Ventus by Karl Schroeder

Karl Schroeder / Ventus / Page 68
4
In the morning he awoke feeling sore and frustrated. He
expected Lady May to raise the subject of his dream last night,
but she didn't, as if daylight were not the proper time for such
things. She did seem even more cheerful than she had
yesterday, though. When Jordan awoke she had already hunted,
for there were two pheasants near his head, which she indicated
he should tie to his belt. She had also gathered several
handfuls of mushrooms and some other roots he recognized as
edible. At least they wouldn't starve any time soon.
"Come," was all she said, and they set out again.
He was content not to talk for most of the morning, but
the warm sunlight and the shared exertion of the walk was
bound to loosen his tongue eventually. She might have been
counting on this. Even so, he cast about for a long time for a
subject other than the dark vision he’d had last night, finally
asking, "Why are we going this way?"
Lady May looked back, arching an eyebrow in apparent
amusement. "It speaks," she said. "That was a question you
should have asked yesterday, Mason."
He glared at the ground.
"We're avoiding the people who are searching for you. I
had my man say he'd seen you going south, but even so they
may search north. But not this far into the forest."
"Did Emmy hear that?" he asked sharply. "She thinks I