Page 50 of Condemned

“I’m just me.”

“She’s a bitch in heat. Come.”

Takk was referring to her? Indignant but too content to say anything, she only thought bad things at him.

He plucked at Timin’s shirt. “Bring the filthy girl. There’s blood and birthing fluids on her shirt and the new coat. We’ll wash her and the clothes at the hot baths underneath the old skyscraper. Bring everything. Zo, you take Gia and the kits to Timin’s grandfather.” He frowned at her. “Girl, you’ll likely be wearing someone else’s clothes the first day’s ride through the pass. Put her down.”

Timin grunted and refused, turning aside. “I’ll bring her to the baths. It’s easy enough to tell Zo where Grandpa’s house is.”

Which was how she ended up being carried by Timin out the lodging house and down the street, with her dirty coat laid over her, while the others followed with the florses. Zo headed off in another direction. The wind whipped at her ears and she shivered and hugged herself, trying to somehow burrow deeper into the mauleon’s hold.

Her toes were turning to ice, and she drew up her feet.

At least this time it would be a hot bath. The only nearby problem, as far as she could see, might be Timin. He looked determined and annoyed, though annoyed was probably his default expression.

The best action seemed to latch onto his arm again through his clothes and suck.