declared abruptly, standing up and stalking out of the tent in what he believed to be an impressively fluid set of rapid motions - though he felt very awkward on the inside.

Remal thought, for a moment, that Nina had started to follow him, but then he heard Faver behind him, murmuring in a soothing tone. Nina's response sounded like it was both aimed away from Remal, and from a stationary position.

"Did I say something wrong?" Nina asked.

"No, Sweetie, he's just cranky because he's tired."

3.4

Walking back from the marsh, Aron annoyed Remal by constantly interrupting any time he started to speak. In addition, although Aron pretended to ignore Remal by not looking directly at him, the fellow clearly kept track of where Remal was and walked between him and Emri at all times. What's more, Faver followed suit and left Remal to walk back behind them, accompanied only by Rinna who watched everyone in a calculating manner. At first, Remal expected Rinna to correct Aron, but then he realized that she wasn't going to, so Remal put on a rebellious air and sniffed at Rinna as though he didn't care, and as if he wasn't trying to watch Emri closely - even if the Leaders wanted him to.

"Here, I'll take those for you." Remal said to Rinna just before they got to Faver's work tent. "Surely you have plenty of other things to do." He mostly tried to appear respectful, but arched an eyebrow at her for emphasis on his suggestion that she wasn't needed there.

Smiling in a wry manner, Rinna handed over the sack she'd had slung over her back and a few additional plants she carried in her arms, which when combined with what he'd gathered himself, left Remal practically overflowing with plants. He wouldn't go back on what he said, however, and followed the others into the tent.

"Don't drop those!" Faver scolded upon seeing Remal's arms full, "Put them here." He indicated the cot that Remal had slept on before, already half-covered with what the other three had brought in.

Setting what he carried down and glancing around, Remal saw that the cot Emri had slept on had been removed, and in its place were a few stools topped with small basins of water, washcloths, and a couple cakes of soap. All Brylin's doing, he was certain.

As if on cue, he heard Brylin herself just outside the tent. Aron and Emri stepped back out, while Faver busied himself with a couple small bowls and a jar. Going out himself, Remal passed Nathley bringing in a stack of something like maybe some more cloths, or clothing. He heard Faver behind him immediately order Nathley to fetch Acker.

Outside the tent again, Remal was disappointed to see that Rinna was still there (with Brylin), but he also saw Nina standing by her mother. He waved a hello to his niece, but she had her hands full with another stack of clothing in her arms up to her chin, so she just nodded at him with a smile.

"...and I didn't think anything of mine or Nina's would fit," Brylin was saying (and which Nina giggled at) "so I hunted out some clothes that might."

Rinna nodded approvingly, and Brylin pulled the top item off the stack held by Nina. It unfolded into a dress, which Brylin held up to Emri's shoulders to compare with her stature and general build.

"I think this one would fit tolerably well." Brylin said after a moment. Nevertheless, she threw it over the stack held by Nina while somehow also grabbing another dress out of that same stack. She looked at Rinna and then back to Emri. "Which do you think?" she asked them. Emri sort of shrugged, and Rinna looked to be considering it slowly.

"The first one, I think." Remal stated.

He thought Brylin might retort, but from behind him came Nathley's voice: "Let me see."

She came forward, and after a few moments of her and Brylin each holding up a different dress, Nathley agreed with Remal that the first one looked better. Nina agreed with them, Rinna continued her considering looks, and Brylin muttered something unintelligible before saying: "Well, you can try them both on. You can borrow either or both for as long as you need to. If neither fits comfortably, we'll take another look at what's available."

Remal didn't know what to make of the way Emri kept looking at both of the dresses. They were certainly more plain than what she'd been wearing, but maybe she didn't care about that. Yet again, Remal wished that she showed expressions on her whole face... (he had lost count of how many times he'd already wished it) ...instead of only her eyes. Maybe she just couldn't decide, but then (as Brylin had said) she could try them both on.

"Does... someone else not need them?" Emri said slowly.

Suddenly Remal realized where he'd seen them before. They used to belong to a young woman who had died not so long ago, who had been a little shorter than Emri but a similar build otherwise. If he remembered correctly, it would explain the way that Aron had been silently staring the whole time. Since many people in the camp had lost almost everything before leaving Oxhale, many others (like Aron) who lost family along the way, had given clothes and other useful things left by their dead relatives, that wouldn't be of any use to themselves (unless for sentimental reasons only) to make them available for anyone who might need them. The greater amount of clothing so donated had probably already been given to others, some probably with alterations done - but all things considered, there were still some things like that in a general collection of stuff not currently in use by anybody, but still useful and valuable enough to bring along with the camp. Remal never paid any attention to which cart such things had been gathered in, but of course Brylin knew where to find anything and everything.

Did Brylin realize? Rinna probably had. Should he say something? He was sure Aron wouldn't.

"No..." Brylin said. "Not currently. We've got a bunch of things... just sort of sitting around in case someone needs them."

Remal glanced at Aron and saw him nod.

Brylin continued. "Anyway, go ahead and try one or both on, and wear whichever you want. I'll take your clothes to get them washed, and return them to you after they've dried. You've got plenty of other work to do, so I don't want you to have to worry about washing clothes, but you really ought to change out of what you wore while walking around the marsh."

Rinna nodded her agreement with Brylin, and Emri gave a little nod in return. Then, to the surprise of everyone present, Emri made a move as though to start undressing in order to change clothes right there in front of the work tent... in front of everyone.

Remal wasn't sure if everyone there was about to say something - certainly, some started to - but Brylin was fastest. She put a hand on Emri's arm, firm but gentle. "Wait. Not here."

Emri paused and reversed her movement in a somewhat startled manner. There was something hesitant about the way she looked at Brylin, like maybe she wasn't sure if she had committed a serious offense or not. Like a child who doesn't know what's going on. Remal was reminded of the way Emri had shuffled cautiously when he'd first found her up in the hills; awkwardly, like a newborn lamb or goat's kid, before they gained their footing. She really did sometimes seem to be so much younger than she actually looked.

Nina giggled, and Brylin shot her an 'it's-not-funny' kind of look, then turned back to Emri. However, Remal saw Emri watch them closely, and she seemed to relax her posture a little when she saw that Nina wasn't getting scolded. That, and the way Brylin looked kindly back at Emri, seemed to convince her that she hadn't committed a serious offense, only a mild breach of customs. Attentively, she listened to Brylin.

"Regardless of how things are done where you come from, around here people just don't change clothes in front of everyone." Brylin threw brief looks at Aron and Remal, as if to suggest that they had done something wrong. What, were they at fault just for being there? Remal scowled.

Brylin kept a hand on Emri's arm and started steering her away. "Besides, you all need to wash up before putting on clean clothes. I've got a washing-up tent set up just over here. The boys will wash up in Faver's work tent, and-"

Faver coughed, and Remal turned to see him standing there with Acker, each holding a bowl that smelled like the poultice for bites. No doubt everyone who had been out walking in the marsh had been bitten numerous times; Remal hadn't even bothered to count how many new bites he'd gotten himself.

Acker grabbed Aron's sleeve and pulled him into the work tent. Faver handed the bowl he had to Nathley, and waved at her to follow Brylin. Remal could still hear Brylin - assisted by Rinna - giving Emri pointers on what was considered proper, and what wasn't. They weren't far off; the washing-up tent was just on the other side of the next nearest tent.

Nina giggled again, and nudged Remal with her elbow. "Isn't it funny," she said, still giggling, "if Emri is from a place where people don't care who they change clothes in front of?"

Remal always found Nina's curiosity amusing, as well as her mannerisms (like the look on her face at this moment) but he did his best to keep a straight face right now. "No." He couldn't help picturing what he imagined Nina might be thinking; except, he was sure that the way it would look to him, if everyone there were to all wash up together, wouldn't be funny in the way Nina was thinking about it. He looked away from everyone and down at the ground, doggedly attempting to think of something else.

Faver spoke up. "Nina, the important thing is that's not how we do things here in this camp. You listen to your mother, and run along now. Aren't those clothes you've got, the ones they'll need when they finish washing?" He gave her a light pat on the back to send her on her way.

"Come on." He tugged on Remal's sleeve, pulling him into the work tent. With his other hand, he closed the door flap, and then used both hands to tie it shut after nudging Remal towards the wash basins.

Acker had a lot of practice by now with washing people who were too sick to get up; it might be different for him to be helping wash someone who was standing up, and maybe the fact that the person was moving around wouldn't be helpful for Acker, but he had clearly been helping Aron wash in as quick and efficient a manner as Acker seemed to do almost everything. By the time that Remal and Faver had stripped and begun washing, Acker had started applying poultice to every place he could find where Aron had been bitten. Remal was sure that Faver had sent Nathley with the girls in order to do that very same task there.

Feeling uncomfortably alone in his thoughts, Remal broke the silence. "Isn't it completely ridiculous and impractical, for someone to be traveling around with almost nothing?"

"You think so?" Faver said. "When you and other scouts are away from camp, you usually travel light and carry very little with you, right?"

Remal scoffed. "But always with at least a poncho or a blanket or something, and a couple of knives and things for hunting, like-"

Aron interrupted sharply, but not loudly. "Sometimes people don't have a choice; it's something that just happens. We all know people who have suddenly lost everything, and had to leave a place with no time to gather anything up to take along with them."

Of course Remal knew that! And he didn't like for Aron to use that tone with him. He snapped back. "If she had to flee from someone or something, that's all the more reason to find out what, in case it might be anything that could threaten the camp. It's reckless and irresponsible of her, if she knows of any danger around here, but won't speak of it to people she professes to want to help."

Faver waved his hands dismissively at them both. "There's nothing to argue here. We're all in agreement about those things already. Besides, don't you think that maybe whatever she left behind might only concern her, and isn't a danger to the camp as a whole?"

"It might be." Aron admitted. "Maybe you can find a diplomatic way to ask her about it."

Acker was helping Aron dress, trying to make sure the clothing didn't mess up the poultice applications too badly. Aron was getting his shirt on while he spoke, so he wasn't obviously looking at either Remal or Faver when he said that, but Remal guessed he meant it for Faver. Remal replied anyway.

"I'm certain she wouldn't speak of any such thing to me," he said adamantly.

Faver sighed. "I may, but I don't want to be pushy about something like that."

Finished dressing, Aron gave Faver a pat on the shoulder. "Do what you can, but of course your work with the sick is more important."

Faver nodded, and Aron left without another glance or word to Remal. Remal told himself he didn't care, and assumed that Aron needed to hurry off and report to someone anyway.

Meanwhile, Acker had turned his attention to applying poultice to Faver's bites. Faver had washed in a hurry, and now seemed more concerned with taking his time in looking everywhere he could for marsh fly bites. Of course he couldn't see places like behind his own back, but Acker had gone over that first. Remal, on the other hand, took enough time for things like washing behind his ears and under his fingernails. Not that he really cared much normally, but on a day like this he wanted one less reason for his sister to criticize him.

Faver broke the silence this time by clearing his throat.

"So, that was a really nice thing you did, preparing a walking stick for Emri."

Remal fixed Faver with what he hoped was one of his best glares, standing still and holding the expression until Faver made eye contact back.

“That was only to help you," Remal said in a deliberate way, "so you don’t have to worry about her too much. You… might be right about her only helping, but if she can’t take care of herself, then she’ll be a burden on you, and I can’t have that.”

Faver grinned and gave him a pat on the shoulder. Remal's injured shoulder. “Aw, so glad that you care, brother.”

“Pffft.” Faver wasn’t funny. Well, not that funny. Remal adopted an exceedingly serious sort of lecturing tone. “I'm just looking out for you, because your work is so important. Besides, do you have any idea of what a huge mountain of grief I’d get from Brylin if anything were to happen to you on my watch? Not to mention that it would upset Nina, and nobody wants that. Anyhow, the stick was nothing.”

“All right, forget I mentioned it.” Faver’s tone was nonchalant, but he was still grinning.

Remal slugged him in the arm. “Cut that out! I’m serious.”

“Okay.” Faver said, then laughed.

“Hmph.” Remal turned his back and continued washing.

By the time Remal had run out of places to wash, Acker was already helping Faver put on his trousers. And then there was no escaping it: Acker and Faver both turned their attentions to Remal, the one applying poultice to his bites and the other giving him a thorough checking over. Remal knew that as much as he wanted it to be over, he couldn't make an early escape without it coming back to get him later. He grumbled a little, but put up with it. Soon enough, Faver was bringing out all the things for tending to Remal's shoulder, while Acker helped him get dressed. The undershorts and trousers, anyway. Remal's shirt would wait until after Faver had tended to his shoulder.

"Hello in there!" Hin's voice called from outside the tent's door.

"Hello!" Faver called back, and motioned to Acker to go undo the ties on the inside of the door.

Remal hurried to finish belting up his trousers in case anyone else was out there, but as it turned out, Hin entered alone.

"Hin! It's good to see you." Faver greeted him cheerfully while fussing about with things at the work table, barely looking up. "How are things going with the move?"

"Well enough, so far."

"Any sign of hostility from the neighboring burg?"

"Not yet. Could be they haven't noticed."

Remal chimed in. "Perhaps... or maybe they're just waiting to see if we're going to venture farther into their territory. They might not mind as long as we stay on this side of the hills."

Hin nodded. "Perhaps... if we don't stay long."

"Good thing we're not planning to stay." Faver commented, then passed a bottle to Acker, instructing him to go find Aron and give him a preventative dose of the liquid medicine, and then make sure to give a dose to everyone else who'd been out at the marshes that day. Remal didn't know all the signs that Faver had gotten into the habit of using with Acker, but Faver usually spoke his instructions aloud as well. Acker really was quite adept at interpreting the way people's mouths moved when they spoke.

Faver gave Remal a dose of the medicine, and then took a dose himself. It tasted just as bad as before, but at least it tasted like medicine, rather than something putrid.

Faver then made Remal sit on a stool, where he could best reach Remal's shoulder to clean and re-bandage it. Hin stood by and described to Faver how things had been going with everyone who had gone downriver today, on the near side at the new (and very temporary) campsite.

When Hin left them, most were still in the process of unloading the carts and wagons that would be brought back to this site, but he expected they'd have finished by now, in the time it had taken Hin to get back to Faver. The majority of people would be returning with the carts and wagons tonight, so as to already be on hand to transport the sick tomorrow morning. There would be people staying overnight to guard everything that had already been transported to the riverside, and there also were people on either side of the river who were finishing preparations for the river crossing. Those people included some who had previously gone ahead, up another branch of the river to a forest by the hills well north of the lake, and had brought rafts down the river to the crossing place. Some of the carts and wagons could be floated across, but some were too heavy (especially when full) so they would either have to be ferried across on rafts, or pulled across while empty. Most had been made back in the Downs where the only river was far more narrow than this one, and had bridges in enough places that no one building wagons worried about whether or not they could float; some were made with heavier timber than others, and not shaped in such a way as to avoid taking on water.

"It really is a shame," Faver commented while unrolling some bandages, "that we don't have more of the medium-sized wagons that can be floated across while loaded."

Remal spoke up. "If we did, we wouldn't have enough oxen to pull them anyway. We'd still have to move the camp in stages for as long as so many people are sick."

In tying the bandage, Faver pulled it a bit too tight for Remal's liking. "Obviously, I meant that I wish we had more of those wagons and more oxen to pull them."

Grumbling and wincing, Remal tugged on the bandage to loosen it just a little.

Hin gave Faver a pat on the shoulder. "It would be be nice." Annoyingly, Hin agreed with Faver. Well, it was true enough... but Remal wasn't going to say so. It was entirely unrealistic to wish for something like that when you can't have it.

"You know," Hin continued, "some of the leaders are still saying they think the sick should have been moved first."

"Absolutely not!" Faver practically shouted. "They were out-voted for good reason! Some of our people are too-"

"I know." Hin said in what Remal figured was his best attempt to sound soothing in spite of interrupting Faver. "Once you started trying new medicine, you wanted our sickest people to rest longer before moving them. I just wanted you to know that some of the leaders still hold to what you'd said before that, about moving them as soon as possible. I don't agree with them, I agree with you. Okay?"

Faver huffed, crossing his arms. "So they won't want to let everyone take a day to rest after getting to the river."

Hin nodded. "That's a vote they're winning. However, you may be able to persuade them to rest the camp after getting everyone across the river."

"I hope so." Faver muttered, gathering up the things he'd used in bandaging Remal's shoulder.

"Not if that burg takes notice." Remal muttered darkly, still trying to loosen the bandage.

"Stop that!" Faver scolded him sharply, swatting his hand away. "Leave my fine bandaging alone." Having set the other things aside, he then busied himself with extracting his shirt from the stack of clean clothing that remained neatly folded near the wash basin. Acker had helped him on with an undershirt before he'd left, so Faver only had to pull the shirt over it - though he still did so carefully, to minimize disturbance to the applications of poultice on his arms and torso.

"Here." Hin suggested, passing Remal the other clean shirt and undershirt, before Remal could tug at the bandaging again.

Remal grumbled sullenly. Taking the shirt from Hin's hand and tossing the undershirt aside, Remal asked him, "What of the flocks?"

Faver tutted, picking up the undershirt and re-folding it. He gave Hin a significant nod, and Hin started helping Remal put the shirt on, being more careful about the poultice applications than Remal would have been by himself.

Remal made a point of ignoring Faver, but let Hin help him. "Well?" he prompted.

"The flocks are expected to be taken upriver towards the forest as soon as they have crossed the river tomorrow. They might stay with the majority of the camp longer, if the sick remain by the river for a time after crossing over. As for tonight, the flocks will be back here at this campsite, since most of the people will be here. Some of those who mind the flocks are helping move the carts and wagons back here; I expect they'll arrive before long. A fair number of them were interested in learning about the new herbs and how to identify them. So as not to have the class be too large, we'll start with just the ones who are best at both foraging, and at teaching plant identification to others. When they are traveling upriver to the forest later on with the flocks, those people can teach the other herders what they learned and look for more herbs along their way."

Remal nodded; this sounded reasonable enough to him as to not require objections, though he suspected that he could find fault with the plan if he looked hard enough. He reminded himself, however, that he did not want to be one of the people making all the big decisions. So long as things worked out fine without causing him more trouble than necessary. He stood, and considered whether to tuck in his shirt or not. It'd be warmer if the long shirt were tucked in or belted, but he didn't feel like belting it. Then again, he didn't feel like tucking it in, either. Faver had tucked in his undershirt, and then belted the shirt. The man had also pulled on something like a small version of a woolen poncho; more like a vest that he could wear while working and have it not get in his way.

There had also been a poncho and hat left for Remal; he shook his head when Hin looked like he was about to pass them to him. Running his fingers through his hair so it wouldn't be so untidy, Remal watched Hin go to the door. Remal might have followed, but Faver insisted he stay put for a little longer, while Faver (yet again) checked on things like his heart rate, breathing, and such. Remal tolerated it, but his attention was on the tent's front door. Hin had pulled the flaps open to show that Brylin was there, chatting with Rinna. Hin joined them for a minute, and then Hin went off with Rinna while Brylin came inside.