Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (66 page)

There was more Dael could have said. He
’
d been thinking about it for days, ever since receiving the report of the accident. If he
’
d been the man training them it wouldn
’
t have happened. If they
’
d had a Brownmother at that outpost, the boy might have lived. It was all so useless!

Jordy sighed.
“
It
’
s not what I hoped to bring back to Broadford, but at least we know. I
’
ll tell his parents, and our Redmother.
”

“
Thank you, Jordy. I am sorry.
”

“
Nothing you could have done.
”
The carter picked up his fork, then stabbed it into a hunk of potato and pushed the plate away from him.

The serving girl chose that moment to reappear, a laden tray in her hands. She set a plate heaped with biscuits in front of Dael, and put the dish of ham gravy to one side. At his left she placed a pot of steaming tea and a cup.

“
I
’
d rather have a brandy,
”
he muttered.

“
Nonsense,
”
she replied, patting his head.
“
Eat your breakfast.
”

Dael watched her bustle over to another pair of early guests. He sighed. He was hungry. The news, dismal as it was, was old to him. He picked up a biscuit.
“
I
’
m making slow progress with the townspeople here.
”

The carter accepted the change of subject.
“
They
’
re content. Edian reaps more benefits than troubles from the state of things. What about the guard?
”

“
Some I
’
m sure still follow their vows. Others enjoy the power Damon offers to those who serve him well. I have to be careful who I trust. Damon has spies in the guard, in the court, in Edian, and in the rest of Rhenlan, as well. I hope you
’
re careful who you talk to.
”

“
I am that,
”
Jordy agreed dourly.
“
There are one or two in any village who will be tempted by greed. I
’
ve been speaking only to those I know well, and respect.
”

“
And?
”

“
It
’
s going well. Better than I thought it would,
”
he admitted grudgingly.
“
Thanks to the prince, as a matter of fact. He
’
s pushing, laddie. Pushing everywhere. As I expect you
’
re aware.
”

“
The conscriptions, you mean?
”

“
And the extra taxing, as your corporals will have it. Stealing, I call it.
”

“
So do I, Jordy,
”
Dael reminded him.
“
None of those troops are sent by me. There
’
s no longer a single king
’
s guard in Rhenlan, although Damon doesn
’
t know I
’
ve noticed that. There are some who report to Damon directly. I know who they are, or who most of them are.
”

Jordy
’
s grouchiness was replaced by worry.
“
This is dangerous for you.
”

“
I know. I keep friendly with Damon
’
s favorites. Just as I
’
m still on the best of terms with Damon. I think I
’
ve identified his chief informer. A stableman named Palim.
”

“
Watch him, lad. Watch all of them.
”

“
Every minute,
”
Dael agreed.

Jordy looked out over the lake. Dael concentrated on eating, using the tea to wash down half a gravy-soaked biscuit at a time. His mother would have nagged him to chew his food. The thought of her cheered him somewhat. He popped the last biscuit into his mouth whole. Gravy leaked out of the corner of his mouth, and he ducked his head to catch the warm liquid on the back of his wrist.

“
You should chew your food,
”
Jordy commented.

Dael started guiltily.
“
I
’
m in a hurry.
”
The excuse had never worked at home, but it was all he could think of.

“
A wife would feed you properly. Keep you out of inns, on a sensible schedule,
”
the carter suggested.

“
Not for me.
”

Jordy tilted his head toward the serving girl, busy behind the bar.
“
You don
’
t lack for interested suitors.
”

“
They
’
re interested. I
’
m not. The only one I ever cared for is long gone.
”

The carter, thank the gods, made no answer to that. He stood and stretched.
“
I
’
m leaving for home first thing tomorrow. I
’
ve done all I can for this year. The winter will keep me in Broadford.
”

“
You
’
ve planted the seeds,
”
Dael assured him.
“
We
’
ll see what the spring brings.
”

“
Look for me before Spring Festival, if the weather is mild.
”
With a wave, he left.

Dael leaned back in his chair. More biscuits? He wasn
’
t sure whether or not to look forward to their next talk. At least he wouldn
’
t have to bear sad tidings again. He hoped.

* * *

“
Just because I
’
m Dherrican doesn
’
t mean I like the cold,
”
Ivey grumbled as he shrugged a light cloak across his shoulders. Mist floated on the still surface of the water between the shore and the ship, tendrils stretching up to seep across the sand where they
’
d made camp. Overhead, a few lonely gulls circled the ship, complaining bitterly, white bodies barely visible against a pewter sky.

Chasa looked up at them.
“
Don
’
t blame me. Weather is Aage
’
s responsibility, and he
’
s not here.
”

Ivey rummaged through his pack.
“
There
’
s a heavier shirt in here somewhere.
”

As Ivey added shoes to the pile of odds and ends beside him, Chasa said,
“
You
’
ve acquired a whole new wardrobe. Having your help is expensive.
”

“
Expensive?
”
Ivey regarded him skeptically.
“
Passage on that weather-beaten excuse for a ship and a few new personal items isn
’
t much compensation for my fearless company in battle.
”

Chasa snorted. Unlike their battle with the sea monster, yesterday
’
s encounter had been nothing like a real fight. They
’
d found the reported Abstainers, but the band of dangerous marauders had turned out to be five thoroughly insane old people in a leaky fishing boat. He
’
d killed three with his javelins before they could draw alongside, then leaped across the gap between the rails, sword in hand, and dispatched the other two with more mercy than Abstainers deserved. Ivey had watched the entire episode from the boat. It had not been a battle. It had been an extermination. It was all that could be done when Abstainers started preying on settled folk, but Chasa had never learned to like doing it.

Now the task was finished. They had anchored on the coast west of Cross Cove, only a few day
s
’
overland travel from Edian. Ivey was eager to resume his usual life.

Chasa was not.

He dreaded Raisal. He didn
’
t want to walk back into that house, into a farcical situation which everyone else pretended not to be aware of. No, not everyone else. But the one person who counted insisted on ignoring it. Ignoring him.

Someone else was ignoring the problem, too. Chasa forced back the surge of anger that rose within him. No. He was not going to think about Dad.

A long-fingered, callused hand dropped onto his shoulder.
“
Let
’
s have breakfast,
”
Ivey suggested.
“
We need to talk.
”

Chasa followed him to the campfire. The aroma of fresh fish and brown biscuits caused his stomach to rumble. The ship
’
s cook deftly slid hot breaded fish and the round biscuits from the pans onto wooden plates, which he handed to Chasa and the minstrel. Nodding his thanks, Chasa silently followed Ivey away from the fire to a flat-topped rock near the high tide line.

Ivey attacked the food with enthusiasm. Between mouthfuls, he said,
“
I thought you
’
d be hungry.
”

Chasa lifted his gaze.
“
I thought you wanted to talk.
”

Ivey popped one more piece of biscuit into his mouth, then licked his fingers.
“
About the girl,
”
he said.

“
Which one?
”

“
Not mine.
”
Ivey leaned forward on the rock, plate balanced on his knees.
“
Nothing to talk about. We
’
re going to enjoy married life, though she hasn
’
t asked me yet.
”
He smiled.
“
Keepers need convincing about everything. The convincing can be quite pleasant. Take your girl, for example.
”

A heavy pause fell between them. Finally Chasa said,
“
Was that a joke?
”

Ivey didn
’
t move.
“
It was advice. From an almost-married man much your elder.
”

“
Four years isn
’
t much,
”
Chasa corrected him.

“
More experienced, then. With Keeper women. I
’
ve been watching you and Feather. Your behavior makes no sense to me. Are you betrothed, or aren
’
t you?
”

“
Good question.
”
Chasa picked the coating off a piece of fish, the grease warm and slippery on his fingertips.
“
She doesn
’
t remember me.
”

“
What
’
s that got to do with it? Feather doesn
’
t need to remember some child she once played with. She needs to get to know the man you are now. If you want her, that is.
”

“
Of course I want her!
”

Ivey sat back.
“
Why?
”

“
Another good question.
”
Chasa looked out over the gray water, still fidgeting with the fish.
“
She
’
s concise. Funny. She makes Dad laugh.
”
He wasn
’
t going to think about Dad.

Chasa forced his mind back to the list of Feather
’
s good points.
“
She
’
s beautiful. She
’
ll be a strong consort, someone who
’
ll help Jeyn and me run the kingdom someday. The staff all like her. Jeyn likes her.
”
Dad likes her. Stop thinking about Dad!