Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (44 page)

Vray fell silent. No one stirred. The stillness was complete. She could believe that even the gods were listening, remembering how it had been. Vray
’
s heart pounded in her ears, but with relief, not fear. She had not forgotten her training. She had not embarrassed herself before the people of Broadford.

“
This is as it has always been for the Firstmother
’
s Children. This is as it always will be. The Story of Beginnings is our story. We are the Children of the Rock.
”

The afternoon was devoted to games, gossip, and return visits to the food-laden tables in the inn yard. There were races and contests of every variety. The young women, and not a few of the matrons, exchanged their pretty skirts for loose trousers, the better to compete.

Ivey remained on the sidelines, the better to observe the carter
’
s daughter. The exiled princess was among a limited number of nonparticipants. Jordy
’
s wife sat on the side of the square, embroidering a fine, russet-colored tunic and keeping a watchful eye on the family
’
s youngest daughter, Matti. Vray
—
Iris
—
stayed beside her. As far as Ivey could tell, she seemed content. She watched Pepper and another girl win a relay race from the platform in the square to Kessit
’
s woodshop and back again. Tob and the other boys and girls his age played a game that had the two teams scattered around the village for much of the afternoon.

Some of the adult games of skill were very well played. Ivey knew of good darts throwers in Bronle and Edian who would have had difficulty scoring higher than Jordy, who only lost in the final round, to Herri. The carter tried his hand at several games, doing well without winning until the end of the day, when archery targets were set at the far end of the square. The archers, Jordy among them, lined up close to Cyril and a crowd gathered to watch. The carter
’
s performance was flawless. The reaction of the rest of the villagers indicated that this was considered normal. The real competition had been between the others, for second place.

The contests ended at dusk. Tob and his friends returned from their game, hungrier than ever. Torches were set out, and the corner of the square nearest the inn was cleared for dancing. Pepper came over to where her mother was sitting. Cyril folded her embroidery and put it away, then led Iris and the child back to the inn.

Ivey joined the crowd of people in the inn yard. He inched past burly farmers and chattering youngsters until he was standing beside Iris.

“
I hope some of that
’
s for you,
”
Ivey said.

The princess jumped at his voice, and nearly dropped the bowl she had been filling. The little girl with her didn
’
t notice, just continued to chatter as she tugged Iris along the serving table. Ivey slowed, hating the fear he saw. She
’
d done well with the Story of Beginnings, and he
’
d seen her laughing at least once with the carter
’
s stocky son. She seemed comfortable in the presence of Jordy and Cyril, if not relaxed, but now he
’
d caught her away from that security, and the fear was there again.

“
This is Pepper
’
s bowl,
”
she said.

Around them, other people moved leisurely past the tables, some in search of food, others more interested in Herri
’
s kegs of ale and wine.

“
Iris!
”
Pepper tugged on her skirt.
“
I don
’
t like cabbage!
”

“
Well, maybe Iris likes cabbage.
”
Ivey moved up beside them, took the serving spoon from the princess
’
s hand, and held some of the pale vegetable over the bowl.
“
Do you like cabbage?
”

“
Yes, but
….”

“
Then have some cabbage.
”

“
That
’
s my bowl,
”
Pepper complained.

“
Share with your sister,
”
Ivey shot back. The child scowled, then reluctantly acquiesced.

“
Just don
’
t get any on my bread.
”
She pulled Iris
’
s hand down so that she could reach into the bowl and rescue a square of raisin loaf.

“
There. What else would you like?
”
Deftly taking the bowl, Ivey ushered the princess ahead of him along the table.
“
You need some meat. Is this goose? Goose is good, especially if Herri provided the stuffing. He does a wonderful sage stuffing.
”

Pepper, with a disgusted look at Ivey, took her bread and wandered off. Iris almost followed her; would have, if Ivey had not taken a firm grip on her elbow.

“
Pretty girls need to eat,
”
he told her.

“
I
’
ve eaten already today.
”

“
People eat more than once a day.
”
He kept his tone gentle, despite an urge to stride off at once and strangle the entire population of the Brownmother House at Soza.
“
Are you hungry?
”

She had to think about it.
“
Yes.
”

“
Then eat.
”
He piled some goose in the bowl, reached for a slice of honey-cake, then chose one of the last of the northern oranges for himself.
“
This is a Festival. We
’
re supposed to feast.
”

“
True.
”
She accepted the bowl from him and bit into the honey-cake.
“
I
’
d forgotten. I never went to the Festivals at Soza.
”

“
Soza?
”

The voice behind them did not sound pleased. Ivey turned to find Jordy watching them, the everpresent mug of cider in his hand.
“
Soza? Did you say you were at Soza, m
’
girl? Living at Soza?
”

Ivey caught the bowl as it dropped from her hand, and set it on the table beside them. What good humor the princess had been enjoying vanished in an instant. The way she lowered her head, body tense, he expected her to make a run for it. She
’
d been taught too well how to react to displeasure.

“
Yes,
”
she whispered.

“
Your family sent you to Soza?
”
Jordy insisted.
“
Why? What did you do?
”

She shrank further.
“
I was sent, yes, because
…
I was
…
I had
….”

“
Trouble at home,
”
Ivey finished for her.

As he
’
d hoped, Jordy turned his indignation away from the princess.
“
You know all about this, I suppose? You seem to know everything else about her. Certainly more than that Greenmother saw fit to tell me, and I can guess why. I
’
ve got young children, too young to be threatened by the sort of violent troublemakers who have to be sent to Soza. Rock and Pool, how dare she put innocent children at risk for the sake of someone else
’
s failure!
”

“
Someone else
’
s!
”
Ivey yelled back. People around them backed away, staring.
“
Not half a day has passed since you made a vow to take this child as your
—”

“
I know what I vowed! I don
’
t regret the vow. I resent the lies!
”

“
Jenil hasn
’
t lied to you!
”

“
She obviously didn
’
t tell me the truth!
”

“
You want the truth?
”

With a strangled whimper, Iris grabbed Ivey
’
s arm, pulling him frantically away from Jordy. Tears leaked out of the corners of her eyes.
“
Please! No!
”

“
You have nothing to be ashamed of!
”
He did not allow her to drag him a single inch. The entire village was listening now, just as they
’
d listened to the songs and tales of the afternoon. Having an audience calmed Ivey. He had to say something, and fast, to put Jordy
’
s suspicions to rest.
“
And you, carter, know less of Soza than you seem to think you know!
”

“
Do I indeed?
”

“
You do. People nobody wants are sent there, true. That says less than you think about why they are unwanted. Yes, some of them are uncontrollable, perhaps on the brink of becoming Abstainers. But some are just unloved. Unwanted not for any lack in them, but for lack of proper feeling in their parents, their families. Iris
’
s family did not know love. Husband and wife didn
’
t love each other. They don
’
t even live together. Her brother thinks nothing of Iris, except as a rival for their parents
’
inheritance. She was sent away because she was an inconvenience. The father didn
’
t care. The mother wasn
’
t there at all.

“
So the girl lived in Soza for years, her Redmother talent going to waste. Somehow Jenil found out about her, and brought her here. Here, where Jenil thought she might be wanted at last. To a family where Jenil thought there was understanding, and caring, and love. Of course, knowing how you feel about Greenmothers, I suppose you consider that wrong.
”

Iris had stopped crying in blank amazement at Ivey
’
s impassioned
—
and brilliantly misleading
—
speech. He only watched her peripherally, however. Jordy was the one he needed to convince. A buzz of comment rose from some of the nearby villagers. Ivey ignored that, as well.

The carter
’
s expression became thoughtful, and he took a step toward Iris.
“
I shouldn
’
t have lost my temper, lass. He
’
s right. I don
’
t know enough about Soza to judge it, or you. I
’
m sorry.
”
He put a hand on her shoulder. Ivey half-expected Iris to cringe away, even scream in terror, but to his surprise and the carter
’
s evident satisfaction she moved closer to him. Jordy
’
s arm went around her shoulders. He kept her at his side as he turned back to Ivey.

“
Even Jenil is entitled to the occasional correct guess. Iris will have all our love. All our understanding, if we
’
re told what there is to understand. There
’
s no fear of her being unwanted. Not anymore.
”
He gave her shoulder a squeeze.
“
But what about those parents? That brother?
”
His voice grew angry once more.
“
Did the Greenmother give any thought to them? Edian isn
’
t so far away. Does their law reader know that they sent away a perfectly blameless child for their own convenience?
”

“
Edian knows.
”
Ivey tried not to let panic change the timbre of his voice. It would be just like this man to go storming right up to the king
’
s gates, demanding justice for his new daughter.

“
I don
’
t want to see them again.
”
Iris
’
s voice was soft but very sure.
“
I don
’
t want to see them at all. They aren
’
t my family. My life is mine, not any concern of theirs.
”