Moons' Dreaming (Children of the Rock) (87 page)

“
She could help us too, Dad,
”
Tob put in eagerly.
“
Just last summer you were saying how much you were looking forward to Pepper getting old enough to come with us. You said having another person to run errands would give you more time for the bartering.
”

“
Yes, I
’
ll help in whatever way I can,
”
the girl said.

“
I
’
m sure you will.”
Jordy examined the suggestion for drawbacks. It was a good idea, better than Tob could know. Jordy
’
s only doubts involved her motivation. Still, whatever her reasons, it was a valid request. She was old enough to decide how to improve herself. He
’
d been searching for a way to avoid attracting Damon
’
s attention to Broadford. This was a temporary solution at best. In the fall they
’
d be tactically and physically right back where they
’
d started. But it was a solution.

“
So she can come?
”
Tob asked.

“
You want to see the world,
”
Jordy said to her.
“
All right, lass. Ride with us.
”

Perhaps she would see a few things she didn
’
t expect.

* * *

“
I really should be going.
”

Doron measured another spoonful of ocher powder into her vat before looking toward her husband. He was seated on her tall stool, feet hooked on the rungs, Emlie in his lap. The baby stared raptly into her father
’
s face while he alternately grimaced, stuck out his tongue, and crossed his eyes. Neither of them showed any inclination to interrupt the game.

“
You
’
ve been saying that for four days,
”
Doron observed.

“
Well, I mean it.
”
He held his large hand briefly over Emlie
’
s eyes, then whisked it away, answering her start of surprise with a wide smile. Gurgling, she smiled back.

“
Because spring is here and the dragons will be returning,
”
Doron said, indulging him. She was well aware that he really couldn
’
t remain in Juniper Ridge much longer. She supposed she should be urging him to get back to his work. It wasn
’
t as if she needed him for anything. Emlie was a good baby. Pirse had already built a playpen for her in the corner of the dye shop and Doron knew she would continue to adapt her work habits to her baby
’
s changing needs.

“
It
’
s not just the dragons,
”
Pirse said, interrupting her thoughts.
“
I
’
ve been considering what to do about Palle.
”

Doron turned abruptly back to the dye vat.
“
I want you to stay away from him.
”

“
He
’
s ruining Dherrica.
”

“
You do more than enough for Dherrica. You slay all the monsters that need slaying, you
’
ve forced the Abstainer bands to withdraw
—”

“
Only from this area. It
’
s not enough, lassie. If I want to make a difference, I need access to the resources of the royal treasury, and full command of the guard. I need to be king.
”

“
If you go to Bronle, he
’
ll kill you.
”

“
Aye. But perhaps I don
’
t have to go to Bronle.
”

His speculative tone drew her unwillingly away from the soothing slosh of the dye vat. She came to stand in front of him, wiping her hands on her apron.
“
If I
’
ve heard it once from you, I
’
ve heard it a thousand times. You can
’
t be king until you answer your uncle
’
s rightful challenge.
”

“
Aye.
”
He picked up Emlie and held her against his shoulder.
“
That
’
s his advantage. According to the evidence, I killed his sister. I owe him a life.
”

Doron
’
s blood froze. She stepped forward and snatched Emlie out of his arms.
“
He can
’
t have her.
”

“
Of course not.
”
A hurt expression crossed his face.
“
Besides, what use would Palle have for a Dreamer child?
”

“
Well then, what are you on about?
”
Doron snapped. Emlie
’
s little face twisted into a frown, and she began a whimpered protest. Doron forced herself to relax and cuddle the baby gently until Emlie quieted once more.

Pirse got up and guided Doron to her rocking chair. Once she was settled there, he seemed to lose a bit of his serenity. He paced several times between her and the window, then finally dragged the stool close to her and perched on it, hands resting on his knees.
“
If I went to the law readers now, that would be their verdict. I owe Palle a life. A Shaper life. It
’
s my life he
’
d prefer.
”

“
Because he knows that you didn
’
t kill Dea. If you can ever prove that, the throne is yours, not his. Especially because he probably killed her himself.
”

He shook his head.
“
What proof? I
’
ve dug and puzzled for years, talked with the wizards and Ivey and Captain Cratt
’
s daughter. None of them can tell me how Dea really died. I doubt we
’
ll ever know. What
’
s important now is that I owe Dherrica an acceptable heir to my mother
’
s throne. If I can
’
t be king myself, I can still answer Palle
’
s claim against me without actually having to face him. All I have to do is father a Shaper child.
”

“
Father a Shaper
….”
As his meaning became clear, Doron
’
s worry evaporated in a flash of indignation.
“
With a Shaper lass, I suppose?
”

Pirse
’
s chin jutted forward defensively.
“
That is the accepted procedure, aye.
”

“
I don
’
t suppose I have anything to say in the matter?
”

“
It
’
s not as if there were a lot of options available!
”

“
Oh, aye, such a terrible choice,
”
Doron mocked him.
“
Having to take another wife.
”

“
I said nothing about a wife.
”

“
What do you call it then? Bedding a woman, starting a family?
”

“
It
’
s exactly what law readers demand in such cases!
”

“
It
’
s not automatic, man! I
’
ve heard of other repayments that might be offered and accepted.
”

“
I
’
ve tried to find proof that I didn
’
t kill my mother. I can
’
t. I can
’
t let Palle remain king, either. I owe Dherrica a life.
”

“
And what of the life Dherrica owes me!
”
Doron cried.
“
Where was your precious Shaper law when Betajj died?
”

“
Doron.
”
He leaned toward her, picked up her hand and held it between his. Emlie squirmed in Doron
’
s arms, craning her head to watch their faces.
“
That
’
s just one more example of why I must reclaim the throne. Dherrica deserves law readers and Redmothers and a thousand things Palle will never permit.
”

“
Rot,
”
Doron said succinctly.
“
Sitrinian ideas. You spent too much time listening to their precious king.
”

“
And your brother,
”
he admitted.
“
Ivey knows how much Dherrica has lost. They both gave me some things to think about. Important things.
”

Doron pulled her hand away from him.
“
Like pretty Shaper lasses?
”

“
Aye. Kamara is pretty.
”
He straightened and folded his arms over his chest.
“
Does that really matter?
”

“
It matters that you
’
re not only considering this, you
’
ve already chosen the woman! An old friend from the court, I suppose.
”

“
You
’
d rather I assault an unwilling stranger?
”
Pirse flared back at her.

Emlie started to cry. Doron, distracted, lifted the hem of her blouse and put the baby to her breast. The familiar, soothing routine of nursing calmed her as much as it did the baby. She looked up, and found Pirse watching them. His anger, too, had gone. Resignation, and a deep sadness, darkened his eyes and turned down the corners of his mouth.

“
Oh, be off with you,
”
Doron said, her voice low.
“
You
’
ll do what you think you must. I can
’
t stop you.
”

“
You could understand me.
”

She understood all too well. He could not deny his Shaper
’
s vows. To be truthful, she would probably throw him out of her house if he did. As painful as their fragmented relationship was, she cherished every devoted, earnest, honest, insufferably conscientious bone in his body.

She swallowed the ache in her throat.
“
Just see that you come back.
”

In two long-legged strides he was kneeling beside her again. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her, Emlie gently enfolded between them. Doron closed her eyes when he pulled back, and didn
’
t open them until she heard the sound of the gate and his footsteps trudging up the hill.

“
You have to come back.
”
Privacy freed the words she had never said in his presence.
“
Please, Pirse. I love you.
”

* *
* *
*

This ends Book One of
“
The Children
o
f
the Rock
”.
The story concludes in

Children of the Rock

Book II

Moons
’
Dancing

by Susan Sizemore & Marguerite Krause

Marguerite Krause and Susan Sizemore have been friends since their days writing and editing for a
Star Trek
fanzine. In fact, they met through writing. Marguerite was Susan
’
s first editor and publisher
…
long ago in a galaxy far far away.
When they decided to try their hands at collaborative writing, it seemed only natural to create a fantasy universe together. The results are
Moons’ Dreaming
and
Moons’ Dancing
.

Susan
is
the
New York Times
bestselling author of dozens of
romance
, paranormal,
and fantasy
novel
s
in hardcover,
paperback
, and ebook formats
. She has won the Romance Writers of America
’
s Golden Heart award
. Marguerite is a freelance editor and writer, and for recreation plays the Highland snare in a bagpipe band.