Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (73 page)

Tob stopped, until Stockings
’
momentum dragged him on again. Iris? They were asking for Iris? He didn
’
t want his friends coming around bothering Iris. Maybe during the summer they
’
d become her friends, too. He hadn
’
t thought of that. Well, there was nothing wrong with Iris having friends. Friends like Heather. But why did Lim have to come visit?

By the time he blinked the sunshine and confusion out of his eyes the half dozen young people were crowded on the porch, Lim closest to the door. Tob told Stockings,
“
Whoa,
”
then waved at Heather, who was the only one to turn in his direction.

Iris pulled open the door.
“
Hello, Lim,
”
she said brightly. Why did she have to sound so pleased?

“
We
’
re going sliding.
”
Lim cleared his throat.
“
It
’
s a lot of fun. I think you
’
d like it. We all think so.
”

“
Yes, come with us,
”
someone else said.

Looking as nervous as she always did when she was asked to make a decision, she said,
“
I
’
m not sure. I
’
ve got work to do.
”

“
Your father said you could,
”
Lim encouraged her.

Jordy, standing with one booted foot propped on the end of the porch, said nothing. Iris
’
s expression shifted in a way Tob couldn
’
t interpret. She said,
“
All right. I haven
’
t been sliding in years. I
’
ll go change clothes.
”

The door closed. Lim turned, saw Tob and smiled at him in a perfectly friendly way.
“
Are you busy?
”
he called.
“
Or can you come, too?
”

Tob, not feeling the least bit friendly, grumbled,
“
I
’
ve got to get firewood.
”

“
You can do that later. Can
’
t he, Jordy? Before the wind picks up and makes it too cold for sliding this afternoon. We
’
ll be happy to get down off the hill then. We
’
ll even help you, if you like.
”

“
It
’
s up to you, lad,
”
Jordy said.

“
I
’
ve already harnessed the horse,
”
Tob complained. He didn
’
t want to be complaining. He knew they were only being reasonable. A morning of sliding, perhaps one of Herri
’
s big hot lunches at the inn, then willing hands helping him load wood many times faster than he could do it alone, should have combined to form a delightful prospect for the day. Maybe he was missing Pross more than he knew. Pross loved winter days.

Was that all that was bothering him? If so, what did Pross have to do with the way Lim smiled at Iris?

“
We
’
ll take her with us,
”
Heather said, pointing at Stockings.

“
Sure,
”
Lim agreed.
“
It
’
ll save time. We won
’
t have to stop for her later.
”

Tob was running out of objections. He looked to his dad for help, but all Jordy said was,
“
You
’
ll have to bring her feedbag, water, and a blanket or two. I
’
ll not have her taking sick.
”

Iris came out of the house. Tob found himself swept along by the general consensus, loading supplies for the horse, bringing up the rear as they all trooped out of the yard together. Once on the main road they took turns riding in the cart. Iris talked with Lim and the others, and tossed her remarkable red hair over one shoulder or the other whenever it got in her face. Tob refused to stare at her. He joked with Heather, determined to enjoy himself. After all, he could see Iris any day. They ate their meals together, and did chores side by side. That such close proximity had been making him miserable for days was irrelevant. He could have far more of her attention than anyone else could hope to win. She was his Iris, not theirs.

Now all he had to do was figure out what he wanted to do with her.

“
You
’
re pregnant!
”

His sister brushed past him and dumped her armload of firewood into the box against the wall before pushing her hood back from her face and favoring him with an exasperated stare.
“
Hello, Ivey. How are you?
”

“
Hello, Ivey? How can you stand there and say
‘
Hello, Ivey
’
looking like
…
looking like
….”

“
Looking like a pregnant woman?
”
Doron finished his sentence for him.
“
When did you get in?
”

“
A few hours ago. I came straight up to the house and took a nap.
”
Ivey refused to be distracted.
“
Never mind me. What about you? I didn
’
t even know you were seriously interested in anyone.
”
Belatedly he jumped forward and helped her remove her cloak, a host of vague worries vying for his attention.
“
You look huge. When is the baby due? Are you getting enough rest? You might have told me you were taking a new husband.
”

“
Ivey, lad, stop hovering.
”
As soon as he stepped out of the way, she pulled a bench clear of the table and sat with a tired sigh. It was actually easier for him to hover now since he didn
’
t have to look up to do it.
“
Aye, I might have told you something, if you were ever here. If there
’
d been anything to tell.
”

He sat next to her on the bench.
“
I spent most of last winter here. You might have told me then what you were planning.
”

“
It wasn
’
t planned.
”

The words were briefly meaningless.
“
How can you take a man to your bed on a night you
’
re fertile and not plan for the outcome?
”

“
Neither of us knew I could be fertile with him.
”

This made even less sense. Ivey mentally reviewed the male population of Juniper Ridge.
“
Who are we talking about, lass?
”

“
Who
’
s the only man I
’
ve been that close to since Betajj died?
”
she countered.
“
The prince, you great idiot. Pirse.
”

“
A Shaper of the royal line! Gods!
”
Ivey devoted a few timeless seconds to considering his reaction. He felt the storyteller
’
s need to find just the right words to express himself. As a minstrel he
’
d sung and told any number of dramatic tales and never wanted for the proper turn of phrase. It was, he discovered, much different being personally involved. At last he settled for a plain but sincere,
“
I
’
m going to kill him.
”

“
You are not. He meant no harm.
”

“
He was irresponsible.
”

“
He didn
’
t know.
”

“
Of course he knew! All the royal courts have known for twenty years that the princes and princesses were to fulfill the vows left incomplete by their parents. It
’
s been part of my duty to spread the story.
”

Doron glared at him.
“
You knew?
”

“
Aye, of course!
”

She rapped her knuckles lightly on the side of his head.
“
You might have mentioned it to me.
”

“
I
’
ve told the tale a thousand times!
”

“
Never in Juniper Ridge.
”

His sister
’
s accusation forced him to pause and swallow his indignation.
“
I didn
’
t?
”

“
We never hear any of your fine tales. How many Festivals do you spend at home? You
’
re out and about in more important villages.
”
She reached out again. Ivey flinched, but she tousled his curls affectionately this time.
“
Never mind. I can
’
t really fault you. You
’
ve said often enough you come home to rest, not to sing.
”

He grabbed her hand and firmly buried his anxieties.
“
That
’
s because you don
’
t like my singing.
”

“
Who can blame me? A rutting ram has a smoother voice.
”

“
There are some who
’
d argue with you.
”

“
Shows the low standards of the company you keep.
”

Ivey gave her hand a squeeze and released her.
“
Perhaps it does.
”
Shapers. That was who she meant. It was true he spent much of his time in the company of the ruling elite in Sitrine, and with lesser members of the Rhenlan court. It was also true he
’
d neglected Dherrica. Everyone was neglecting Dherrica.

“
Does he know now?
”
he asked after a moment.

“
Aye. He was here not a nineday ago.
”

“
And left again.
”

“
That wizard, Aage, came to fetch him,
”
she responded with a shrug.
“
He
’
s wanted in Sitrine.
”

Frustration set Ivey
’
s teeth on edge. As if there wasn
’
t enough to worry about! What could be happening in Sitrine that required the presence of Pirse of Dherrica? He thought of phantom cats, and sea monsters, and Abstainers, and wondered what Jeyn was doing. At least Sene would be pleased. He
’
d been waiting, hoping, for Aage
’
s prophecy to be fulfilled. That it was Pirse who
’
d been first to father a Dreamer, rather than Chasa or Jeyn, would not trouble the king of Sitrine. At least someone had succeeded.

Succeeded. Aye, with Ivey
’
s sister.

I
’
m still going to kill him.

* * *

Vray held one of the new black robes up to the lantern light, examined the red embroidery on neck, sleeves, and hem, and decided she was
pleased. She had better be. Mid
winter had arrived far too fast and she had run out of time. She
’
d spent the last two ninedays on the work. It made her fingers and eyes tired just thinking about all the stitching. She hoped Mankin liked it. She had begun training the girl near the end of summer and was going to surprise her apprentice with her first robe at the ceremony tonight. She
’
d used one of Cyril
’
s designs instead of the traditional circle and square pattern of Edian. On Mankin
’
s gown, the moons
’
phases in stem and satin stitches formed a flowing pattern that could be unique to Broadford
’
s Redmothers from now on. Cyril had woven her a pair of wide red and black belts to match the embroidery. It would look very proper, she decided, and folded the robe once again before placing it on the table.