The Knight of the Red Beard (Cycle of Oak, Yew, Ash, and Rowan) by Sasha Miller & Andre Norton

Author:Sasha Miller & Andre Norton [Miller, Sasha & Norton, Andre]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0765307480
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2008-09-28T20:00:00+00:00

On the night of the full moon, Zazar again visited the Wykenig stronghold. Askepott reported that Holger den Forferdelig had no immediate plans to send another message. He was not a good correspondent; that, or Askepott was unable to cajole him into more frequent contact. In the meantime, the two Wysen-wyves could manage with their herbs of Transport, though they both knew that keeping their activities a secret would be accomplished more by accident than by design.

“Gunnora is watching me closely,” Askepott said. “And she keeps an eye on Ridder Red Fox, too. It’s as if she knew or suspected some secret about him.”

A week later, Askepott, using Zazar’s traveling mixture, appeared in the high tower room. She seemed very interested in observing where Mikkel had come from originally, and Zazar was not loath to show her as much of the town and countryside as could be seen from her tower window. Then the two Wysen-wyves descended the stairs so the woman from the Wykenig steading could get a good impression of her surroundings.

She whistled softly as they glided through the Great Hall. Earlier that evening there had been a feast such as Gaurin was in the habit of giving his nobles from time to time, to thank them for their unswerving loyalty. Half-burned candles still stood in the great chandeliers, and though the dishes had been cleared away, tracings of the meal remained. Here and there, a house dog gnawed on a meaty bone.

“Ashen won’t be pleased with this,” Zazar said, frowning, “nor will Ayfare. She’s the Chatelaine here and both like things kept clean. No dirt on the floor, and no scraps of food tossed into the corners.”

Three of the four resident warkats, sensing something new and different, arose from their places near the banked embers of the fireplace and came to look them over.

“That one’s the mam of Ridder Red Fox’s kitte?” Askepott asked, indicating one of the females.

“No, it’s the one holding Weyse in her paws and giving her a bath.”

Askepott shook her head. “What a household.”

“Yes. A happy one, mainly.”

“Let us hope it becomes even more so.”

“Have you heard something?”

“Nothing to put your finger on. Just some thoughts I’d like to share with you.”

“Come along, then, lest we wake someone we don’t intend to.” They ascended the stairs to Zazar’s apartment again and Askepott continued with what she had been mulling in her mind.

“Something is definitely brewing with Gunnora the Golden. She spends too much time in the little room she made Holger build for her, just off her private quarters. I think she is up to some mischief and is searching for the right ingredients with which to do it.”

“Do you know what those ingredients might be?”

“No. I don’t think it has anything to do with our lore. Nevertheless, I won’t let her into my stock of supplies, you can be sure.”

“The fire has nearly died away,” Zazar observed, indicating the smoldering herb circle.

“I think we’ve pressed our luck on these excursions as far as we can.

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