Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (82 page)

“
What others want of you is never important. Always make your own decisions, lass.
”

“
It was making my own decisions that got me in trouble in the first place!
”

The complaint sounded more like the spirited young woman he suspected she was.
“
That may be. But just because your family over-reacted and sent you away, doesn
’
t mean that the decisions themselves were wrong.
”
He stood up and offered her his hand.
“
Are you hungry? Cyril will have supper ready by now.
”

To his great satisfaction, she smiled.
“
I
’
d better go help her,
”
she said. She put her hand in his and got up.

“
Wash your face first,
”
he instructed.

“
Yes, Dad.
”

On Festival morning, only a few wisps of high cloud interrupted the otherwise endless blue of the sky over Raisal. Aage had successfully banished the rain of a few days before, providing the perfect weather the king expected. Feather could recall more than a few rainy Spring Festivals in Garden Vale. Now she realized why the east wind had risen with such regularity a day or two before Festival to carry clouds out of Sitrine. She was surprised Jenil hadn
’
t given Aage or Sene a good talking-to about having some consideration for their neighbors. Then again, maybe she had. Both wizard and king were very good at humbly accepting a scolding, then going right ahead and doing what they wanted anyway.

“
Who was supposed to bring the garlands?
”
Feather called out to Dektrieb as he passed.

The harried servant paused, a long ladder balanced on his shoulder.
“
A boy from Cheinil
’
s shop. They promised to send him at mid-morning.
”

“
He
’
s late,
”
Feather complained loudly. Dektrieb, wisely, resumed crossing the lawn. Following his progress with her eyes, Feather saw that at least the kitchen pavilion was up. Smoke emerged from vents at either end of the structure. She hoped that was a sign of function, not disaster.

“
Do we know if all the supplies arrived this morning?
”
she asked.

Beside her, Jeyn toyed with a ribbon streamer she
’
d picked out of a bush half an hour ago.
“
Hmmm?
”

“
Cooking supplies. Food,
”
Feather enunciated clearly.
“
Did everything come in from the market?
”

Jeyn wound the ribbon through her fingers and bestowed a fond smile on Feather.
“
I
’
m sure it did. Stop worrying. Everything will be fine.
”

“
How would you know? All you
’
re doing is thinking about Ivey! You
’
re not being any help at all!
”

Jeyn smoothed the ribbon with a wistful smile.

Feather considered killing her.
“
How can you stand there looking so
—
so mushy! And beautiful,
”
she added truthfully.

“
You
’
re beautiful, too. It
’
s your day, Feather. Everything
’
s beautiful today.
”

“
If it
’
s my day, why am I doing all the work?
”

“
I had to talk to the law readers yesterday, and the day before. I dealt with that delegation about taxes late last night, too,
”
Jeyn pointed out.

“
And what do you mean, everything is beautiful?
”
Feather went on as if Jeyn hadn
’
t spoken. She pointed at a section of lawn full of upended tables and frantic servants.
“
Do you call that beautiful?
”

“
Yes.
”

“
I
’
m going to be sick. Go away, Jeyn.
”

Jeyn drifted away, still smiling.

Behind Feather, a masculine voice laughed.
“
My sister is in love,
”
Chasa said.

“
I never would have guessed.
”

He kissed Feather on the cheek.
“
We
’
re twins, you know. Twins do everything alike.
”

“
At least you don
’
t look mushy.
”

“
You wouldn
’
t let me.
”

Chasa walked past her and gazed critically up at the half-decorated platform.
“
Are you sure it will be finished in time?
”

“
In time for what?
”
she asked with as much innocence as she could muster.

“
Not for the announcements,
”
he shot back.
“
Today I
’
m not interested in whatever
’
s happened to anybody else. I want us to be up there together. Almost like when we were little.
”

He was doing it again. All winter, Chasa had done nothing but fill her head with stories. Her days had been monopolized by the prince, until she became so used to his company that even his voice didn
’
t bother her the way it had at first.

Obliging him, she rose to the bait.
“
All right, what did we do to the Festival platform when we were little?
”

It was his turn to look innocent, his big brown eyes wide.
“
Why, nothing, Feather. We weren
’
t always in trouble.
”

“
Just most of the time.
”

“
The Festival I was thinking about was the one just after you turned five. The fall after Dad brought you home. He stood up on the platform to formally introduce you to the people as his daughter. You were shy, and didn
’
t want to go up beside him. So I held your hand and we went up together.
”
His smile was radiant and more than a little smug.
“
Everyone said we looked so cute.
”

“
I bet they did,
”
Feather replied, teeth clenched.

Sure enough, her betrothed continued,
“
You
’
re still cute.
”

“
I
’
ve heard that before, Your Highness.
”

“
And never liked it.
”

“
And never will.
”

A servant ran toward them. She acknowledged Chasa with a quick,
“
Good morning, Your Highness,
”
then turned to Feather.
“
A boy is coming up the road with a cart full of flowers.
”

“
Send him right over.
”
The servant ran off and Chasa began to back away. Feather caught his sleeve.
“
Oh, no. You just stand right there. If your twin is going to be useless, you can work in her place.
”

* * *

Vray pulled the brush through her hair a final time. Considering the dampness of the day, it was the best she could do. She turned on the low stool beside her bed.
“
All right, who
’
s next?
”

“
Me! Me!
”
Pepper and Matti clamored simultaneously. Pepper, older and quicker, reached her first.

“
I
’
d like a single braid, please. With this ribbon. Make sure it doesn
’
t come loose.
”

Matti pushed in beside her.
“
What about my buttons? Can
’
t you do my buttons first?
”

“
One at a time,
”
Vray replied. She took Pepper by the shoulders and turned her to face the other way. Swiftly, she fastened the fancy tunic Matti had chosen to wear. The ladder from the main room creaked and Tob poked his head up through the floor.

“
Almost ready?
”
he asked.

“
Yes. Matti, go to your brother. Pepper, I
’
ll get this started, then I
’
m sure Mama can finish it for you.
”

“
But I want you to do it!
”

Tob leaned far enough into the room to finish helping Matti. He made faces at her as he worked, causing her to giggle at the novelty of being nose to nose with her big brother.
“
Mama knows how to braid,
”
he told Pepper.
“
Iris and I promised to be early to help Canis with the festival decorations.
”

“
We could help, too,
”
Pepper insisted.

“
You
’
re too little,
”
Tob said, then told Matti,
“
All done.
”

“
We are not,
”
Pepper said.

Vray tried a soothing tone.
“
You
’
ll be there soon enough. There
’
ll be plenty to do on a rainy day like this.
”

“
But we want to come with you,
”
Matti said.

Tob tapped her on the nose.
“
We want to be with our friends.
”

“
You want to be with each other.
”
Pepper, blunt as always, twisted around to glare at Vray, pulling her half finished braid out of reach.
“
Tob never plays with us anymore. When he
’
s not doing his chores he
’
s following you to the village, and we have to stay here. It
’
s not fair!
”

Vray pressed her lips down on the threatening smile.
“
Tob and I like to talk. It
’
s grown-up talk. You wouldn
’
t be interested. Maybe it
’
s not fair, but that
’
s the way it is.
”

“
How do you know I wouldn
’
t be interested?
”
Pepper challenged.
“
I can talk about anything Tob can talk about.
”

“
Talk yes, make sense, no,
”
Tob muttered.

Matti snatched the opportunity.
“
Pepper, Tob
’
s picking on you.
”

So much for a graceful exit,
Vray thought. She said,
“
Time to go,
”
and quickly moved to the ladder.

Vray nudged Tob
’
s shoulder firmly. He took the hint and whisked out of sight, clearing a path for her own escape. In the main room, Cyril was still cooking. Jordy sat off to the side of the hearth in his stocking feet, a cloth across his lap, polishing a boot. He looked up as Tob and Vray hurried toward the door.

“
We
’
ve got to go, Dad,
”
Tob announced.

“
The girls are dressed,
”
Vray added.
“
Pepper still needs help with her hair.
”