Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (49 page)

As they finished, a boy perhaps a year younger than Tob, brown hair a shade lighter than his skin, ran up to Jordy and touched his sleeve.
“
You
’
re the carter, Jordy?
”
he asked.

“
Aye.
”

“
My father is a glass maker, Bellon. He
’
d like to speak to you about carrying some merchandise for us.
”

Jordy brushed the last crumbs off his fingers.
“
I
’
ll have to see it.
”

“
I can take you to our shop now, if you like.
”

They threaded their way out of the square into a street lined with equal numbers of shops and residences. Tob and the boy soon fell into conversation. Jordy allowed them to walk a little ahead while he calculated how much room he could spare for this man Bellon
’
s cargo. At the shop, the boy held the door open and Tob stepped aside to allow him to enter first.

The interior of the shop was tall and spacious. Thin spring sunshine entered through dozens of clear windows set in the upper portions of all four walls. Lower windows stood open to admit the cool afternoon breeze. Light sparkled and reflected between glass objects of every shape, size, color, and purpose. A large workbench occupied the center of the room, midway between the door and the fiery mouth of the furnace. Jordy halted in mid-stride.

Seated at the worktable was Dael.

“
Carter, don
’
t leave. We should talk.
”

Three others sat near the captain. A man with the boy
’
s brown skin rose.
“
I
’
m Bellon. I do need someone to bring me a mineral from Atade which I use to color my glass. This is my wife, Thena, Senior Brownmother for Edian.
”

The woman beside him nodded, her dark eyes and long face worried.

The glassmaker gestured to the remaining man, seated between him and the guard captain.
“
I understand you know my friend the goldsmith?
”

“
Loras. It
’
s been a long time since the lake country.
”
Then he glared at the young guard captain.
“
It seems things have changed.
”

“
Come in, boys. Close the door,
”
Bellon said.
“
Sit down and be quiet. That is, if that
’
s all right with you, carter?
”

“
I won
’
t say anything my son shouldn
’
t hear.
”

The glassmaker
’
s son led Tob to a pair of stools under the south windows, where they perched, wide-eyed and solemn. Jordy took the single vacant stool, across the workbench from Loras and Dael.

“
The situation has changed, for the worse,
”
Loras answered his accusation, an unhappy frown on his weathered face.
“
Dael told me what happened in Broadford. It
’
s appalling.
”

Jordy
’
s eyes narrowed.
“
Your son didn
’
t seem to find it appalling.
”

“
Not in front of Law Reader Oskin. In public, I
’
m completely loyal to my prince and my king. Stop feeling offended for a moment, and think about my position. I
’
m the Captain of the king
’
s guard!
”

In the pause the followed, the fire in the furnace crackled and hissed. The tight knot of outrage in the pit of Jordy
’
s stomach didn
’
t ease.
“
So, you don
’
t agree with present Shaper policy?
”

“
What do you know of Shaper policy?
”
Dael countered with no little fury of his own.
“
Policy is something that concerns whole kingdoms. You
’
re worried about one village!
”

“
This isn
’
t just about Broadford! I
’
m looking beyond Rhenlan. So should you be!
”

“
What can he do?
”
Loras spread his large hands, palm upward, on the table.
“
In his position, he answers directly to the king.
”

“
To Damon, more often,
”
the captain said.
“
Hion rarely concerns himself with the guard these days.
”

“
Hion or Damon, it makes no difference,
”
Loras said.
“
If Dael were to defy them, they would simply dismiss him. At least this way he can try to do some good.
”

“
I am sorry about Broadford,
”
Dael said.
“
Forget what I said to the law reader. I will try to find Pross and get him back to your village. I think I know the identity of the troop involved. Knowing what you
’
ve told me confirms that I can
’
t trust them. They
’
ve become more Damon
’
s men than mine.
”

Jordy leaned forward, interested in spite of himself.
“
There
’
s that much division in the guards?
”

“
On the surface, no. Discipline is good. I
’
m respected and obeyed. I also make a point of keeping well informed. I know which of my people enjoy the attentions and special favors of the prince, and which of them remember their proper duties as guardians and protectors of the common good.
”
He made a helpless gesture. The dissatisfaction evident in his expression paralleled Jordy
’
s own feelings.
“
The first group I watch diligently. The second group I trust. If it weren
’
t for the responsible ones, the ones who really care, maybe I wouldn
’
t stay. Maybe that makes me a fool.
”

“
Dael
—”
his father began.

“
You say I should think beyond Rhenlan? I do. If I had some freedom of movement, instead of being trapped here, there
’
s no end to what I could do.
”
Dael straightened on his stool.
“
We
’
ve heard of your dissatisfaction, carter. We think we should help each other.
”

“
Heard?
”
Jordy asked skeptically.
“
Where?
”

“
A friend of yours,
”
Loras added.
“
The minstrel Ivey.
”

“
He told us you
’
re always interested in news of our rulers,
”
Dael said.
“
I can give you that.
”

Jordy looked around the table.
“
You should know that I believe the very concept of the ruling and the ruled needs to be questioned.
”

Loras gave a long, low whistle.
“
And we thought we were dissatisfied.
”

“
We?
”

“
Some of us here in Edian, who don
’
t like the direction Damon
’
s been taking. He
’
s supposed to be responsible
—
actually, his father
’
s supposed to be responsible, but Damon does everything these days in his father
’
s name
—
for our welfare. Instead
,
he
’
s busy trying to extend his influence farther and farther from home. Where
’
s the sense in his claiming taxes and services from more and more Keepers, when he has yet to fulfill his vows to those of us who are already his responsibility?
”

“
Where is the sense,
”
Jordy countered,
“
in continuing to acknowledge his authority?
”

“
It
’
s the same common sense that causes a small child to run from a bully,
”
Brownmother Thena snapped.
“
Self-preservation, carter.
”

“
The strongest bully is helpless against several children capable of cooperating against him.
”
Jordy saw the others
’
doubtful expressions, but continued resolutely.
“
You said it yourself, Dael. Many of the guards are good people who
’
d never put a village to the torch, no matter what Damon ordered. Just imagine what we could accomplish if Keepers all across the kingdom joined together to deny all Shaper injustice.
”

Dael tilted his head to one side.
“
I can imagine certain Shapers feeling threatened by an idea like that.
”

“
That
’
s one of its dangers,
”
Jordy agreed.

“
That sort of cooperation won
’
t develop spontaneously.
”
Loras gave them a few seconds to consider his opinion before adding,
“
It will take a tremendous amount of work to organize such cooperation.
”

“
Organization would be the least of our worries
—”
Dael began.

“
It
’
s ignorance of the danger that
—”
Jordy said at the same moment.

Conversation around the table fragmented. Dael and his father fell into one loud discussion, while Jordy found himself arguing equally vehemently with Thena. Then something Loras said drew her attention, and Dael asked a question which Jordy had to answer with a long description of the hard realities of life in the villages. He spared a reassuring nod for Tob, who was watching the group of adults with a worried frown.

Bellon, who had remained silent, suddenly leaned across the work bench and heartily clapped Jordy on the shoulder.
“
By the Firstmother, we can do it! And if you can convince me, carter, you can convince anyone.
”

“
We
’
ll have to proceed very carefully,
”
Dael warned.
“
Of us all, you have the most freedom of movement, Jordy. All of the initial coordination, at least, will fall on you.
”

“
There are others we can count on,
”
Jordy replied.
“
Ivey, for instance.
”

Loras nodded.
“
Yes. He
’
d be helpful, if he
’
s willing.
”

“
He
’
s willing,
”
Jordy said.

While they
’
d been speaking evening had fallen. Thena got up from the workbench and went to light the lamps.

Dael also rose.
“
I
’
ve got to get back. Thank you, carter.
”
He paused, obviously searching for words, but finally said simply,
“
Good night,
”
and left.

Bellon got down from his stool, stretched, and sighed.
“
We
’
ve all had enough food for thought for the time being. Join us for supper, carter. You and your son. There
’
s still that Atade shipment to consider.
”