Mayra and Naomi put their things in the wagon that would carry them on their trip to the sea. It would be a long journey; although the emissary and his retinue had rowed a small boat up from the sea, the messenger had sailed it back down the river for expedience of delivery.
None of Klain's fishing boats had ever made the journey downriver so far, and no one thought it was a good idea to test one of them for this important mission.
The caravan involving the Klain soldiers, the ladies, and the Rhone would be too heavy for the small boat to have carried anyway, so the decision was made that they travel the slow route over land.
Mayra had a moment of deja vu as she recognized the similarities between this wagon and the cart she'd left her village in over two years ago. Another grand adventure! This one, she hoped, would be fraught with less hardship and more pleasantries.
At least this one wasn't starting off in a rush to save someone's life. Instead, she was headed to help a new friend commit herself eternally to a man she hadn't even met. The whole thing left a bad taste in her mouth, but Naomi seemed determined. The best Mayra could do was help her make sure it was the right thing.
Taking Naomi's bag from her, she put that in the wagon as well. The other woman was far quieter than Mayra, which she didn't mind for the most part. She understood the fear and observation that often accompanied new situations. She hoped to be able to help the girl adjust more quickly.
"Everything packed away?" A voice asked from behind Mayra, causing her to freeze and turn slowly around. Peter sat atop a military horse smiling down at the two women.
"What are you doing h... nevermind. Riley. I knew he'd do something like this to me." Mayra turned back to what she was doing.
"Do what to you? Get someone assigned to the guard detail who would be well-equipped to watch over you, bravely protect you, and keep you in line to prevent too much mischief?" Peter suppressed a smile.
"When have you ever been able to keep ME in line?" Mayra tossed over her shoulder. She'd been slowly getting an impression from Riley that he liked Peter a fair amount, and wanted Mayra to like him too. Did Riley have a streak of matchmaking in him?
Had Mayra rubbed off on him too much? She paled at the thought, and replayed more of her last conversation with her brother.
He'd chastised her to be safe on the journey, stay close to the Klain soldiers, to come back soon, to not fall in love with any Seamen...
Could Riley really be afraid that Mayra would fall in love with a foreigner and move away? Had he assigned Peter to the detail to lure her back? She had brushed off Riley's comment about falling in love as one of his jokes at the time.
But if that were an actual fear of his, this move made perfect sense. Mayra's eyes cut back to Peter. She wondered what instructions he'd received, if any, on the subject. Was he supposed to get her to fall in love with him so that she was sure to come back?
"I got you to eat bugs," Peter deadpanned in response to her query about when he'd been able to keep her in line.
"Shellfish." Mayra automatically corrected.
"So you admit it! They were shellfish!" His triumphant smile lit up his face, and she turned away. If her brother was trying to set her up, she would do everything in her power to thwart his plans. SHE was the matchmaker of the family, not him!
On the other hand, maybe she was projecting what she would have done in his place. Though they were siblings, they weren't alike in everything they did. Concentrating on her tasks, she ignored Peter and spoke to Naomi instead.
"Let's look around the rest of the caravan." She suggested.
Naomi glanced between the two young people with a curious expression and nodded at Mayra.
"I can give you a tour," Peter offered, dismounting from his horse to come slightly closer to their level. He really had gotten tall!
"I think we can find our way around, thank you," Mayra's response was unusually cold, to Peter's bewilderment.
"Did I do something wrong? I didn't choose to be here, it was orders," He tried to dig himself out of whatever hole he was in.
"I'm sorry you had to be ordered to be in my presence." Mayra's icy response as she walked away with Naomi confused the young man further.
"I... What? That's not..." He threw his hands up in exasperation, apparently giving up on the conversation.
Naomi silently observed her friend as they walked.
"Are you all right?" She asked, at length. It seemed to be the safest question she could think of.
"I'm fine," Mayra sighed. "Sorry about that."
"I don't think I'm the one who deserves the apology," Naomi said softly, "unless I missed something." Mayra frowned at her, but then her face softened.
"You didn't miss anything. I just hate being plotted against." Mayra replied.
"Who is plotting against you?" Naomi's eyes widened in alarm.
"Nobody. Or several people. It doesn't actually matter. Peter's probably not one of the perpetrators," Mayra admitted. He had never given her cause to think he would involve himself in anything underhanded. It was unfair of her to think ill of him with no evidence other than his mere presence.
"I think I'll go back to the wagon," Naomi said as they finished looking around the small group they'd be traveling with. "I can make my way there on my own if you have anything you need to do."
Was that the most words Mayra had heard the woman string together?
"Naomi, how old are you? I never asked." Hopefully that wasn't a rude question, she belatedly thought.
"Nineteen," Naomi ducked her head. Was she ashamed of her age? Rhone brides must marry very young for Naomi to already be reluctant to reveal that she was nineteen.
"You seem too wise for your age," Mayra pursed her lips.
Naomi nodded seriously and walked away. Hopefully she took the compliment in the spirit it was given.
Mayra turned back toward the caravan. Peter was giving the horses a final check as they prepared to depart, and Mayra sidled up near him to stroke the nose of a gentle steed.
_____
Peter watched her from his peripheral vision but decided against speaking. It seemed he could only anger her today. Better to project a strong, silent persona.
"I'm.... sorry." Mayra finally spoke quietly enough that only he could hear. Now more confused than ever, he turned his eyes toward her and waited.
"Will you forgive me for snapping at you?" She asked. Her gaze was glued to the ground in… humility? This wasn't a side of her he got to see very often. He wondered at the cause for her penitence.
"Of course," Peter smiled at her. "I'm sorry for aggravating you. It must have been hard for you to sleep the night before such a big journey. You're likely very tired and maybe even a little grumpy. It's natural. I'm sorry Riley didn't warn you I'd be part of the group." He'd given a lot of thought to her behavior and that was the best explanation he could come up with for her unusual irritability.
She turned a little red, and he wondered if he'd embarrassed her somehow. Why was Mayra so hard to figure out sometimes?
"Thank you, you're very kind." She replied, without confirming or denying his theory. That was a bit frustrating. He wanted more insight into how her mind worked. It seemed quite random at times.
"Friends again?" He offered his hand to shake hers. She took it with a timid grin, and he struggled to ignore the feeling that spread up his arm as her cool skin touched his.
He held on a half second longer than was strictly proper, but then was his normal self again. She didn't seem to notice the change, and he was thankful. A lock of hair fell across his forehead as he ducked to double check one of the saddle straps on a horse.
"We should be heading out in about a quarter hour. You and Naomi can ride in the wagon, or we have enough horses for you both to ride." He patted the horse's flank and turned a smile on her.
"Oh, thank you," Mayra blinked. "Let me ask Naomi what she wants to do. I don't think the Rhone are used to horses, but she might be interested in learning."
"Whatever pleases you. I'll be riding flank near the center if you need me."
Mayra nodded and walked back towards the wagon. He watched her go, knowing which option he hoped they would choose.