Arrows of Promise (Kingmakers Book 2) by Honor Raconteur

hand, what might have been a smile turning up
the corners of his moustache. “Carhart’s the name. I greet you.”
    The men behind him jostled and greeted her in quick
succession. “Roskin,” this was a younger man, with the air of a young husband
and father, “I greet you.”
    “Weston,” one of the Vianian men said, teeth a blinding
white against his skin, “I greet you.”
    “Orba,” the other Vianian greeted her with a hand that could
make two of hers. Really, in spite of being from the same place and race, the
two men didn’t look a thing alike. His face was wider, nose thicker, and more
muscular than the other man. “I greet you, Riana Ravenscroft.”
    “May harmony find ye,” she returned to all of them, finally
getting a word in edgewise. “Well, now. Have ye thought to take breakfast?”
    Orba found this question amusing. “We’re ready to go now,
Miss Riana. But we’ll let you finish yours.”
    “Generous of ye,” she drawled, which made him chuckle.
“Alright. Let me find me wizard.” Sidestepping the fire, she poked her head
into Ash’s tent. No, wasn’t there. She hadn’t thought he was, as it was dead
quiet in there, but when exactly had he disappeared on her? Heavens, come to
think of it, what time did the man rise that he was up before she was?
    Shaking her head, she drew back out and scooped up her bowl.
“Never mind. Sit yerselves, gentlemen, and tell me what game ye like to hunt
best.”
    They sat and talked, and she got a feel for what areas they
needed to be in. The youngest of the bunch, Roskin, was more of a snare man.
Rabbit was his game, and squirrel, and things of that ilk. He cheerfully
admitted that he couldn’t reliably hit the broad side of a barn but there
wasn’t a creature he couldn’t trap.
    The other three were more traditional in that—they liked to
ambush their prey and take in larger game. So after she finished her breakfast,
and gave the bowl a quick rinse, she led them out of the encampment and through
the settlement.
    As they walked, the men looked about them with open
admiration, sometimes letting out a low whistle.
    “You’ve been busy,” Carhart observed, turning and walking
backwards a few steps so as to get a better look at something. “I knew there
were streets in, and some buildings, but this is more than I expected. It
almost looks like a proper town. How many streets?”
    “Five streets laid.”
    Roskin pointed off to the far right. “The new city will go
that direction?”
    “No,” she corrected with a shake of the head, “that be
cleared for farmland. We be dreadful short of cleared land in Estole, and if we
do no’ plant now, there be no’ enough to eat in a month or three. So that over
there be for planting. If we need more room for people, it be straight ahead we
go.”
    “Is that right.” Roskin frowned in that direction. “I knew
we were short on food, that was explained to us, but is it really going to
happen that soon?”
    “Aye, at the rate people be coming in. So gentlemen, look
sharp and if ye know of any others that be huntsmen, and want to work here,
then tell me. We need all hands.”
    “We’ll do so,” Orba promised from behind her. She glanced
back and the expression on his face made her think that he already had someone
in mind. Mayhap several someones.
    “Also, be on the lookout for bandits or any signs of them,”
she cautioned.
    “Sheriff warned us of it,” Roskin assured her. “At the first
sign, we’ll come running back to warn you. Don’t you worry.”
    They still had no sign of the bandits returning, so it was
safe enough today, but Riana hoped they kept their wits about them as they went
off. She had crops to worry about. Reminded of the fields that still needed to
be planted, she brought them over to a crop of wild potatoes that she had found
the night before. It was within throwing distance of the last street, and all
she had to do was take ten steps away from the game trail to show them