'I need to rest a moment,' Ranno called ahead as he slowed to a graceful halt.
Kuerolong slowed ahead of him, looking back over his shoulder to see what was happening. Steam rose from the thick white sweat on his back but he looked as though he could continue running all day as well as all night.
He let out a hearty laugh when he realised what was happening. 'The day the guardians tire is the day we all die.'
The other minotaurs laughed too though they were visibly relieved to be resting for a while. Riser chewed his lip, sensing it must be some kind of minotaur humour.
The sun had risen a couple of hours ago, casting long shadows between two rolling hills on either side of them. Thick patches of spiky undergrowth looked strange under the orange morning light. Kuerolong came walking back towards them as the other minotaurs stood panting with steam rising from their black, furry backs.
'We should all rest,' Kuerolong said, but not here. There's a settlement up ahead.
'Wendle River,' Ranno said.
Kuerolong nodded. 'The people there will help us. They have always been loyal to the sky lords.'
'Then let's go,' one of the other minotaurs said, pumping his halberd in the air.
His thighs were shaking from exertion but he was the first to suggest they start running again.
'We can go the last few kilometres at a slower pace,' Ranno said. 'We should be there in an hour.'
Kuerolong nodded and threw back his head, taking a huge gulp from a water skin that had been tied to his belt. The others did likewise, and even Riser fished into the compartments on the back of his exoskeleton until he found a flask of water to drink. Ranno took no refreshments. He waited patiently, looking no different than he had when they had started their journey. Not a single drop of sweat adorned his brow.
'We must go now,' Kuerolong said.
Ranno nodded. 'Let me set the pace this time. You're too strong for any of us to compete with.'
Kuerolong laughed again. 'Very well. Lead the way.'
Ranno set off at a much more manageable pace. The minotaurs kept a short stride, giving them chance to recover. Riser followed on all fours, charging like a bear. He was tempted to run into Ranno and trample him into the ground but he knew it was just a fantasy. He would never do such a thing... probably.
* * * * *
The sun had risen into a clear blue sky by the time they arrived at Wendle River. It was a small settlement, composed of perhaps a hundred wooden huts in a valley between two rolling hills. There was a river running through it, presumably of the same namesake, and people started gathering in what passed for its main thoroughfare as soon as the minotaurs arrived.
'King Kuerolong! Welcome!' a young man called out.
Others gathered around him bringing buckets of water and large, rough cloths. Riser wondered what they were doing until the minotaurs stopped amongst them, steaming with thick white sweat and the people started scrubbing them down with cloths and brushes, splashing them with cold water.
A woman ran up to Riser with a cloth in her hand. She took one look at his exoskeleton and then paused with a frown.
'Don't come near me with that,' Riser said. 'I haven't washed in a while.'
The woman pulled a face and turned to rejoin the others.
The minotaurs seemed to be enjoying the attention. A dozen men and women were now scrubbing them down, leaving pools of steaming water across the ground. The minotaurs panted, their huge chests expanding with every breath, and their wet snouts snorted as they repeatedly sniffed the air around them.
Ranno stood quietly nearby. Nobody paid him any attention. Riser shuffled towards him, powering down his exoskeleton long enough to climb out and limp across the dirt road until he was standing beside him.
'Will they support Lisa?' he said.
Ranno turned towards him with a passive expression. 'They might.'
'I hope they do.'
* * * * *
The people of Wendle River scrubbed the minotaurs for almost half an hour. By the time they were done even Kuerolong was looking clean and shiny again. His short, black fur ruffled in the warm breeze as it dried, and his long white horns were polished to a bright shine.
A man approached, leading a long line of villagers carrying trays of cooked meat and roasted vegetables. The smell was too much for Riser to endure. He hurried towards them on unsteady legs and grabbed a bone from a passing tray. Shoving the hot meat into his mouth, he tried to speak and chew at the same time.
'That's delicious!' he said in a garbled voice. He chewed and swallowed before the meat had time to cool down. 'Ah-ah. Too fucking hot!'
'Try this,' he said to Ranno after wincing and choking for a while. 'It'll burn your fucking face off!'
Ranno stared back impassively. 'I don't eat.'
'Your loss, old man.'
The minotaurs had no such reservations. They were tucking into fistfuls of food, filling their wide mouths with more meat than Riser could hold in both hands. He continued eating. It was too good to leave, but he let it cool a little before swallowing this time. By the time they had all had their fill, they were sitting around a large campfire, holding their fat, comfortable bellies and feeling warm inside.