But that acknowledgement was almost grudging and she was spending a long time putting aside some pieces of cold meat and bread. Or did his jumpy nerves make him imagine that, wondered Dard.
A half hour later they left the house. They kept to the lane and then to the road leading north until a grove cut off their path from any watcher. It was then that Kimber faced west.
“Where now?”
“There’s a trail farther on that doubles back up into the hills,” Dard informed him. “It cuts across the old woods road near that tree where I met Sach.”
“Good. I leave the guide duty up to you. But let’s move! That girl may make a quick trip in—”
“She’ll delay all she can. She knows—”
Kimber’s lips shaped a soundless whistle. “That will help - if she is working for us.”
“I told her that it meant saving Dessie. Dessie’s the only one she cares about.”
The warmth, good food, and short rest they had had at Folley’s gave them heart and strength for the trail ahead. After two false tries Dard found the woods road. Along it there was an earlier trail breaking the snow, made by Lotta, he guessed.
Kimber set an easy pace, knowing the grueling miles which still lay ahead. They took a lengthy rest at the rude lean-to by the message tree. The woods were unnaturally still and the sun reflected from patches of snow, making them squint against the glare.