Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (86 page)

They spread blankets in the hay loft, well away from the opening in the floor. Exploration began with gentle touches, fingertips tracing a jaw or trailing along an arm. He, the virgin, showed no hesitation. Coaching, probably. Who would he have gone to? Herri? Kessit? For herself, she was quickly lost in the novelty of a leisurely seduction. No one had ever undressed her gently. No one had ever asked her permission before reverently cupping her breasts. No one had ever paused to express interest in her reactions. No one had ever approached her in love rather than in lust.

Still, he was only fifteen and it was his first time. The moment he entered her his restraint cracked, then crumpled. With a groan he thrust once, twice, eyelids fluttering shut as the spasms took him. She raised her hips to meet him, holding him with her legs, caressing his back with her fingers. She marveled at the absence of pain.

He hung above her, arms beginning to quiver. Blinking his eyes back into focus he whispered,
“
Iris?
”

“
Come here.
”
Awkwardly he complied, helping her shift their bodies until they lay side by side, still coupled, legs entwined. He stroked her shoulder, sending a shiver down her spine. She squirmed closer against him. If this was desire, it wasn
’
t frightening. So many of the tales that filled her memory made sense now. Lust produced only a specialized form of violence. Desire
—
desire could mold lives, change the policies of entire kingdoms.

“
I think that was a little too fast,
”
he murmured.
“
I was selfish. I didn
’
t do anything for you.
”

She pulled the dark head close and kissed him.
“
Don
’
t say that, Tob. Never think it again.
”
Her intensity alarmed him and he tried to lift himself on one elbow. Vray caressed his face, soothing him. She would not allow fear to intrude. Not for either of them.

“
Just stay,
”
she said more calmly.
“
You don
’
t really think we
’
re finished, do you?
”

Tob subsided onto the blanket, as understanding and then appreciation put a mischievous gleam into his eye.
“
Ah. Now it comes. The truth revealed at last. Not so reluctant as you thought you were, eh? Or is it just my irresistibility?
”

“
Utterly irresistible,
”
she agreed. Then her hand snaked down and danced along his ribcage.

He jerked back with a gasp of shock.
“
That
’
s not fair!
”

Vray rolled onto her knees but didn
’
t follow up her advantage. When Tob saw he was safe from further tickling, he slowly unrolled from his defensive position.

“
Let
’
s start over,
”
she suggested.
“
From the beginning. As we did before.
”

He knelt in front of her.
“
Only more so?
”

“
Only more so,
”
she breathed.

Jordy left the house well before dawn. The rain had ended during the night, but the sky was still obscured by clouds. He led Stockings down the hill out of the yard, depending on feel rather than sight to keep to the path. The eastward road was an avenue of darkness between darker, looming walls of faintly rustling vegetation. Jordy continued to walk until the road passed out of the small woods and the river became audible on his right. Then he mounted, and with the growing light, urged the horse to pick up her pace.

He had so much to say to Jenil that he couldn
’
t decide where to begin. What had the woman been thinking of? Whose interests had she thought to serve, bringing the princess to Broadford? Family troubles, Ivey had said. Jordy
’
s anger grew as he remembered the minstrel
’
s casual familiarity with the girl
’
s story. He must have been quite pleased with his cleverness. Fooling a gullible village with his tale. The girl
’
s Redmother training, oh, aye, he understood that, now! Her service to Broadford had been founded on lies. Perhaps she
’
d never actually spoken falsely, but she hadn
’
t spoken the truth, either. She
’
d misled them all.

Perhaps what troubled him most was the lack of purpose. Broadford hadn
’
t benefited. They
’
d gained a Redmother they couldn
’
t keep. What had the girl learned? Some embroidery? Some gardening? He kept returning to the same question: What had Jenil been thinking of to bring the girl to him?

He reached Garden Vale at mid-morning. The residents were out and about, removing decorations and tidying up after the previous day
’
s festival. At the Brownmother house he was greeted with concern, under the natural assumption that he
’
d come for a healer. Two of the more experienced healers offered to return with him to Broadford at once, since the Greenmother herself was unavailable. She had gone to Sitrine and wasn
’
t expected back for a nineday or more.

Jordy didn
’
t lose his temper. He made the women understand that no one was ill, that he had other business with the Greenmother. He left the only message he could, that he wanted to speak with her and that if she would ask at any of the major markets of summer she
’
d be able to find him. The Brownmothers suggested he rest a while and have something to eat, but he declined. He watered Stockings at a public trough and turned at once for home.

Toward
midday
the clouds began to break, allowing patches of sunlight to dapple the river and fields. The breeze decreased fitfully, losing its chill. The change for the better in the weather did not improve his mood. He was faced with a decision he did not want to make. If he could see through the girl
’
s deception, others would. She no longer kept to herself as she once had. All it would take would be a single traveler passing through who had known her in Edian. How had Ivey phrased it? The girl had been banished because she was an inconvenience. When word reached the royal court that she was no longer confined to the life they
’
d chosen for her, retribution was sure to follow. Broadford didn
’
t need another visit from the king
’
s guard.

No foresight, Jordy raged inwardly. That was the trouble with the Greenmother and the rest of her kind! No thought to the consequences of their actions. How many lives had Jenil irrevocably ruined this time?

Jordy did not go directly home. As they passed the foot of their lane, Stockings turned her head to look, but he anticipated her with a stern,
“
Walk on, m
’
girl,
”
and she didn
’
t pause. He rode her all the way to the entrance to the square, where he dismounted. He had to think before he spoke to Herri. The innkeeper had a right to know, but the knowledge itself could endanger him. Then there was Canis. The princess had turned to her for advice more than once. Canis would be deeply hurt to learn that everything she thought she knew about their Iris, beginning with her name, was a lie.

He turned to the left and led Stockings along the eastern edge of the square. The mare lowered her head, content to amble behind him and lick at the ground in a desultory search for a few blades of new grass. Fifteen or twenty of the older children
were just completing the clean-
up of the inn yard. He saw the girl at once, folding an awning with Tob. Jordy watched them with growing unease. The girl
’
s face shone with happiness. All of the young people seemed to be enjoying their work together, but this was something else. He saw Tob gather the folded bundle into his arms, his gaze never leaving her face. Her hand touched his forearm, a gesture of graceful familiarity. Tob bent toward her, confident, serene, giddy. The kiss was sweet and intimate. A few of the others glanced at them tolerantly before resuming their work.

Jordy stopped and leaned against the nearest tree, shaken. He
’
d seen it coming. It hadn
’
t worried him before. He
’
d entertained the indulgent notion that they might have a future together. Now that was impossible.

Herri came out of the stable, saw him, and waved. Others turned in his direction, including Tob and the girl. Jordy had no choice but to walk over to the inn, Stockings trailing behind him.

“
Where
’
d you go, Dad?
”
Tob said as soon as he drew near.

“
Wanted to avoid the hard work,
”
Herri observed.

“
Like everyone else
’
s parents,
”
was Heather
’
s tart comment. Her friends laughed appreciatively. The girl, now holding Tob
’
s hand, smiled too.

“
I had to go to Garden Vale,
”
Jordy said.

“
At least it turned out to be a pleasant day,
”
Herri said.

The rest of the young people went back to their own conversations. They had no interest in carting business. Herri turned his head, saw two boys having trouble with dismantling the largest roasting spit, and hurried away to help. Only Jordy
’
s children stood expectantly before him.

His children. Tob was his height now, perhaps an inch taller, and certainly outweighed him. He looked at the girl and his resolve faded. Was she still his child? His frightened Iris, now fully blossomed into a young woman. What were her hopes and dreams? In the last year she
’
d revealed so many fine qualities. He
’
d accepted her before he knew what kind of person she was. He couldn
’
t back out of that commitment now. Whoever else she was, she was his daughter. His mouth tightened. He wouldn
’
t deny her just because it was convenient.

A worry line formed between her eyebrows.
“
Is something wrong?
”

“
I have a lot to do,
”
he explained lamely.
“
We really should be on the road tomorrow.
”

“
That
’
s something we wanted to talk to you about.
”
Tob was brimming with more than new-found maturity. Something else had sparked his enthusiasm.
“
It
’
s really between you and Iris, but I want you to know I think it
’
s a great idea.
”

“
What idea?
”
Jordy asked, perplexed.

Iris lifted her chin. Diffidence no longer interfered with her ability to express herself.
“
I
’
ve been thinking about my Redmother duties. I
’
ve gathered just about all of the village family memories, and taught them to Mankin. I
’
ve instructed her to learn Tagg
’
s family on her own as part of her training. So I
’
ll really have no urgent duties here until Fall Festival.
”

“
True,
”
Jordy agreed cautiously.

“
I should know more stories. I never completed my training in Edian. I learned that every town and village has its own unique tales, but I didn
’
t learn many of the tales themselves. I think I should. To properly fulfill my vows, I need to learn about the rest of the world.
”

Jordy made no comment. As a young princess, she must have studied Rhenlan and its neighbors. Which vows had prompted this renewal of interest? Redmother responsibility? Or something else entirely?

“
I
’
d like to travel with you and Tob,
”
she continued.
“
See life in Dherrica, hear the stories of Sitrine for myself.
”