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[with Thomas]
[A day or two after this.]
There are five of the liveried guardsmen in the inn now, and two in the stables.
Kaya hid the night in a storeroom bin that used to hold apples, and is now peering through a crack in the wall into the common room and trying to find a way past them.
There are five of the liveried guardsmen in the inn now, and two in the stables.
Kaya hid the night in a storeroom bin that used to hold apples, and is now peering through a crack in the wall into the common room and trying to find a way past them.
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"Onwards, then."
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After about ten minutes of wading, though, it's starting to be a struggle; the chill of the water is setting in, and the shifting footing makes each step more work than it would be on solid ground.
Kaya sets her shoulders grimly and plods on. There's no sound of pursuit behind them yet, at least.
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It's sometime later, that he notices Kaya drooping notably more than she has been.
"Here, would you like me to carry you?"
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(It's been quite some time since she's had a good night's sleep, or regular meals. And she's been awake and moving since dawn.)
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"There's no shame in needing help, Kaya."
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Beat.
"The size difference helps, too."
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"Okay."
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Before he's gone another half-dozen steps, her head has drooped onto his shoulder and she's fallen into a doze.
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Once the sun begins to dip low, though, and lengthen his shadow, he moves out of the creek in search of a place to camp for the night.
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The forest is thicker here, but not impassable. There's a natural clearing not too far ahead of him, visible by the angle of the light.
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As carefully as he can, he eases Kaya to the ground until she's laying in a soft patch of grass, then lays his coat over her.
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(Among other things, there are fish in the river they've been wading.)
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And staring at him.
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"Hey there," he says, then extends a skewered fish to her. "Hungry?"
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And after a beat, reaches out hesitantly for the fish.
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And retreats immediately out of arm's reach, before starting to wolf down the fish despite its heat.
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"Did you sleep okay?"
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After a moment: "You carried me?"
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