The Language of Power by Rosemary Kirstein

Author:Rosemary Kirstein
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: dragon, wizard, bel, ghost lover, rowan, donner, einar, willam, outskirter, steerswoman, slado, farside, jannik
Publisher: Rosemary Kirstein

13

The plan required twenty-four hours, and two horses. Fortunately, Bel had already reserved a pair. It merely remained necessary to alter the arrangement to include the extra time, and to substitute Willam for Bel when no one was looking.

Unfortunately, their funds were running low. The three friends pooled their resources, Will’s and Rowan’s contributions being very meager. They had money sufficient to hire the mounts and purchase supplies for the extended time, but only if Willam and Bel ceased to eat for the rest of their stay in Donner.

They considered the small pile of coins. “I could go back to begging,” Will ventured.

“And I can pick a few pockets,” Bel volunteered cheerfully.

“I’d really rather you didn’t,” Rowan said, affronted. “Aside from the morality of it, you might get caught and thrown in a cell. It would be inconvenient, at the least.”

The Outskirter tilted her head. “I’ll haggle some more. And you’re a steerswoman. Perhaps we can get your horse without charge.”

Rowan protested. “Food and lodging are one matter; there’s no custom that requires people to give me free use of a horse for twenty-four hours.”

“Yes, but maybe the head groom doesn’t know that—”

“Bel—”

“So I’ll do the talking, and you stay quiet and try not to look appalled and disapproving. And I can play on sympathy, too. You were sick yesterday—”

“I was not!”

“But everyone thinks you were. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Rowan, but for some reason people around here seem to like you, and right now they feel sorry for you. I say we should play on that.”

The steerswoman continued to protest; but in the end, it seemed the only plan available, and Rowan surrendered.

They waited until dawn was near—not so very long a wait—and took themselves out to the stable yard. There, they watched while the head groom, a strong, weathered woman in her forties, gave the day’s instructions to the stable hands.

“I like her face,” Bel said. “She seems almost motherly. This might work.” She turned back to Rowan, considered the steerswoman’s expression disparagingly. “Maybe it would be better if you stayed over here, at a distance. Try to look peaked, if you can manage it—no, Rowan, at least try. And Will, be a bit concerned, and sympathetic—” She stopped short. “Ha.”

Rowan was immediately suspicious. “What?” she said.

The Outskirter grinned. “I have an idea.” She took Will’s arm, and Rowan’s, and pulled them closer to each other, spoke quietly. “Act cozy.”

Rowan put up her brows. “Excuse me?”

“Act cozy. Here, Will—” She drew him closer. “Put your arm around her shoulder, like this—”

“Um—” He attempted to back off.

“And Rowan, lean in—” Bel pushed them together.

Rowan resisted. “Bel—”

Bel glowered up at her. “Rowan, no one will wonder if the steerswoman wants to ride out with a handsome young man instead of with me. And no one will wonder if they stay out all night.”

“Um, Bel—” Will was definitely uncomfortable with this.

“Will, don’t be a prude—” Bel maneuvered them both back into position. “—And since I’m such a wonderful person,

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.