Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (47 page)

“
Jordy?
”
Iris repeated, as though she hadn
’
t been listening to a word he said.
“
May I ask a favor?
”

Tob shifted his feet. At this rate, Iris was going to dither half the morning away. A band of pink stretched along the horizon now, brightest in the east. The last stars had faded to invisibility behind the growing lightness of the sky. At the bottom of the hill the birdsong from the hedgerow had risen to clamorous levels. If they didn
’
t leave soon, they
’
d never reach their usual first campsite by nightfall.

Jordy gave no sign that he was aware of the impending sunrise, the miles to be traveled, Tob
’
s existence, or anything other than the girl who struggled to look him in the face.
“
If I can,
”
he told her.
“
What is it?
”

“
Broadford needs
…
that is
…
Canis says
…
since my aunt, actually my cousin
—”
She bit her lip and started again, the words finally tumbling out in a coherent order.
“
If Driss dies, Broadford will have no Redmother and that
’
s not right. I have the training. Let me spend some time with her. Let me become the new Redmother. Canis says there
’
s no one else. I won
’
t let it interfere with what needs to be done here. I can get up early, or work after the rest of the family
’
s in bed if that
’
s what it takes, but I really should spend as much time as I can with Driss, as long as she
’
s strong enough to talk, to learn the village history
—”

As soon as she paused for breath, Jordy said,
“
Iris.
”
She flinched, although Tob saw no reason for it. His father wasn
’
t angry, just anxious to get a word in while he could.
“
I approve.
”

She looked at him as though he
’
d said something complicated.
“
You do?
”

“
Aye. It
’
s a fine idea. Herri asked me if you would consider it, but I told him you might need time to become comfortable with us before committing yourself. Being Redmother can be a big responsibility.
”

The girl slowly
—
very slowly as far as Tob was concerned
—
absorbed a few fragments of meaning from Jordy
’
s words.
“
The innkeeper thought of me? He doesn
’
t know me.
”

“
He heard your Story of Beginnings at the festival. We all did.
”
Jordy
’
s exasperation finally broke through.
“
Stones, girl, this isn
’
t Soza. No one
’
s going to stop you doing what you do best. I
’
m not going to insist that you muck out the chicken coop or reshingle the stable roof if you
’
re ready and able to use your Redmother skills instead. Neither is Cyril. Don
’
t imagine you have to work all day and half the night to please her. Ask Tob here.
”

“
Mom
’
s very independent,
”
Tob assured her. Then he glanced involuntarily to his right. The first sliver of sun peaked over the horizon and began to expand.

Iris caught the direction of his gaze and looked guilty.
“
I
’
m sorry. I
’
m keeping you. I should have mentioned this earlier.
”

“
You
’
re not keeping us.
”
Jordy pushed to his feet.
“
Anything left?
”
he asked Tob.

“
The bedrolls, and Stockings
’
grooming kit.
”

Jordy jumped down from the wagon.
“
Iris will help you. I
’
m going to talk to your mother.
”

Tob didn
’
t really need any help, but he led Iris into the stable and allowed her to carry the sturdy sack of grooming supplies back to the wagon. Tob stowed the sack and bedrolls near the hamper, raised the tailboard, and hooked it in place.
“
Well,
”
he said to the silently watching Iris.
“
That
’
s that.
”

The door of the house swung open, and Matti tore across the yard. Jordy followed, Pepper clinging to his back with her arms around his neck and her bare legs jutting out past his waist.

“
I want to go with you as far as the square,
”
Pepper said as Jordy reached the wagon, turned around, and deposited her on the footrest below the driver
’
s seat.

“
No.
”

“
You
’
ve got chores,
”
Tob reminded her.

“
It
’
s too cold for bare feet,
”
was Matti
’
s helpful comment.

“
You could run and get my shoes,
”
Pepper suggested to her little sister.

Tob hugged the two little girls, one after the other, without interrupting their conversation.

Matti smiled up at Jordy and held out her arms.
“
I love you, Daddy.
”

“
My wee mischief maker,
”
Jordy told her as he swung her into his arms.
“
You
’
ve two sisters to listen to now. That
’
s twice the work, you know.
”

“
I can do it,
”
Matti answered with unshakable confidence.

Jordy put her down, received a fierce hug from Pepper, and firmly disentangled himself from her.
“
Off you go, now.
”

Pepper looked down from the wagon, appalled.
“
My feet will freeze!
”

“
Now, Pepper.
”

Iris stepped closer.
“
I could carry you,
”
she suggested.

Pepper considered the distance back to the house, considered the set to Jordy
’
s jaw, smiled brightly, and said,
“
Thank you,
”
as she clambered onto Iris
’
s back. They moved away from the wagon, Matti trotting after them. Jordy took Stockings
’
lead rope in his hand.

“
G
’
dup,
”
he told the horse. Over his shoulder he said,
“
We
’
ll see you in a few ninedays.
”

“
Bye, Daddy!
”

“
Bye, Tobble!
”

Stocking leaned into the harness and the wagon began to roll. Tob followed it, walking backwards a few paces to wave to his sisters. He caught a glimpse of his mother watching in the doorway and waved at her, too. One of the cats emerged from the stable, blinked in the sunlight, and stretched. Matti went toward it. Iris started to carry Pepper back to the porch.

Tob turned around and ran to catch up with the wagon.

* * *

The attic was very quiet. Vray knew she was only imagining it, but the house seemed to echo with emptiness in the absence of the carter and his son.

A small voice spoke in the darkness.
“
Iris, are you asleep?
”

“
No, not yet.
”

“
We
’
re glad you
’
re here. Me and Matti. It used to always be lonely when Tob was away.
”

“
Thank you. I miss him, too.
”

“
Iris, do you know any stories?
”

“
A few,
”
she admitted. Her training as a Redmother had begun when she was younger than Pepper. As far as she knew, Vissa had told her every story that there was. Much of the oral and written tradition and history of a dozen kingdoms was stored in her memory.

“
Will you tell us one?
”

“
You
’
re supposed to be going to sleep.
”

Rustling noises came from the direction of the little girls on their bed.
“
Just one or two. Please?
”

Vray relented.
“
About what?
”
She sat up and clasped her arms around her updrawn knees. A scuffle in the darkness warned her just before two small bodies joined her on her bed.

“
Monsters,
”
Matti announced immediately.
“
One we
’
ve never heard of before.
”

“
You
’
ve heard of dragons?
”
Vray asked.

“
Lots of times.
”

“
Wind demons?
”

“
They
’
re boring,
”
Pepper complained.

“
How about fire bears?
”

The suggestion earned her an enthusiastic
“
Oooh,
”
from her audience.

Pepper said,
“
I
’
ve never even heard of a fire bear. Where do they live?
”

“
There aren
’
t any anymore. Originally they lived only to the north of here. But for a while there were some as far south as White Water, and all through the Dherrican mountains.
”

“
What did they do?
”
Pepper asked.

“
Why aren
’
t there any anymore?
”
Matti added.

“
Tell us about one.
”

Vray rocked thoughtfully on the base of her spine.
“
I can tell you a couple of short stories about long-ago heroes who killed fire bears, or I could tell you one kind of long story about the last fire bear. Which will it be?
”

“
The long story,
”
Matti replied instantly.

“
All right,
”
Pepper conceded.

“
Fire bears lived along the seacoast of Rhenlan for centuries of centuries,
”
Vray began.
“
They were taller than any other bear that ever was. Taller even than the gray bears of the cold south in Dherrica. They had no fear of the Children of the Rock. Usually they hunted alone, but sometimes a whole pack would attack a village and the people would have to find ways to fight them off until the nearest king could send a brave Shaper hero to kill them.
”

“
Why were they called fire bears?
”
Matti interrupted.

“
Because the tiniest bite or scratch from one of them would burn like fire. Even a small injury could kill a person.
”

“
What did they eat?
”
Pepper asked.

“
What does any monster like to eat?
”
Vray answered question for question.

“
Us?
”
Matti asked.