Marguerite Krause & Susan Sizemore - Children of the Rock 01 by Moons' Dreaming

Author:Moons' Dreaming
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, pdf
Published: 2012-05-31T12:13:14+00:00

Chapter 22

The afternoon was devoted to games, gossip, and return visits to the food-laden tables in the inn yard. There were races and contests of every variety. The young women, and not a few of the matrons, exchanged their pretty skirts for loose trousers, the better to compete.

Ivey remained on the sidelines, the better to observe the carter’s daughter. The exiled princess was among a limited number of nonparticipants. Jordy’s wife sat on the side of the square, embroidering a fine, russet-colored tunic and keeping a watchful eye on the family’s youngest daughter, Matti. Vray—Iris—stayed beside her. As far as Ivey could tell, she seemed content. She watched Pepper and another girl win a relay race from the platform in the square to Kessit’s woodshop and back again. Tob and the other boys and girls his age played a game that had the two teams scattered around the village for much of the afternoon.

Some of the adult games of skill were very well played. Ivey knew of good darts throwers in Bronle and Edian who would have had difficulty scoring higher than Jordy, who only lost in the final round, to Herri. The carter tried his hand at several games, doing well without winning until the end of the day, when archery targets were set at the far end of the square. The archers, Jordy among them, lined up close to Cyril and a crowd gathered to watch. The carter’s performance was flawless. The reaction of the rest of the villagers indicated that this was considered normal. The real competition had been between the others, for second place.

The contests ended at dusk. Tob and his friends returned from their game, hungrier than ever. Torches were set out, and the corner of the square nearest the inn was cleared for dancing. Pepper came over to where her mother was sitting. Cyril folded her embroidery and put it away>

then led Iris and the child back to the inn.

Ivey joined the crowd of people in the inn yard. He inched past burly farmers and chattering youngsters until he was standing beside Iris.

“I hope some of that’s for you,” Ivey said.

The princess jumped at his voice, and nearly dropped the bowl she had been filling. The little girl with her didn’t notice, just continued to chatter as she tugged Iris along the serving table. Ivey slowed, hating the fear he saw. She’d done well with the Story of Beginnings, and he’d seen her laughing at least once with the carter’s stocky son. She seemed comfortable in the presence of Jordy and Cyril, if not relaxed, but now he’d caught her away from that security, and the fear was there again.

“This is Pepper’s bowl,” she said.

Around them, other people moved leisurely past the tables, some in search of food, others more interested in Herri’s kegs of ale and wine.

“Iris!” Pepper tugged on her skirt. “I don’t like cabbage!”

“Well, maybe Iris likes cabbage.” Ivey moved up beside them, took the serving spoon from the princess’s hand, and held some of the pale vegetable over the bowl.

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