His friend was still laughing when he helped Aleci load his tent into a waiting wagon. Aleci spotted Iachos loading his own supplies into another wagon and approached the older man.

“Iachos,” said Aleci.

The man handed the last of the crates to a waiting soldier then turned to Aleci, “Praefect.”

“Do you know Thodius from Nabaeum?” said Aleci.

“Thodius?” said Iachos, blinking. “It has been awhile since we’ve talked. Why do you ask, Praefect?”

“My guest, Finne,” said Aleci, “He wants to see Thodius. He said Thodius has a cure for clubbed feet.”

“Oh,” said Iachos, nodding, “I see.” he stroked at his beard, “It might be too late for the older boys. Unless you mean the babe he was carrying? How old is the child?”

“I don’t know,” Aleci admitted.

“Hmph,” said Iachos, but the corner of his eyes crinkled in a smile, “Typical. Is this a request, Praefect? I can examine the child.” He tapped his foot, “By the time we get to Nabaeum it might be past the critical stage… Thodius won’t be able to do anything.”

“Oh,” said Aleci, his heart sinking.

“Not to worry, Praefect!” said Iachos, clapping Aleci on the shoulder, “I’ll see what I can do. A brace won’t be too hard to make. I have assisted Thodius on several cases. If the bones haven’t hardened then it should be relatively simple. Depending on the twist of course, you can never-”

“Please go see him, Iachos,” said Aleci, “And he can understand us, you needn’t ask Domerc or any of his men to help you.”

This remark had Iachos raising his dark brows in surprise, “He does? What serendipity!”

Aleci strongly suspected that there would be a letter written to his father about this whole event as soon as they crossed the borders. But letters can be intercepted, and what was the use in worrying over potentials now? He quickly busied himself with making certain everyone was ready to leave. When he was finished making his rounds and inquiries on the scouts, he headed back to Finne’s wagon. Mercus was driving the horse, his messy dark hair visible even from a distance.

“Were you gossiping earlier?” said Aleci.

The soldiers around Mercus quickly made themselves busy.

“I was?” said Mercus, with faux innocence, “About what, Praefect? Was it the weather-”

“When we stop for the night, you-” Aleci pointed to the wagon, “you ask him what clothes he needs washed. And you wash them, hm?”

“-like your mouth!” chortled someone from behind Aleci.

Aleci ignored the man, likely Domerc from the sound of it. “As for you lot-” he said loudly to the assembled crowd, “I’ll have you all know Finne is my guest and he understands perfectly whatever gossip you chose to share amongst yourselves.”

“Guest,” muttered Mercus.

He quickly clapped a hand to his mouth at Aleci’s glare.

“Who else has laundry that needs doing?” said Aleci.

When it was time to leave, Edon kept close to Finne's wagon. He was an adept rider, it would seem, and wore the surliest look Aleci ever saw on a child. His soldiers, bored of anything to do but walk, decided to bet amongst themselves who would be the first to break that perpetual frown. Edon steadfastly ignored them. Domerc, riding next to Aleci on his own horse, looked impressed.

“Everyone laughs at Mercus,” said Domerc, casting a glance at Mercus who was making faces.

“I suppose he doesn’t care for clowns,” offered Aleci, amused.

“Iachos was in the wagon," said Domerc looking concerned, “Are the children-”

“Nothing to worry about,” said Aleci. “Iachos wanted to examine the baby’s feet. He said he could do something about it being clubbed.”

“Really?” said Domerc, glancing at the wagon, “I suppose… exposing a child here is rather deadly.”

“They don’t do exposure,” Aleci corrected, remembering a lesson from one of the Imrukian midwives. “They have this… tea.”

The older woman had told him that an overdose of the tea would easily kill a grown man. He’ll be clutching at his heart and foaming at the mouth he would, Maera had said with confidence, but in specific amounts it was a useful sleeping aid. It sounded dangerous, Aleci had told her frowning, to which she replied that everything in life was dangerous, and there were certain things one could only eat once.

“The father didn’t want the child I take it?” said Domerc, “Or is he going to want his wife back?”

Domerc’s quick wits was why he lead Aleci’s scouting party, and got away with jokes about Aleci’s personal affairs, mainly his disinterest in beautiful women. Sometimes they were funny, thought Aleci, especially the time when Domerc wondered out loud who Aleci would sail to war for, the beautiful woman that was kidnapped or the men he’ll see there. Both, Aleci had lied, and the men listening in had laughed.

“I will ask him,” said Aleci. “But I am sure he’s not interested in giving chase. Best be careful anyway.” Domerc nodded at that.

“So he’s fleeing to the Capital?” said Domerc, then, “They’ll drive all the women away from Imruk.” said Domerc, with a sudden burst of laughter, “Just because they have carriers doesn’t mean they can birth fully grown men for war!”

“We saw women in Imruk.” said Aleci, irritably, “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Ah but they’re not noble women,” said Domerc. “Didn’t what’s her name-”

“Maera,” said Aleci.

“Yes, Maera, she said they were obsessed with bloodlines or what not. All the noble women have either fled or taken the tea-” he looked sober, “ah I suppose I shouldn’t jest about that. What a shame…” He trailed off, then said curiously, “I meant to ask, aside from the extra patrols, Kaeso told me you wanted me to sign again? To who? I thought most Imrukians don’t understand our tongue.”

“To the middle child,” said Aleci, nodding his head towards the wagon. “Ediann. He’s deaf and I figured if they’re traveling with us-”

“How deaf?” said Domerc and Aleci blinked, “How deaf?” Domerc repeated, “If he can hear some, I can try teaching him whistles, when he gets into a spot of trouble.”

“When?” said Aleci.

“You take one eye off of them and they’re gone,” said Domerc solemnly. “I’m surprised Finne managed to get this far.”

The rest of the day's journey was uneventful. When they stopped for the evening, Aleci was surprised that Edon offered to help him set up the tent. The boy didn’t speak a single word, still frowning all the while. They were done much quicker than expected, so Aleci decided to leave the boy to brush his black horse while he checked on Finne. He found Iachos sitting on a crate, Ethain in his lap. The physician was gently manipulating Ethain’s feet, making notes under his breath as he did so. Finne sat next to Ediann, drawing something on the tablet and stylus that Kaeso must have given them. Ediann was the first to notice Aleci. He grinned, pulling the tablet away from Finne’s grasp.

“Pafect,” he said, stopping in front of Aleci to give him a short bow. “Pafect,” he held the tablet up to Aleci.

“Oh?” said Aleci, taking a look.

They were a series of small drawings. The first he could make out was a wagon, then a bowl, a waterskin. Essentials then, but the next were figures, one with their hand to their mouth, and five other emotions. Still limited, thought Aleci, but it was a rather clever use of the space, and Finne was clearly talented.

“Is this how you used to communicate with him?” said Aleci to Finne who nodded.

“We had an entire book,” said Finne. “But ah…” he glanced at where Iachos sat with Ethain, “It was a rushed departure. I think I must’ve dropped it.”

“Not to worry,” he looked down at Ediann, and pointed to an easier picture to demonstrate. “Food?” he said and signed, very slowly, “Do you want food?” with the latter question he pointed to Ediann, the flick of his hand to indicate it was a question.

Perhaps it wasn’t wise to start with sentences right away, but if the boy was already pointing to things he wanted, he could make the association. At Ediann’s puzzled look, but willing copy of Aleci’s movements, Aleci pulled from his pouch a sweet.

“Sweet,” he signed, holding out the sugared fruit. “Do you want sweet?” he flicked his hands again.

“Sweet,” Ediann signed, then glancing at Finne before pointing to the tablet where a figure was handing another figure an item. “Give.” he paused, frowning, before saying, “Pafect give.”

“You give to me?” Aleci signed, making sure the inflection of the question was there and hoping the message was conveyed. He glanced at the tablet, there seemed to be no drawing that indicated yes or no.

Finne came over to them, “Yes?” he said, tapping Ediann’s shoulder, and nodding. “No?” he shook his head.

“Yes,” said Ediann, nodding.

Aleci sighed in relief, “Yes, I want sweets,” he signed, this time nodding his head, he made sure to gesture to the sweet in his hand as well.

“Yes. I. Want,” Ediann began. “Sweets.” he shook his head at Finne.

Aleci nodded, handing the sugared fruit to Ediann who took it with an intrigued look. It was promptly shoved into his mouth.

“He doesn’t understand you,” said Finne, biting his lip. “I haven’t taught him how to spell things. He doesn’t know what you’re doing. The letters I mean, you are using letters?”

“I’m out of practice, normally I would drop vowels,” Aleci admitted. “One normally doesn’t ask for sweets during a mission.”

Finne gave a startled laugh at that and Aleci smiled, “You can teach him? It would make things easier for me. Unless you want me to try signing in Imrukian? I know you-”

“I don’t plan to return to Imruk,” said Finne shortly. “If-” he looked at Ediann then at Aleci, “If it makes it easier for you, I will teach him your tongue.”

“I’m done,” Iachos announced. “Sorry to interrupt.” he handed Ethain to Finne, “Lovely child. I’m sorry to say he won’t like me very much the rest of our trip,” he glanced at Aleci. “May I speak to you, Praefect, about the supplies?”

“Of course,” said Aleci.

When they had gone a distance away from the wagon Iachos turned to Aleci and said, his voice uncharacteristically serious, “Can you stand the sound of children crying?” at Aleci’s confused look he continued, “Finne has been giving them a tea. I smelled it on the younger ones. It keeps them quiet for the journey, but I told him I would strongly suggest for him to stop. Then he said you would mind, and-”

“I see,” said Aleci. “I’ll talk to him. Don’t worry about it.”

The older man looked relieved, “Ah yes, thank you, Praefect. It’s very hard to properly medicate the younger ones. I’m very cautious about such things. Are you sure you won’t mind? I told Finne he could stay in the medic tent with me, if you-”

“Thank you for your offer, Iachos, but I’m sure I’ll manage,” said Aleci. “I’ve slept through many things.”