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"Thank you both," I said in moment of seriousness. Perhaps it was Shiza being so close to me. I had to admit, the rough pleasure she seemed to promise brought out a serious mood. "I will repay the kindness, I swear."

"I do this because it is my duty, makhti," Mugha chuckled. She gently probed the tissue surrounding the healing lacerations. "Very good," she murmured. "You heal fast."

Shiza grabbed my chin and brought my eyes to hers. "I do this because I am ordered, Dog." Her gaze flickered to Mugha. "I do not think you are a warrior. You are a fool who thinks he can luck his way through a deadly situation. Be sure you take only yourself to the black depths - and none of us." She stood abruptly and whirled. I watched her stalk to the wagon and storm inside.

"I see." which of course meant I was non-plussed.

"She is confused by you, makhti," whispered Mugha. "You do not show the fear she thinks you should in your position. She is attracted to you for other reasons, but don’t let that color your judgment; she would slit your throat if you tried to lay a hand on her." Mugha chuckled at the image. Even I smiled. No way, I thought, too contentious. My life would be one long running battle with that one.

"I will behave," I said.

"You are learning then, makhti," she said.

"Call me Malik, Mugha," I whispered. "It is good to hear my name now and again to remind me of who I am." The mood had definitely changed. I don’t know precisely why, but I was just not happy. Behind me, the healer sighed.

"It is a long journey, this life. But we each make our own way -right or wrong. You have control, always remember that, Malik." The woman patted my shoulder. "There will come a time when you must accept your role in this life."

"You sound like my grandfather again," I lied. But it wasn’t convincing. Even I knew it.

"We each have our own paths." She stood with a popping of joints. I rose with her to give her a hand. "I will re-dress this before the wagons are teamed in the morning. Do not roll onto your back, the dressing are loose so they will breath. Try not to twist, as it will only aggravate the wounds."

"I will do as you instruct, shava," I murmured. "I promise. Good dreams."

I watched the woman slowly walk over to her pallet by the wagon and lie down. Sjienna had finished with the cleaning up and Shiza had blown out the candle in the wagon. Other camps were quieting down as well, as the ’Van settled in to sleep. The river was nearby, but in the moonless night it was not visible. After several minutes, I could catch occasional sounds in the night that I assumed came from the sentries’ circuits. Sjienna banked the fire down, and I began to differentiate shadows in the gloom as my eyes adjusted. In the cooling night, I sat, letting thoughts wash over me and away. I was determined not to think about things, just let them unfold. If I thought about them, I would develop expectations, and that was a sure way to be disappointed. In a storm of unnoticed thoughts, I drifted slowly to sleep.