Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 617
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They had done nothing but ride and sleep for the past
several days. At first it was an aimless run into the desert
under the wheeling stars, then the cold white daylight of early
winter. Galas rode sidesaddle, hugging herself and shivering.
When the horses had to stop from exhaustion, they stood them
together, nose to tail, and huddled together for a brief sleep.
of the evidence of the recent passage of an army allowed them
to find the ruin of one of her experimental towns just before
sunset on the second day. By that time Megan was cradling the
queen in her arms as they rode, and the horses were weak and
plodding slowly.
The razed town was surrounded by the burnt remnants of
wheat fields, and a cracked spring spouted dark, iron-flavoured
water in the town square. The houses had been burnt down, all
save one that was only half-gutted. There were whitened
skeletons everywhere, some lying next to the weapons they had
used in a futile effort to save their families. Galas awoke
enough to weep when she saw the devastation.
Armiger let the horses drink and refilled their water bags,
then turned the animals loose among the straggling, greying
wheat stalks. He made camp in the half-ruined house, lit a fire
and shuttered the windows. They had no food, but at least it
was warm here. There was even some bedding that had
survived, and Megan bundled the queen under it near the fire.