Chapter 73: An Old Enemy

Rodrigo and Milene ate their toast alone in the public room. They'd slept in deliberately to have a chance to talk to Siana in private.

"Don't give an answer for a few days." Rodrigo leaned forward. "The situation is more complicated than I would have thought. Tam is in some danger but delaying a few days won't hurt." 

Siana frowned and dabbed at her eyes. "What kind of danger could be in our little village?"

"A couple of city guys are pulling a scam on him, but they're a nasty pair. I need to scope them out. We have a plan; all you need do is what you always do."

Rodrigo paid for breakfast then led Milene out into the sunlight and away toward Lusia. 

"We're lucky, the last time we came through it rained so much the biggest danger was mudslides. One of them almost killed Sara." He pointed out landmarks, like where they'd found Siana in her wagon. They topped a rise and could see the caravan from the night before far ahead of them.