Cursor's Fury (Codex Alera #3)(159)

"You worry too much," Max told him, and leaned idly against the trunk of a tree. The pair were the only two legionares standing, other than the half dozen men spread around the group, on watch. The rest lay on the ground in silent, hard sleep, exhausted after the day of marching and fighting. "Look, the Canim don't always do things that make sense."

"You're wrong," Tavi said, his tone firm. "It always makes sense to them, Max. They think differently than we do, but they aren't insane or stupid." He waved his hand at the countryside. "All those loose packs. No organization, no direction. No cohesive force. This is a major move. I've got to figure out what they're doing."

"We could just keep on riding until we got to the harbor. I'll bet you we'd figure it out then."

"For about five minutes. Then our horses would collapse from exhaustion, and the Canim would rip our faces off."

"But we'd know," Max said.

"We'd know." Tavi sighed. He shook his head. "Where is he?"

"Messengers are sort of funny about wanting to get where they're going in one piece and breathing. This is hostile territory. Give him time."

"We might not have time."

"Yes," Max drawled. "And worrying about it won't get him here any faster." Max opened a sling bag and dug out a round, flat loaf of bread. He broke it in half and tossed one to Tavi. "Eat, while you have a chance. Sleep, if you like."

"Sleep," Tavi said, faint scorn in his voice.

Max grunted, and the two of them ate. After a moment, he said, "Notice anything?"

"Like?"

"Every one of your legionares is either on his back or wishing he was there."

Tavi frowned at the shadowed forms of recumbent soldiers. Even the sentries sagged wearily. "You aren't sleeping," Tavi pointed out.

"I've got the metalcraft to go without for days if I have to."

Tavi grimaced at him.

"You're missing my point. You aren't sleeping, either," Max said. "But you aren't stumbling around. Your mouth is running faster than any horse in Alera."

Tavi stopped chewing for a second, frowning. "You don't mean that I'm using metalcraft?"

"You aren't," Max said. "I could tell. But you're rolling along just fine."

Tavi took a deep breath. Then he said, "Kitai."

"Granted, she'd put a bounce in any man's step," Max said. "But I'm serious. Whatever herb you're using..."

"No, Max," Tavi said. "It's... I can do without sleep a lot better than I used to. Since Kitai and I have been-"

"Plowing furrows in the mattress?"

It was dark enough for Max not to be able to see Tavi's sudden blush, thank the great furies. "I was going to say together. You ass."

Max chortled and swigged from a skin. He passed it to Tavi.

Tavi drank and grimaced at the weak, watered wine. "I haven't needed as much sleep. Sometimes I think I can see more clearly. Hear better. I don't know."

"Bloody odd," Max said, thoughtfully. "If handy."

"I'd rather you didn't talk about it, " Tavi said quietly.

"Course," Max said, taking the skin back. "Surprised the crows out of me, to see her here. Figured she'd stay in the palace. She liked the toys."

Tavi grunted. "She's of her own mind about such things."

"Least she's safe back at Elinarch now," Max said.