Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (40 page)

She was on duty, so she ignored Nocca except for a passing grin, and came directly toward Dael.
“
Captain, you asked to be informed of the inspection. It
’
s time.
”

“
I
’
ll be right there.
”
He turned his best wheedling look on his mother.
“
Can I take just one piece? Please?
”

She sliced the bread, sending wisps of fragrant steam upward. When she removed the first piece she placed it on a cloth and handed it to the girl.
“
Here, dear. You must be hungry.
”

“
Mother!
”

Nocca slipped past Dael and stood next to Peanal.
“
I better go, too. I
’
ll share yours, all right?
”

“
You
’
ll do no such thing.
”
Deenit handed out a second portion of the bread. When Loras moved toward the table, Dael planted himself squarely in the way.

“
My turn,
”
he announced firmly.

His mother kissed him on the cheek and handed over the rest of the loaf.
“
Don
’
t eat it all at once,
”
she warned.
“
You know what a stomachache it used to give you.
”

“
Mother!
”

“
Yes?
”

“
Don
’
t embarrass me in front of my guards,
”
he muttered.

“
It
’
s just your brother and Peanal.
”

“
I
’
m leaving now.
”
He knew when to retreat.
“
Enjoy yourselves. We
’
ll be back as soon as we can. Tonight at the latest.
”

“
Where is Rose?
”
His mother waved them out the door as she turned her attention back to the work to be done.
“
If she
’
s injured Ruudy it will ruin the entire day.
”

Chuckling under his breath, Dael shepherded the two younger guards out of the house.

* * *

The largest barn in Juniper Ridge was just large enough to accommodate all of the tables and benches required by the village population for the spring festival. Doron placed her crock of vegetable stew at the edge of the makeshift hearth in the center of the floor, then squeezed through the crowd in the direction of th
e wine barrels. Outside, a late-
season storm was coating every fence post and tree trunk with damp snow. Inside, the well-tended fire, combined with the warm breath and bodies of many people, made the barn completely comfortable.

Doron smelled wet wool as a strong, slender hand came to rest on her forearm.
“
The joys of the season to you, dyer,
”
said the familiar voice.

“
So it
’
s you, is it?
”

Pirse, with typical Shaper arrogance, ignored the challenge in her tone.
“
I
’
ve told you before, I just can
’
t seem to stay away.
”

She allowed him to draw her away from the dense knot of people near the wine table. He had obviously just arrived. The shoulders of his cloak were dark with damp, and melting snowflakes glistened in his black hair and eyelashes.

“
The whole winter we heard nothing of you,
”
Doron complained.

“
I went so far north that I saw no people for ninedays at a time. Which reminds me, I have a favor to ask.
”

“
Naturally.
”

Others were becoming aware of the prince in their midst. Pirse acknowledged some greetings and allowed a youngster to carry his cloak up to the loft to dry.
He looks well, at least,
Doron thought. The prince may have been in exile as far as Bronle was concerned, but he hadn
’
t been abandoned by Dherrica itself. As long as he stayed true to his vows, Keepers wouldn
’
t be able to help themselves responding to him and sheltering him. And Doron was no exception.

A shift in the throng left them alone again.
“
It does seem that all I ever do is ask for things,
”
Pirse said in answer to her comment. Or perhaps, her thoughts.
“
But this is important. Dragon
’
s ears. Three sets. I would have left them with Morb at Dundas, but I had to bypass a patrol. Then the weather worsened and I didn
’
t want to double back.
”

Doron pursed her lips.
“
There
’
s Damic in Dundas. He usually comes south for a bit of trading around midsummer. Will he know how to find your wizard?
”

“
Aye. But it needn
’
t be someone from Dundas. If Jordy comes through first and is willing to take them to Garden Vale and the Greenmother there, that would be fine.
”

“
Fine indeed. You won
’
t be here to listen to him complain.
”

Pirse slid an arm around her waist and bestowed one of his more charming smiles upon her.
“
So, you do miss me when I
’
m gone.
”

The impulse to slap the knowing smirk off his pretty face wrestled with an equal impulse to entwine her body around his then and there. She compromised by leaning into his embrace long enough to bite him, not gently, on the nose.

His hand moved from her waist to cup her breast from beneath, half warning, half promise. She didn
’
t know her mouth was still open as she gazed into the sparkling eyes level with her own until he tilted his head slightly and caught her in a kiss. She stopped hearing the conversations going on around them, stopped thinking, stopped breathing. Nothing was real but the taste and smell and touch of this one aggravating obsession.

They separated reluctantly. Doron
’
s mind resumed working, and thoughts assumed astonishing clarity. What was the matter with her? With him? With them? She knew the prince was as unnerved by their mutual attraction as she was. Each time they met, they were drawn together more strongly, more insistently, than the last. Unnerving, because on all other levels they tended to bicker and disagree. He was a Shaper, by the gods! She didn
’
t like Shapers. There was certainly no rational excuse for his behavior. Anyone would have thought that dragons, roving Abstainers, and the enmity of his uncle would have required Pirse
’
s full concentration. Yet ever since the few ninedays he
’
d spent recuperating in her care, he had returned to Juniper Ridge for each festival, as well as scattered days between when time allowed. One or two casual stops she might have considered gratitude. But gratitude had long since ceased to be an adequate explanation.

“
Are you busy after lunch?
”
he asked.

It made no sense. Even as she thought it she found herself saying,
“
Only with you.
”

“
This village needs another Redmother,
”
Canis said as she took a seat next to Jordy on the inn steps.

Jordy turned his head to look at the fisherwoman. The steps were still in shadow, not yet warmed by the early spring sunlight. A mug of warm cider steamed between Canis
’
s bony hands. He drained his own mug and glanced from Canis to the girl folded up in the shadows and one of Cyril
’
s old shawls. He tipped his head toward the group of children he hoped she would soon decide to join, but Iris ignored the prompting. Most of the young people of Broadford were in the square, preparing it for the festival. Some draped garlands of mixed dried and early-blooming flowers on every building eave, rail, and fence post, while others were setting up trestle tables for the feast. A double dozen youngsters laughed and enjoyed each others
’
company in the dawn-lit square, while Iris clung silently by his side. Even Ivey, who
’
d arrived late the night before, was up on a ladder, taking directions meekly from the prettiest girl in the village.

Jordy
’
d brought Iris, along with Matti and Pepper, to help with the decorating. The little ones were doing what they could and not getting too much in the older children
’
s way, but his new charge didn
’
t seem to know how to join in the fun. Jordy scowled and turned his attention back to Canis.

“
We have a Redmother, haven
’
t we?
”

Canis gave a gusty sigh.
“
You
’
ve been gone, carter, but I
’
d think Herri would have caught you up on all the news by now.
”

“
Redmother Driss was pregnant when I left. Has she had the baby?
”

“
Twins. Four ninedays early. She
’
s very ill. A wet nurse has been found, but the babes may not live. Brownmother Mellany from Garden Vale has done all she can. She
’
s hoping Greenmother Jenil will return from Sitrine soon. Her magic
’
s about the only hope Driss has.
”

“
Greenmothers,
”
Jordy growled.

Canis rapped him sharply on the head with her knuckles.
“
Not a word against any of the Mothers from you today, carter. Jenil can
’
t always be where she
’
s needed, and we Brownmothers serve when we can. Driss is so young. We didn
’
t think she
’
d need to start training another Redmother for years yet. If she dies, our memories die with her.
”
Canis sighed.
“
Without Driss, we
’
ve no one to tell the Story of Beginnings today. And don
’
t tell me we can do without the story, carter.
”

“
We
’
ll have to,
”
Jordy said. The old tale was entertaining, but hardly necessary to the festivities. There were more important rituals to fill the day, plenty of games and food and talk to fill the time. Not wanting another rap on the head, he didn
’
t say so.

The girl had drawn closer while Canis spoke. Ivey jumped lightly down from the ladder and came up to them.
“
Will you have some cider?
”
Jordy asked the minstrel, but Ivey ignored Jordy
’
s question.

“
We
’
d enjoy your company, pretty one,
”
Ivey said. Iris
’
s head lifted sharply at the compliment. She pulled the shawl closer around her narrow frame, her fingers playing nervously with the long red fringe. Despite her silence, Ivey persisted.
“
We haven
’
t been properly introduced.
”

“
Iris,
”
Jordy answered for the girl.
“
Why don
’
t you run along and help?
”
he added, keeping his tone gentle. He had to be careful. She tended to take every word he said as a command.

Paying no attention to either Ivey or himself, she addressed Canis, her voice soft.
“
Brownmother Canis?
”

“
Just Canis will do, child,
”
the fisherwoman told her.
“
I don
’
t do much these days.
”

“
Nothing much,
”
Jordy agreed,
“
but supervise the Festivals, and see the poor and sick are tended through the winter, and
—”