73
Jara barely slept after Astolpho’s visit. Too many worries loomed in her head.
Whether Astolpho really could find Bradamante. Whether they would both return.
Worry about Rinaldo. What happened to him? Why wasn’t he here?
Worry about herself.
How would she take care of nearly forty sick men all alone without any help?
Cook for them, carry up all the water they needed, feed the ones who couldn’t feed themselves.
She still had more soiled clothing to boil. Everything smelled of disease.
And there were all the horses to feed and water, too. Astolpho had taken on so many of those tasks.
Jara knew she needed her rest. She needed to feel strong and alert in the morning.
But by the first hint of dawn, she knew it was no use trying any longer to sleep.
Instead she lay awake in Rinaldo
