Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (72 page)

Vray
’
s face went hot with an equal mixture of anger and betrayal. How dare he? A Keeper
’
s place was to keep, not to concern himself with Shaper affairs! She
’
d known Jordy to be outspoken in his criticisms. She
’
d heard it for herself, and heard more from neighbors and friends over the summer. Justifiably critical, considering her father
’
s mishandling of the kingdom and his gross mishandling of his son the prince. But it wasn
’
t his fault! Vray had wanted to shout that at the carter several times, when she
’
d overheard his opinions of Hion
’
s muddled rule. She wanted to stand up and shout it now.

Instead, she firmly pressed her lips together, reminding herself that Jordy also lacked traditional respect for the Dreamers. Of course, just because he considered the Dreamers ineffectual didn
’
t mean he should try to work his own weather magic. Not that he would consider it. Jordy had no real respect for magic, either. Whatever the shortcomings of the Shapers of Rhenlan, a Keeper like Jordy wasn
’
t justified in making arrangements to replace their authority with something of his own devising! No respect for any tradition, that was the trouble with him. Just like Damon.

The abrupt comparison chilled her. Her brother was a terrible person, totally selfish, spoiled, intent on reshaping the world to rules only he understood. Tradition was a joke to Damon. He laughed through recitations of vows, stories of Redmothers. He said he didn
’
t need reasons, or vows. She hadn
’
t seen it before, but Jordy had exactly the same attitudes. Jordy, who she had foolishly thought she might trust.

Herri said,
“
Now what happens?
”

“
Many guards will be home by now, for the winter. When Tob and I travel our route next summer we
’
ll learn how many are as dissatisfied as their families are. Meanwhile, each village must think of its own defense. We know what even a dozen unopposed intruders can do.
”

Herri nodded grimly. Lannal said,
“
Kessit has been making bows all summer. We know you
’
ve horses to train, Jordy, but if you can spare the time, you won
’
t want for pupils of the two-legged variety.
”

“
I
’
ll make the time. Only a few at once, mind. The youngsters must see this as an apprenticeship like any other.
”

“
They understand,
”
Herri said.

So did Vray. They weren
’
t talking about deer hunting, either. They intended to teach young Keepers how to kill! She should stand up and tell Jordy, tell them all, that killing Shapers was not such an easy thing.
We are born to dragon hunting, you fool! Show us weapons and we will use them
—
on you!

Easy to say, if she could force her locked muscles to obey. Too many years in Soza. Too much practice at putting self-preservation before honor.
Soon,
she promised herself. Jordy didn
’
t know what she was. She knew what he was, now. She didn
’
t have the strength yet, but it would come back to her. It had to.

Forget choices, Sene. I have none. I have to protect Rhenlan from two madmen, now!

The blacksmith got to his feet, tilting his head back to look at Tob.
“
We were all sorry to hear about Pross. I know you
’
ll miss him.
”

A light shower of hay accompanied Tob as he dropped down into the aisle.
“
It wasn
’
t really a surprise. I always knew he wasn
’
t a killer.
”

“
None of us should be killers,
”
Herri said.
“
Not of each other. We are all Children of the Rock.
”

Vray shrank back in the shadows against the rough boards of the partition. Tob opened the stable door as the men said their good nights. A gust of wind stirred the bottom of Herri
’
s long coat, carrying with it a few flakes of snow. The innkeeper and the smith left together, Tob following them out into the yard.

“
I
’
ll close up, lad,
”
Jordy called after his son. He shut the door. Vray held her breath. What else did he have to do? The animals were quiet, and he held the only lit lamp in his hand. He took a few steps toward the wagon.
“
Iris?
”

She straightened slowly. Sometime over the course of the summer she had forgotten what it was like to want to avoid meeting another person
’
s eyes. Now the desire returned, as enticing as it had ever been at Soza. If she didn
’
t meet their eyes nothing they said, nothing they did, would truly touch her. She kept her head up, resisting the urge with an effort that made her temples throb.
“
Yes, sir?
”

His blue eyes were unreadable.
“
You stayed to listen. Why?
”

“
I didn
’
t know you knew I was here.
”

“
That
’
s not good enough.
”

She stroked the cloth of her troublesome cloak.
“
I didn
’
t expect to discover a conspiracy against the king in a carter
’
s stable.
”
She hated the nervous rasp that was her voice.

The corner of his mouth lifted in a grudging smile.
“
I should hope not. A conspiracy will hardly succeed if its participants are predictable.
”
The smile faded as quickly as it had appeared.
“
You weren
’
t meant to hear any of our talk, lass.
”

“
Perhaps I didn
’
t,
”
she answered, very quietly.

Puzzled, he said,
“
Do be sensible, Iris. Of course you overheard. I
’
m not angry with you. How do you think Tob first got involved? I just want to be sure you understand that it must not be spoken of outside the family.
”

She came out from behind the wagon. Jordy waited until she had wrapped her cloak around her before opening the door.
“
Oh, it won
’
t be.
”

“
That
’
s a good girl.
”
He shielded the lamp in the crook of his arm as they hurried toward the house. The night had grown very cold. Snow swirled around them, tickling Vray
’
s face and the back of her hands with feather-light touches. Jordy put his hand on her elbow to guide her around a snow-whitened patch of ice. She had trouble keeping herself from shaking off his touch. She recalled Soza once more, and the many unwanted hands she hadn
’
t shaken off then.

They reached the porch. Jordy extinguished the lamp, and Vray shook the snow off her cloak. Inside, the house was quiet. Conspiracy in a carter
’
s stable. What could she do about it? What should she do? The only thing she knew for certain was that she must not arouse the carter
’
s suspicions by seeming critical in any way.

“
You
’
re doing what you feel you must,
”
she said.

“
Aye.”
Jordy sat down on the chest next to the door to remove his boots.
“
What I have to do.
”

Vray
’
s boots were only slightly damp. She wiped them on the mat next to the door.
“
I understand. Good night, Jordy.
”

His voice followed her as she climbed the ladder.
“
Good night, lass.
”

* * *

The first nineday of really cold weather forced Tob indoors. He wanted to be outside, chasing around the fields and back lanes with his friends, exploring the changes that came with the arrival of snow. However, he couldn
’
t do any of that, because over the course of the summer he
’
d outgrown his winter clothes. Again. For the third year in a row, he went to pull on his lined trousers and couldn
’
t get them around his hips. For the third year in a row, he couldn
’
t close his winter jacket properly. As for his boots, one look and he knew there was no point in even trying to pull them on. For the third year in a row, Jordy was sympathetic and offered him the use of any of his spare clothes. That was a very unsatisfactory solution to the problem. Tob
’
s wrists protruded from the sleeves of his dad
’
s old jacket, and the left boot leaked. Jordy worked hard and wore clothes until he
’
d worn them out. Tob was able to get around the yard well enough to do his chores, but he wasn
’
t able to enjoy himself.

In previous years he hadn
’
t minded so much. He enjoyed sitting in his parents
’
room with Cyril, watching his new clothes take shape. He had clear memories of the time before Pepper was born, of sleeping in their big double bed, playing on the floor as his mother worked on her loom, the irregular vibrations passing through the wood floor to become part of his games, of curling up in Jordy
’
s lap in the deep chair in front of the fire to be sung to sleep. It was a nice room. He also liked helping with the sewing. Cyril made the measurements, cut the cloth, and did the finer detail work. But Tob helped with everything else. His efforts gave pleasure to his mother, and got his new clothes finished twice as fast.

Having Iris work with them ruined everything. For one thing, she talked, to him and to Cyril. He couldn
’
t complain about her sewing. After he
’
d done one sleeve of his jacket and she the other he couldn
’
t tell the work apart. But she made him uncomfortable. For the first time in his life, he had a problem that he hesitated to bring to his dad. He just wasn
’
t ready for the feelings she evoked.

At last the project was finished. One evening, Jordy brought the new boots up from Broadford, and the next morning Tob dressed himself from head to toe in his new things. Jordy eyed him over breakfast.

“
We need more firewood brought up from the river,
”
he observed.

“
I
’
ll do it,
”
Tob answered with real enthusiasm.

Jordy nodded.
“
Take the two-wheeled cart.
”

While he was harnessing Stockings he heard voices in the yard. Several of his friends from the village, or so he guessed from the laughter and playful shouts.

“
Good morning, Jordy.
”
That was Lim, a tall, skinny boy as old as Pross. Tob buckled another buckle. He missed Pross. Pross would have been able to answer his questions.

“
You
’
re making an early start today,
”
he heard his father say.

“
We
’
re going sliding,
”
Lim replied.

“
The weather is perfect,
”
Heather added.

Grinning to himself, Tob took Stockings
’
lead rope.
“
Walk on,
”
he ordered the horse. It was too late to get out of fetching the wood. If Lim and the others wanted his company, they
’
d just have to come help him.

As he and Stockings emerged from the barn he had to close his eyes against the sudden glare of sunlight on snow. He heard Lim say,
“
We were wondering if Iris could come with us?
”

“
I
’
ve no objection,
”
Jordy said.
“
You
’
ll have to ask her. Just don
’
t track in any snow.
”