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May. 27th, 2009 01:20 pmAt night, after the trainees not on watch had crawled into bed, George's study became a congregation spot for the likes of the queen, the baron, the mage, the officers and even the Lioness's husband, each seeking the solace of company.
"You've been pacing for an hour," Thayet observed the evening of Alanna's departure. "I very much doubt you can will her back by scowling and tiring your legs."
Adam shot her a glare that soon softened when the queen failed to look up from her book. Feeling his regard, Thayet arched an eyebrow. He sighed and ran a hand through his messy, sun-shot hair. "I know."
Over by the window, George folded his lanky frame into his favorite chair and grinned. He'd done his own fair share of pacing. Numair nodded, absently agreeing, and leaned down to study the skies.
The fire crackled in the silence that followed. It was too quiet; that was the problem. Thayet coughed and rustled her page just to relieve her nerves. After reading the same paragraph a third time she admitted defeat and let her thoughts wander to Jonathan. Where was he now? What fief was he visiting? Did he think of her when he glanced at the full moon tonight?
Of course he did.
Thayet echoed Adam's sigh. When George's deep voice rang out, she lifted her head, grateful for the distraction. "What's all this?" he asked, and she could tell by his tone he wasn't engaged in idle conversation. Following his sharp gaze, Thayet let out a yelp at the sight of Daine standing in the doorway, flanked by Sarge and Roald, covered in bats.
"They won't hurt anyone," Daine insisted, clearly steadying herself and the creatures clinging to her small frame. The captain of the guard, Josua, hesitated, dagger at the ready.
"It's only bats, Mama," said Roald.
"It's important, sir," Daine continued. "I wouldn't have brought them if it wasn't."
Numair peeled himself away from the window and gestured to a hoary bat. "May I?" His face was grim.
"What news have your friends brought for me?" George inquired, studying Daine as Numair and the bat got acquainted.
"Have you a map?"
Thayet turned to the worktable even as George indicated that's where Daine would find a map of the Swoop. A faint but steady hum of tension began to move through her veins, giving her no choice but to follow and watch the girl carefully place small, colored stones at various points north, south and east. She paused occasionally, as if listening to voices only she could hear. Slowly, a half circle about a mile away from where they stood, relatively speaking, began to take shape. "All this since twilight," Daine said at last. "We think it's more'n five hundred, all told."
A cold wave of certainty washed over the queen.
They were surrounded.
Thayet drew in a fortifying breath and announced, "We must prepare."
George was ready for this. "The villagers'll be safer here."
"I'll see you get no trouble from their animals, mum," Daine promised.
"And I'll send word to the king, once we take a closer look at what we face." Numair handed the bat back to Daine.
Immediately the castle surged to life. Together with Josua and Sarge, Thayet raced for the barracks to wake the trainees. They would bring the villagers to safety. Hooves were muffled with scraps of old horse blankets and whatever else was on hand, and Thayet shook her head when a trainee reached for a torch. "The moon is all we'll need," she explained quickly, leading Merrily into the courtyard.
Josua's men took great pains to keep the gates quiet as they slid open.
In the village, the livestock were lined up in their pens, waiting. Roused from their beds, the villagers greeted the unnatural sight with gasps and invocations, before a Rider hissed warnings and reminded them to keep quiet. Thayet wrapped a blanket around an elderly woman's shoulders and led her from her home as Josua opened her pen; her three pigs went to join the other animals.
"Never have I seen such an evacuation," whispered Josua, mystified.
"Let us hope our luck holds," Thayet replied. Her eyes flicked up to the castle; the pale glow from the moon bathed its stone walls in a ghostly light. "For I fear we'll need it."
[Scene and some dialogue from Wild Magic, by Tamora Pierce.]
"You've been pacing for an hour," Thayet observed the evening of Alanna's departure. "I very much doubt you can will her back by scowling and tiring your legs."
Adam shot her a glare that soon softened when the queen failed to look up from her book. Feeling his regard, Thayet arched an eyebrow. He sighed and ran a hand through his messy, sun-shot hair. "I know."
Over by the window, George folded his lanky frame into his favorite chair and grinned. He'd done his own fair share of pacing. Numair nodded, absently agreeing, and leaned down to study the skies.
The fire crackled in the silence that followed. It was too quiet; that was the problem. Thayet coughed and rustled her page just to relieve her nerves. After reading the same paragraph a third time she admitted defeat and let her thoughts wander to Jonathan. Where was he now? What fief was he visiting? Did he think of her when he glanced at the full moon tonight?
Of course he did.
Thayet echoed Adam's sigh. When George's deep voice rang out, she lifted her head, grateful for the distraction. "What's all this?" he asked, and she could tell by his tone he wasn't engaged in idle conversation. Following his sharp gaze, Thayet let out a yelp at the sight of Daine standing in the doorway, flanked by Sarge and Roald, covered in bats.
"They won't hurt anyone," Daine insisted, clearly steadying herself and the creatures clinging to her small frame. The captain of the guard, Josua, hesitated, dagger at the ready.
"It's only bats, Mama," said Roald.
"It's important, sir," Daine continued. "I wouldn't have brought them if it wasn't."
Numair peeled himself away from the window and gestured to a hoary bat. "May I?" His face was grim.
"What news have your friends brought for me?" George inquired, studying Daine as Numair and the bat got acquainted.
"Have you a map?"
Thayet turned to the worktable even as George indicated that's where Daine would find a map of the Swoop. A faint but steady hum of tension began to move through her veins, giving her no choice but to follow and watch the girl carefully place small, colored stones at various points north, south and east. She paused occasionally, as if listening to voices only she could hear. Slowly, a half circle about a mile away from where they stood, relatively speaking, began to take shape. "All this since twilight," Daine said at last. "We think it's more'n five hundred, all told."
A cold wave of certainty washed over the queen.
They were surrounded.
Thayet drew in a fortifying breath and announced, "We must prepare."
George was ready for this. "The villagers'll be safer here."
"I'll see you get no trouble from their animals, mum," Daine promised.
"And I'll send word to the king, once we take a closer look at what we face." Numair handed the bat back to Daine.
Immediately the castle surged to life. Together with Josua and Sarge, Thayet raced for the barracks to wake the trainees. They would bring the villagers to safety. Hooves were muffled with scraps of old horse blankets and whatever else was on hand, and Thayet shook her head when a trainee reached for a torch. "The moon is all we'll need," she explained quickly, leading Merrily into the courtyard.
Josua's men took great pains to keep the gates quiet as they slid open.
In the village, the livestock were lined up in their pens, waiting. Roused from their beds, the villagers greeted the unnatural sight with gasps and invocations, before a Rider hissed warnings and reminded them to keep quiet. Thayet wrapped a blanket around an elderly woman's shoulders and led her from her home as Josua opened her pen; her three pigs went to join the other animals.
"Never have I seen such an evacuation," whispered Josua, mystified.
"Let us hope our luck holds," Thayet replied. Her eyes flicked up to the castle; the pale glow from the moon bathed its stone walls in a ghostly light. "For I fear we'll need it."
[Scene and some dialogue from Wild Magic, by Tamora Pierce.]
