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already,” Isi says. “We will not waste more time searching for a settlement that may not exist.”
    â€œIt is true that it may not exist,” Matisa says, “and even if it does, it could take us days to find it.” Isi nods, satisfied. “But,” she continues, “the crossing itself is not too far. We could take them there. They could make their own way east—the mapmaker said there was a military outpost that way.”
    â€œMatisa—”
    â€œThe big river winds to the west,” she cuts Isi off. “If we alter our path to the southeast, it would be less than a day out of our way.”
    â€œIt is a better plan than hoping we find a place for them along the way,” Nishwa agrees.
    Relief sweeps me. It dulls when I meet Isi’s glare. “I know it’s a burden,” I say to him. “But that little child, that unborn baby—”
    â€œBring them then,” Isi says. “But not Charlie.”
    â€œYou know they won’t go without him.”
    â€œThat is their choice.”
    I blow out a frustrated breath and look to Kane.
    â€œCharlie’s too weak to think about harming us,” Kane says, careful. “And Rebecca’s with child.”
    â€œSo you agree with Em?” Nishwa asks.
    â€œI understand why she’s asking,” Kane says.
    I have half a thought that he didn’t exactly answer Nishwa’s question.
    â€œHatred buries itself deep,” Isi mutters.
    I turn to Matisa. “Do
you
think it’s dangerous?”
    â€œI think this is your decision,” she says. “His family wronged yours, but he is your people. The weight of that history lies with you. We should respect your wishes.” She looks at Isi.
    I swallow. “But do you think Charlie is the same kind of person his pa was?”
    She turns back, her brown eyes measuring me. “Who can say? We are all walking a new path, now.”
    â€œI can’t leave them.”
    Matisa nods and looks to Isi again. He looks away, his jaw clenched.
    â€œLet’s get moving,” says Kane. “We’re losing the light.”
    Isi and Nishwa are on foot now. It was Nishwa’s idea to give their horses to Rebecca and Josiah, who are too weak to keep up. It was a practical decision, but I know Nishwa’s soft heart made him speak before anyone else thought of it. Isi’s beyond prickly now; he gave Kane’s brothers a stiff shake of his head when they asked to walk with him and paced offahead of us. Matisa consoled the little boys by putting them on her horse, and they look happy enough, but Isi slighting them like that bothers me.
    And I can’t get his words out of my head:
Hatred buries itself deep
.
    I push the thought aside. Surely doing the right thing will help things turn out all right for all of us.
    Still, nobody was inclined to sit out around the fire last night; we all ate and turned in quick. There was no
mescacâkan
song; just the thin drizzle of rain on our tarps. I shut my eyes tight and prayed for sleep.
    Now I walk with Kane and Nishwa, out of earshot of Charlie, who limps behind us, beside Isi’s horse carrying Rebecca. Matisa showed him how to lead the horse and he’s doing all right keeping pace. That Almighty-cursed limp doesn’t seem to bother him too much; he’s stronger than I figured.
    They know we’re only taking them to the crossing, that they’ll have to journey to that Dominion outpost on their own. Even so, Rebecca’s face is going to crack from her big smile; it’s clear she’s so relieved she doesn’t know which end is up.
    Was a mite surprised Kane’s ma was agreeable about bringing them along, considering Charlie might harbor some hate toward Kane. But I suppose being a mother makes her more inclined to help. I notice, though, she’s keeping the little boys away from Charlie’s lot.
    Kane reaches out to lace his hand through mine. My