"To look for help you left the main road - I assume you were traveling on a main road - to wander down a little goat track? You're dumber than I thought."
"Kaya!" Nasr shot her a meaningful look, then turned back to Quinlan, trying to look composed, as though they were all having pleasant tea together. "I think, brother, that it will take a several days for you to heal properly. Unfortunately," he frowned, "I won't be able to stay here with you that entire time, like I said. But I can return in four days, then I can guide you back to the main caravan routes. Perhaps you can find passage there. There are always several caravans going to Essryn. In the meantime, please, stay in here and rest."
It was half request, half command. But couched very politely.
Then Kaya and Nasr left Quinlan to rest, disappearing to their own chores. Or, by the sounds of it, another heated 'discussion' in their own language from outside the tent. When Kaya finally returned, the sun had disappeared over the horizon, and she was alone. She handed Quinlan a bowl of chickpeas as graciously as she could manage (not very gracefully), with a gruff, "Please, eat."
