Page 97 of Circle of Days

“Yes.”

They went back inside the hut and lay down to rest. If they were going to walk all night, they needed their strength.

Pia did not think she would sleep, but she did. She was in a deep slumber when Gida gently shook her awake. At first she thought she was in the yarrow thicket, and it was time to leave Han and go back to her home; then she realized she had escaped, and immediately felt energized.

She got to her feet and looked outside. She could not see the sun, because of the trees, but she guessed by the light that it was setting. She put on her coat. It had dried in the warmth of the hut.

They thanked Bez, Gida, and Fell, then took their leave. It was dusk when they emerged from the wood onto the Great Plain. They looked around in the dim light: no one was in sight. Stam and his search party had undoubtedly given up a long time ago. By now Troon would have concluded that Pia had gone to Riverbend.

Han led the way to the hamlet of Old Oak, where he had been living for a quarter of a year—at least in theory: he had spent most nights in the wood with Pia. The thought made her smile.

They found Zad and Biddy and their child, Dini, just finishing supper. Han explained how they had hidden with the woodlanders while Stam searched. “Now they will think Pia has gone to Riverbend,” he said. “Which gives us a few days to get clear of the plain and into the hills.”

“Good,” said Zad.

Han took a breath, then said: “I’ve been a herder since I was eight years old. Do you think I deserve a cow to take with me on this journey?”

Zad smiled. “Yes, I do,” he said. “Come on, let’s choose one before we lose the light.”

Pia stayed and talked to Biddy. She was a dark-eyed, dark-haired woman with an oval face. Pia thought she was quite beautiful. Biddy said: “Why are the farmers chasing you? Why don’t they just let you go?”

Clearly she knew little about the farmer way of life. Pia wondered how to put an entire way of life into a few words. “They need strong young people to cultivate the earth,” she said. “And they consider that women belong to men.”

“Belong to them?”

“Yes.”

Biddy was shocked. “Now I understand why you’re running away… even though you’re having a baby.”

Pia smiled. “Does it show already?”

Biddy nodded. “If you know what to look for. I think you’ve been pregnant for a quarter of a year. The baby will come soon after the Spring Rite.” She gave a modest smile. “I was the eldest of six children, so I watched my mother through five pregnancies.”

Pia had not had that experience. She was the youngest of three children, two of whom had died young, so she had always been an only child. She was fascinated by what Biddy had to say, and they talked about pregnancy and childbirth until the men returned.

Pia went outside to look at the cow. She was a young female, thin but strong. Han said: “Can you also let me have a piece of rope, so that I can tether her at night?”

“Of course.” Zad went into the house and came back with a length of rope, which he tied around the cow’s neck.

Pia was on edge now, eager to get away. She said: “Let’s go.”

Zad said: “I’m going to walk you to the path the woodlanders use. It’s north of here, not far. Then you’ll be on the right track all the way into the hills.”

“Thank you,” said Pia.

They said goodbye to Biddy and Dini and set off. The moon rose while they were walking, and the night was brightly lit. Wherever there was a stream, the cows had gathered. Zad said: “I won’t have to drive them to the river, at least not for the next few days.”

Han said: “I wonder if the drought has finally broken.”

“Let’s all hope so.”

Thunder was a herder dog, and stayed with the cow, making sure she did not fall behind or stray to either side.

Before long they came to a wide beaten path, muddy from the storm. “Here it is,” said Zad. “May the Sun God smile on you.”

Han said: “I’ll never forget your kindness, Zad.”

Pia said: “You brought Han to me, then you helped us escape. You’re wonderful.”