(eng) Lawrence Watt-Evans - Ethshar 08 by Ithanalin's Restoration

Author:Ithanalin's Restoration [Restoration, Ithanalin's]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Kilisha did not trust the bench and chair; they had put up too much of a fight. The chair seemed glad to be home, running around the parlor like a puppy rediscovering familiar surroundings, but all the same, Kilisha made sure the door was closed and locked before she let go of the rope for even an instant.

And she didn't untie cither piece at first; instead she looped the rope around the door latch and left Kelder to guard it while she went to make more permanent arrangements. The line holding the coat-rack was tied to a lamp bracket, but somehow Kilisha doubted that would be strong enough to hold the bench; she wanted to find something that would be.

Yara had heard the noise of her return, and the thumping and rattling as the bench and chair moved around the parlor; she met Kilisha in the workshop, worried by the racket but eager to know what was happening.

"I got them, Mistress," Kilisha explained, pointing. "Kelder had them locked up, and I stupidly let them out, but we followed them and caught them again. Now we need to tie them up so they won't get away again, but I'm not sure how to do it."

"Them?" Yara peered past her into the parlor.

Kelder waved cheerily at her, and Yara retreated slightly.

"The chair and the bench," Kilisha explained. "We still need to find the couch. And right now I'm trying to think what we can tie these two to. I don't want them in the workshop; they might break things or spill something."

"I don't want them in the kitchen, either, or anywhere upstairs," Yara agreed. "They belong in the parlor."

"But there's nothing solid to tie them to in the parlor!"

"Oh." Yara considered for a moment, then turned up a palm. "I'm sure you'll think of something. I'd best go tell the children what's happening."

"Yes, Mistress," Kilisha said, suppressing a sigh. She looked around the workshop, but inspiration failed to strike.

From the doorway, Kelder said, "I overheard. Really, they should be secured to the house itself, if there's any way to do that."

"I don't see any way," Kilisha said. "Not in the parlor."

Kelder turned and gazed critically about, then suggested, "You could run a rope out the door and back in a window, then tie the furniture to both ends, making a loop. That would hold them."

"But then we couldn't close the door or the window," Kilisha said, stepping up to him and pointing.

Kelder, startled, looked at the front door and realized she was right.

"The barracks doors generally don't fit their frames that well," he said apologetically. "There's room enough for a rope underneath most of them."

"The barracks isn't the home of a respectable wizard," Kilisha retorted.

"This time of year, you could leave the door open—"

"No," Kilisha said instantly. Keeping the captured pieces in the house was quite enough to worry about with the door securely closed.

"Well, then, I don't know."

"I'll think of something," Kilisha said. "Can you stay for a little while longer, and help out? We still need to secure these, and find the couch.

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