A Play of Shadow (81 page)

She wouldn’t, of course, any more than he. Playing along, Jenn arched a brow, as Aunt Sybb would when suspicious. “Tell me what?”

“We won’t be alone.” The truthseer’s grin was full of boyish mischief. “There’s a dragon.”

The dragon coiled in the rafters above the dancers. It wasn’t warm enough.

But it would do.

The younger truthseer saw and pointed him out to his brother, who didn’t see but seemed pleased. Having been seen—again—Wisp flew to a different rafter and waited. Hide and seek being a dragonish sort of game.

The girl was happier than he’d ever known her to be. Happier and different. He’d seen it first in the Verge. She was more sei now, yet more herself.

Beyond a dragon to ponder.

A little cousin squatted in the shadows. Not the only one, there being food dropped from tables and the possibility, however scant, a nyphrit might dare the lights. But this toad was hers.

This toad had crossed into the Verge and back.

Of this toad, even a dragon would be wary.

It had taken the box, with its straps and bands. The girl had been glad, being too good-hearted to savor revenge. Unlike a dragon.

It had taken the box, but why? A dragon could be, Wisp decided, curious.

Marrowdell’s little cousins did other incomprehensible things. They built a throne for their absent queen from pebbles they earned by their service. Sent one of their own into the Verge, to swallow a bit of sei and burp out a mask.

This box, though.

A dragon could be, Wisp decided, concerned.

“I see you!”

When not playing a game.

“Where?” said Semyn, squinting up.

Because there was a box, with Crumlin safe inside, and the girl was happy, and he felt particularly generous, there being more children soon to arrive . . .

Wisp shaped himself from light, then swooped down to skim over the dancers’ heads, to oohs and ahhhs and at least one very satisfying shriek.

Before slipping out, another shadow in the night.

Alyssa Ropp
, daughter of Mimm and Anten, sister of Hettie and Cheffy, stepdaughter to Cynd, stepsister to Roche and Devins. Born in Marrowdell. Helps in dairy.

Anten Ropp
, brother of Cynd, father (with Mimm) of Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa. Widowed then married Covie. Stepfather of Roche and Devins. Tends the dairy.

Aunt Sybb
(the Lady Sybb Mahavar, nee Nalynn), sister of Radd, aunt to Peggs and Jenn. Spends summers in Marrowdell. Wife of Hane Mahavar. In Avyo, they own several of the better riverside inns.

Bannan Marerrym Larmensu
, brother of Lila, rider of Scourge. Former Vorkoun border guard who went by the name of “Captain Ash.” Truthseer and, in Marrowdell, farmer.

Battle and Brawl
, Davi Treff’s team of draft horses.

Cheffy Ropp
, son of Mimm and Anten, brother of Hettie and Alyssa, stepson of Covie, stepbrother of Roche and Devins. Born in Marrowdell. Helps in dairy.

Covie Ropp
, mother (with Riedd) of Roche and Devins, stepmother to Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa. Widowed then married Anten. A baroness in Avyo. Tends the dairy. Village healer.

Crumlin Tralee (Lost One)
, once resident of Marrowdell. Disappeared under magical circumstances.

Cynd Treff
, nee Ropp, sister of Anten, wife of Davi. Aunt to Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa. Gardener and seamstress.

Davi Treff
, son of Lorra, brother of Wen. Husband of Cynd, Anten’s sister. Uncle to Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa. Village smith.

Devins Morrill
, son of Covie and Riedd, brother of Roche. Stepbrother of Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa. Stepson of Anten. Came to Marrowdell as a boy. Tends the dairy.

Dusom Uhthoff
(Master Dusom), father of Wainn and Ponicce, husband of Larell (widowed), brother of Kydd. Formerly professor at Avyo’s University of Sols. Village teacher and helps tend the orchard.

Frann Nall
, former business rival and now friend of Lorra Treff. In Avyo, holdings included riverfront warehouses. Village weaver, quilter, and trader.

Gallie Emms
, mother of twins, Tadd and Allin, and baby Loee, wife of Zehr. Author and sausage maker.

Good’n’Nuf
, Ropps’ bull.

Hettie Emms,
nee Ropp, daughter of Mimm and Anten, sister of Cheffy and Alyssa, stepdaughter of Covie, stepsister of Roche and Devins, wife to Tadd. Came to Marrowdell as a child. Village cheese maker.

Himself
, boar.

Jenn Nalynn
, daughter of Melusine and Radd, sister of Peggs. Born in Marrowdell under magical circumstances. Turn-born.

Kydd Uhthoff
, brother of Dusom, uncle of Wainn and Ponicce, husband of Peggs. Came to Marrowdell as a young man. Formerly a student at Avyo’s University of Sols. Tends apple orchard. Village beekeeper and artist.

Larell Uhthoff
, mother of Wainn and Ponicce, wife of Dusom. Died by misadventure on the Northward Road.

Loee Emms
, daughter of Gallie and Zehr, sister of Tadd and Allin. Born in Marrowdell.

Lorra Treff
, mother of Davi and Wen. Great-aunt to Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa. Formerly head of Avyo’s influential Potter’s Guild. Village potter.

Melusine (Melly) Nalynn
,
nee Semanaryas, mother of Peggs and Jenn, wife of Radd. Died by misadventure in Marrowdell.

Mimm Ropp
, mother of Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa, first wife of Anten. Died by misadventure in Marrowdell.

Old Jupp
(Wagler Jupp), great-uncle of Riedd and Riss. Former Secretary of the House of Keys in Avyo. Currently writing his memoirs.

Peggs Uhthoff
, nee Nalynn, daughter of Melusine and Radd, elder sister of Jenn, wife of Kydd. Came to Marrowdell as a babe. Village’s best baker and cook.

Ponicce Uhthoff
, daughter of Dusom and Larell, sister of Wainn, niece of Kydd. Died by misadventure on the Northward Road.

Radd Nalynn
, father of Peggs and Jenn, husband of Melusine, brother of Sybb. In Avyo, owned mills and a tannery. Village miller.

Riedd Morrill
, father of Roche and Devins, husband of Covie, cousin of Riss, great-nephew of Old Jupp. In Avyo, was a baron and served in the House of Keys. Died by misadventure in Marrowdell.

Riss Nahamm
, cousin of Riedd, great-niece of Old Jupp, wife of Sennic. Came to Marrowdell as a young woman. Creates tapestries and cares for her great-uncle.

Roche Morrill
, son of Covie and Riedd, brother of Devins. Came to Marrowdell as a young boy. Left for Ansnor with the Demas.

Satin and Filigree
, sows.

Scourge
, the Larmensu warhorse. In Marrowdell, his true nature is revealed.

Semyn Westietas
, elder son of Lila and Emon, brother of Werfol, nephew of Bannan.

Sennic Nahamm
, formerly known as Horst, former soldier, husband of Riss. Took the name of Horst from baby Jenn, who continues to call him Uncle Horst. Hunter and village protector.

Tadd Emms
, son of Zehr and Gallie, brother of Loee, twin of Allin, husband of Hettie. Came to Marrowdell as a babe. Tends livestock.

Tir Half-face
(Tirsan Dimelecor), former Vorkoun border guard. Bannan’s friend and companion. Has taken service with the Lady Mahavar in Avyo.

Wainn Uhthoff
, son of Dusom and Larell, brother of Ponicce, nephew of Kydd. Came to Marrowdell as a young boy. Injured by misadventure on the Northward Road.

Wainn’s Old Pony

Wen Treff
, daughter of Lorra, sister of Davi. Came to Marrowdell as a young woman. Prefers to talks to toads, but recently has been known to talk to people.

Werfol (Weed) Westietas
, younger son of Lila and Emon, brother of Semyn, nephew of Bannan.

Wisp the dragon
, once Wyll the man, Jenn Nalynn’s dearest friend and protector.

Zehr Emms
, father of the twins, Tadd and Allin, and baby Loee, husband of Gallie. A fine furniture maker in Avyo. Village carpenter.

Allin Anan
, formerly Emms, son of Gallie and Zehr, brother of Loee, twin brother of Tadd, husband to Palma Anan. Came to Marrowdell as a babe. Now lives in Endshere as barkeep in Palma’s inn.

Bliss
, not nice person.

Cammi
, postmistress.

Dinorwic
, thief and smuggler.

Great Gran
(Caryn Anan), great-grandmother of the family. Former resident of Marrowdell.

Hager Comber
, son of Harty, village smith.

Harty Comber
, father of Hager, village smith.

Larah Anan
, Palma’s brother. Clears tables in the inn.

Palma Anan
, sister of Larah, wife of Allin. Born and raised in Endshere. Owns and operates
The Good Night’s Sleep
inn. Author.

Shedden
, village healer.

Upsala
, one-eyed trader who sold Bannan his ox.

Abeek Harrow
, baroness.

Appin Arkona
, sect member.

Baldrinn Duart
, bargemaster, former acquaintance of Frann and Lorra.

Birr
, artisan.

Bish Fingal
, one of Emon’s companions.

Cheek
, one of Emon’s crows.

Dawnn Blysse
, artisan.

Dokis
, another not nice person.

Dutton Omemee
, one of Emon’s companions.

Emon Westietas
, father of Semyn and Werfol, husband of Lila. Baron, holding the seat for Vorkoun in the House of Keys.

Glammis Lurgan
, collector.

Herer
, one of Emon’s companions.

Leott
, artisan.

Lila Westietas
, nee Larmensu, mother of Semyn and Werfol, wife of Emon, sister of Bannan. Baroness.

Plevna
, artisan.

Rhonnda Taff
, artisan.

Scatterwit
, one of Emon’s crows.

Thomm
, artisan.