Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (25 page)

“
Karn. I didn
’
t see you when I came in. Elbere just told me about Cratt. I
’
ll remember him.
”

“
Everyone remembers my father. Everyone except Palle.
”
The young man rested his elbows on the bar and turned his head to meet and hold Ivey
’
s gaze.
“
Ironic, isn
’
t it? Cratt grieved for Palle
’
s family more than Palle himself did. First the princess, then the queen
—
it broke his heart.
”

“
Cratt was a loyal man.
”

“
He loved the prince, too. Never doubt that.
”
Karn clenched his fists.
“
We sent to Dundas. They still have a Redmother, although she doesn
’
t call herself that in front of strangers. She
’
ll remember my father, if no one else will.
”

“
So, Captain Cratt forgave Prince Pirse for what he did?
”
Ivey asked.

Karn straightened with a sigh.
“
I don
’
t know. The evidence was clear. Even Chelam, who hunted dragons at the prince
’
s side for years, testified that only a sword forged with magic could have caused the queen
’
s wounds. Painful as it was, my father accepted the truth. Or so I believed.
”

“
What happened?
”

“
I don
’
t know!
”
Karn repeated.
“
I just got the impression, from a few things Dad said these past ninedays, that he had begun to have doubts.
”

The innkeeper took Ivey
’
s mug and refilled it.
“
All I know is, His Highness is better off hiding than facing his uncle.
”

“
Why, Elbere?
”

Elbere replaced Ivey
’
s mug on the bar more firmly than was necessary.
“
Because His Majesty
’
s first interest isn
’
t justice, that
’
s why.
”
She produced a rag and took a few swipes at the ale she
’
d spilled.
“
Don
’
t expect too much of our royal Shaper, Karn. You
’
ll be disappointed
—
as your father was, in the end.
”

Ivey rescued his mug before Elbere could joggle it again
, and addressed Karn.
“
You
’
re remaining in the guard, then?
”

“
I can
’
t just quit. Onarga
’
s been made captain. I respect her.
”
Karn half-shrugged.
“
She would have been Dad
’
s choice.
”

Ivey glanced over his shoulder at the other occupants of the inn
’
s common room. They
’
d listened quietly to the conversation, their attentiveness a tacit signal of approval and agreement.
All anyone wants,
Ivey thought,
is to live in peace. Why was that simple goal so difficult to achieve?

“
Quit?
”
he said to Karn.
“
No. None of us can do that.
”

* * *

A flock of long-legged gray birds strutted through a bed of dry reeds at the edge of the lake. Greenmother Jenil took no notice of them, or they of her, as she moved down to the water
’
s edge. The wind coming up from the south stirred her robes and long, graying red braids as she stooped to gaze into the rippling surface of the salt lake. It was nearly spring, time for the warm northern winds and their precious gift of rain. She dipped her hands into the brackish brown water, said one word, then gulped down the newly sweet liquid. Even that minor act of magic gave her a twinge of pain. She scrubbed her face with her still-damp hands. Tired. Very tired. It had been a long day. A long day and night since Mojil had first become ill. Even with all Jenil
’
s healer
’
s skill, the Dreamer-child had nearly died. But she was resting now, peacefully asleep, free of the dangerous fever. The Brown and Redmothers of Bren had gathered in the courtyard of the Brownmother house to offer thankful prayers to the gods.

Jenil could not make herself join them. Jenil did not feel safe in the hands of the gods just now. She was too worried, too frightened. One of her children, the only type of child she would ever have, had nearly died. If Mojil had gone, half of the future would have gone with her.

She scrubbed at her face again, wiping tears away with the water.

“
I
’
m afraid,
”
she said to a brownish reflection of herself.
“
We count on them for everything. No two children should bear such a burden. It
’
s not fair to anyone. Not them, not us, not the world.
”

She stood, fear turning to anger. The birds, startled, thundered into the air on a hundred wings. The clatter of their wings seemed to accuse her.
“
I have not been ignoring the problem,
”
Jenil told the now empty landscape.

A pulse of power bent the air next to Jenil, and Savyea stepped onto the grass.
“
Yes, you have, dear,
”
she said.

Jenil scowled at the older woman.
“
You were eavesdropping.
”

“
Your were very loud. I just looked in on Mojil. You did well with her.
”

“
What if I had failed?
”

“
The world needs more Dreamers.
”

“
As you
’
ve been saying for years.
”

“
You know it, too. You simply have not wanted to accept how desperate our situation will be, if we do not act.
”

“
I am not you, Savyea, to wander the world and nag people to make babies.
”

“
Nor am I you, Jenil. Each of us has our own tasks to perform. Come.
”

Despite her weariness, Jenil followed Savyea into the web of power. They puffed into being just outside the Dherrican cave occupied by the world
’
s oldest wizard. Plump Savyea immediately unbelted her robe and fanned her hand in front of her face.
“
I prefer snow on my mountains,
”
she murmured with the faintest hint of disapproval.

Morb emerged from his cave.
“
You used to like it here.
”

“
We were younger then, dear, and not interested in the weather.
”

“
You didn
’
t come to reminisce, my love,
”
the bandy-legged wizard observed.
“
Do we need the youngster?
”

“
Yes,
”
Savyea said, and glanced at the top of Aage
’
s silvery-blond head.
“
If he can be spared.
”

“
I
’
ll check.
”
Morb closed his eyes for a moment. Savyea strolled down the path, stopping to examine the delicate bloom of an orchid that hung near the mouth of the cave. The power bent and wavered around them, sending an unpleasant quiver along Jenil
’
s magic senses. She wanted nothing to do with the monsters the wizards faced. Healing was hard work, but she was glad she
’
d been born with that gift and not theirs.

Aage straightened his back. Morb opened his eyes and gestured toward the cave.
“
Let
’
s get you out of the sun,
”
he said to Jenil,
“
before you freckle.
”

“
What
’
s happened?
”
Aage of Sitrine struggled somewhat clumsily to his feet. Jenil met the younger wizard
’
s eyes for just a moment, and thought,
there is snow, or at least ice, on Morb
’
s mountain after all.
She looked away and hurried into the coolness of the cave.

“
Make it short,
”
Morb said as he dropped cross-legged onto a floor mat.
“
He
’
s only got a few minutes.
”

“
It
’
s about the children,
”
Savyea said.
“
We need children.
”

Aage threw himself down beside Morb.
“
Don
’
t you ever say anything else?
”

“
Not as long as it needs to be said.
”
Savyea thumped Aage on the top of the head.
“
You of all people know how important it is.
”
He winced, then grinned at the elder dreamer. She nodded and settled regally next to him.
“
You
’
re such a pretty boy.
”

“
Not now,
”
Jenil said as she sat in front of the other three. She twisted her hands in her skirts.
“
Mojil was ill last night. If I hadn
’
t been visiting Bren, she might have died. No message could have reached me in Garden Vale in time. We would have lost her.
”

Savyea said.
“
It
’
s time the Children gave us babies again. It
’
s your prophecy, Aage. Those princes and princesses are certainly old enough by now.
”

“
King Sene chose Keepers for the twins years ago!
”
Aage protested.

“
Well, they aren
’
t married yet, are they?
”

“
Chasa
’
s busy. And Jeyn
’
s not ready for a husband.
”

Savyea waved his excuses away.
“
Oh, nonsense.
”

“
Yes,
”
Jenil agreed.
“
Nonsense.
”

“
You can take care of those two easily enough,
”
Morb said.
“
But what about Hion? His boy won
’
t agree, and the girl hasn
’
t been seen in three years. You won
’
t marry her off that way.
”

“
That
’
s why I need your help. It
’
s time we got involved. Today. This instant.
”

“
She
’
s feeling a bit urgent,
”
Savyea told the wizards.

Aage jumped to his feet.
“
I must get back,
”
he told them. At the cave entrance he turned.
“
King Sene has ways of finding out things. He might be able to locate Hion
’
s daughter.
”

Jenil nodded.
“
After we find the girl,
”
she said,
“
I know a Keeper we can trust who will take her in. His village has plenty of eligible lads.
”

“
Fine.
”
Aage ducked beneath the orchid vine and hurried back to his work of protecting the world of the Children from the things that constantly tried to invade it.