The provost she had spoken with before had obviously been given long-term charge over her. He ensured that her hands were tied behind her, and a noose put about her neck, and he held her on a lead, like an animal. She realized she had better watch her footing. One slip and she could hang herself, and these Denlanders seemed to set a fearful pace.
‘What’s the hurry?’ she asked.
‘No questions,’ the provost replied. ‘Just move.’
She fell into step with them as they headed deeper into the swamp. The entire camp had broken into squads, each squad keeping sight of the next, the company of several hundred thus moving like a swarm. Ants, that was what they reminded her of. She remembered Mallen showing her a breed of ant out here in the swamp that lived like this: camping by night, then moving by day in a great loose carpet of insects.
And she recalled her dream: the Denlanders as a devouring swarm.
They kept moving, too, determined and careful, not slowed by pools or high banks. Even when clambering and splashing, they were surprisingly quiet. She had to keep craning around to remind herself how many of them there were.
If I could make a noise, attract someone’s attention, let our people know they’re here . . .
Anyone investigating, however, would get themselves shot or stabbed and, like every other hopeless plan, she needed to wait her moment out. No sense shouting into the wilderness and having them gag her.
She nearly drowned mid-morning, skidding over on a bank and knocking two soldiers down with her into a pool that was far deeper than it seemed. The rope skidded through the provost’s unsuspecting hands, and then he tried to pull her out with it and came close to strangling her before she was righted. When she had been dragged, coughing and choking, to the pool’s side, she kicked out at him as he approached.
‘For God’s sake, give me my hands!’ she snapped. ‘Keep me on a leash if you have to, but I’ve no wish to die because I can’t catch myself.’
He grimaced and then, to her surprise, undid the knots about her wrists. ‘Everyone keep a knife out,’ he told the men around them. ‘Don’t hesitate to use it. Kill her if she tries to escape, or if she goes for you.’
She stood, clenching and unclenching her fists, and saw them back off a little. Cowards. She remembered all that Doctor Lam had said. They were frightened of her. She was taller than most, even broader at the shoulder than some, and she was a savage Lascanne warrior woman. They had no idea what to do with her.
Only the provost looked unimpressed. He had his hatchet in his hand, and she guessed he would have no qualms about using it. Give me an opportunity and I will take that from you, she vowed. ‘Thank you, Provost,’ she said instead.
‘Move on,’ he told her, and then to his men: ‘Come on, catch up! We’ve wasted enough time.’
For an hour and more he was right behind her, but just out of reach, and he was weathering this forced march better than she was. He had not been beaten half to death and strapped to a frame all night, after all. She was sure her moment would come, but not so far.
‘So,’ she asked him, ‘am I a special enemy of yours, or is it just because I’m a Lascan that you hate me?’
‘I don’t hate,’ he said. ‘I don’t hate Lascans or you. You’re enemies, that’s all.’
She had not been expecting an answer at all, and she was thrown for a moment. ‘You seem to have some grievance, Provost. More than you did last night, even. You were almost civilized last night.’
‘Civilized,’ he said. ‘Last night I was living in hope, Sergeant. I had a brother fighting in the battle. We were hoping he’d come in with the stragglers. I have not had that luck.’
‘I’m sorry,’ said Emily. He picked up his pace a little until he was alongside her; until she could see the anger on his face, as painful as the bruises on hers.
‘What do you have to be sorry about? One less Denlander to worry about, isn’t it?’
‘I had a brother, Provost,’ she said simply. ‘He died here before I even arrived. I had a brother-in-law who may be dead now, for all I know. Do you think that only Denlanders have families?’