day 15 2700

It was late the next morning before they made it off. Rick saw to the placement of cushions in the wagon that Kell would be riding in, and saw to it that her bow and quiver were close at hand, as was her leather work. Anithos helped her up on the wagon and fussed over her, arranging blankets and seeing there was a canteen near her that she could handle. Finally Kell had enough. “Guys go get on your horses, I will be fine. Enough all ready. It is not like I will have to do more than speak if I need something.”

“We know just how likely you are to say something.” But they did head towards there mounts, still grumbling.

Mel, who had been watching it all chuckled, and Kell shoot him a dirty look. “They care, it is sweet.”

“It is annoying. You can bet they are going to take turns finding reasons to stop by and check on me. Even after all of this. But I do the same with them, in fairness, and they never mange to find the words to tell me to get lost.”

Mel said. “Well you don’t cling quite as much as they do. Well not in Orson, but then both of them have never been hurt at the same time. I saw you walking on your on this morning. No I am not upset, I saw you checking that someone was near before you tried. Just don’t overdo. And that bow is there only for emergences.”

Kell nodded. “They were supposed to but it in the back. But couldn’t leave me with out a weapon near. I am not going to try and shoot from the wagon. Though when my shoulder makes it though I am going to see if bout pulling it when we stopped for the night, then depending on how that goes work up to shooting it. I am not going to over use it is bad enough waiting out this injury. I don’t think you can understand how much I hate be waited on.”

Mel laughed. “Oh I have a fair idea I think. Though you are getting better. Remember I was here back when you and Athions were getting to know each other.”

Kell nodded. “He has been ahead of me the whole way. Yet some think I am the one in control. I try to make them happy, but being dependant doesn’t sit to well with me.”

Mel nodded. “Now before I go yell at the ones that really need it, how are you set for pain meds?”

Kell said. “It is right here. I have a good bit of the willow extract, and a couple of doses of the other. I expect that I will be taking one of the before long, and the willow every hour. I did take some willow a few minuets ago.”

“If that is not enough tell the driver to stop, and I will come give you something stronger.” With that he headed to the other wagon. Soon they were pulling out.

When they reached a town a couple of days latter Kell got the lotion she wanted for her skin. It was a week before she tried the bow, and anther before she was all to ride for short stretches. Then next week saw them to Riverdale.

Bree decided it would be best to camp outside of town rather than try and find lodge in it. Being on a main road the boarding house were busy and likely to charge high for a group their size. Kell got of the horse and turned it loose, a sight that never failed to make someone cringe, but the horse was all ways there when she called it. She watched it head for food then went to find Mel. She stood back and waited for him to get done with the one he was tending to. Mel turned and saw her. “So how are you?”

Kell smiled. “All right but a bit stiff. I think it would be a good idea to get some of that lotion worked into my leg and back. But um it is likely to lead to other things.”

Mel nodded. “ I see. Well that should be safe enough now. The skin is well enough that it can take a bit of rubbing. Make sure that you tell them it is to be a gentle massage, though. Still shouldn’t put to much presser on it.”

Kel nodded. “Thanks, and I will see things don’t get to wild. But a little bit is needed.”

Mel laughed and waved her away then turned back the woman before him. As Kell walked away she heard. “No you don’t She listened to me. If you had then.” Kell shook her head and went to see where they had been put.

She found Rick setting the tent up. “Bree says we are to stay a couple of nights here so Wang can take tomorrow to refill are food store. This is the last town of any size until we hit Wisdom. Most travelers go around the plains, for some reason. That should all so give you time to get your shopping done, and therefore no reason for you to lag behind.”

Kell sighed and turned to Athions who just walked up. “Let see if I can get you to help with the tent, so I can get in it before it gets to dark this time. After all there is no reason not to speed things along now.” With that she wrapped her hands around him and gave him a very real kiss. “I need a nice massage, and Mel said it would be fine as long as it is a Gentle one. I have been keep lotion where I could, but the places I couldn’t reach need some to. The sooner the tent is set up the sooner we can get comfortable.”

He smiled. “No fair. That is just evil. The tent will be ready in a bit, but when Jordan comes yelling you are dealing with her.”

Kell chuckled. “I will go find her so she wont come. You just have that tent up when I get back.” She turned and went down the other row of tents, and found Jordan talking with Bree. “Just the two I wanted. How hard will it be to keep Anth and Rick off duty until mid morning? Also Jordan I, um, am making Anth set the tent up a bit faster.”

Bree said. “They are off duty until noon, then Athions is to take the wards. Rick has a watch tomorrow night.”

Jordan shook her head. “He is not the only one set up a tent the faster way. Now that we are clear I haven’t been locking it done to much. I need to ask Rick about the plains though.”

Kell said. “As long as there is no off roading we won’t have any problems. But we must stay to the road and marked coming areas. No hunting, or roaming. The agreement by witch the road was made allows for the Empire laws on it and the campgrounds, but doesn’t extend beyond it. And the pains people are a very class oriented, so it is easy to step on toes. Having some from there might give us a bit of wiggle room, but I wouldn’t count on it.”

Robert laughed at the look on their faces. “The road treaty was part of our lesions. I think most citizens can tell you some of it, those on the border more so. It was the Empire’s need for trade after the second dark reaches war that put the road there. It is they that are responsible for maintaining it, not the plains.”

Bree shook her head. “Just what are we getting our selves in for?”

Kell smiled. “Nothing you can’t handle. The Empire is going to be shocking, but I think you will like it. At lest the edges. They are used to accommodating a lot of different peoples and beliefs. Well I had best get back they should have the tent set up.”

Bree winked. “I will see that unless it is a dire emergency you are left be tell late morning.”

It was on into afternoon by the time Kell headed into town to look for the book and Phillp.