The Searching by Vanessa Nelson

Author:Vanessa Nelson [Nelson, Vanessa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-09-11T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Yvonne’s head ached with reading, from hours hunched over the ledgers that Sarra had kept, so meticulously, for the years that she had been here. The first writing in the books had been another hand, Yvonne assumed of Sarra’s husband, now dead. Then the soldier had taken over, her handwriting difficult to read. There were records of sales and purchases of feed and livestock. It seemed that Sarra had recorded most of the events of the farm in brief notations, using her own form of code that made no sense to Yvonne’s eyes, but which Guise had been able to decipher without too much effort, and a throwaway comment that it was a common code used by Valland soldiers, adding that it was far easier to work out than the code the agent had used for his notebook. Guise had not managed to read the agent’s notes yet.

All of which made Yvonne wonder just how many codes Guise had knowledge of, and just how Guise had learned the Valland army’s codes.

A soft sound of satisfaction from the other side of the room brought her head up from another description of sheep sales, and she found Guise leaning forward in his chair, a smaller book held in his hands. From the finger’s width of hair that morning, his hair had grown more during the day, now perhaps two fingers’ length around his head, some of the familiar silken sheen showing in the daylight.

“Found something?”

“Yes. Local legend.”

Before Guise could go on, the door opened and Pieris burst in, closely followed by Jaalam, both of them looking like small boys who had just found a treasure trove of freshly baked cakes.

“I know why we’re here!” Pieris announced.

“There’s a barrow not far away.” Guise and Pieris said at the same time.

Yvonne blinked, wondering if she had misheard them, and why that should be so exciting.

“A barrow?” she repeated slowly, wanting to make sure she had understood them.

“A burial mound,” Guise clarified.

“Well, not exactly a mound. More like a tomb,” Pieris said, excitement making his voice higher and faster than normal.

Before anyone could explain to her why that was so important, or exciting, Thort appeared in the doorway behind Jaalam.

“There’s a rider on the way. Ulla says it’s just one human. Brea and I are going to check the perimeter, just to be sure.”

“Where’s Lita?” Yvonne asked, setting the ledger aside and standing up. She already had her weapons, and spell pouch, with her, as normal.

“We’ve sent her to the kitchen,” Thort said, turning as he spoke and disappearing back into the house, presumably to find his wife.

“We’ll wait with Lita,” Pieris suggested, giving Jaalam a gentle push to move him out of the room.

“And I will come with you, mristrian,” Guise said, setting the book aside and standing up. He was far more fluid than he had been, even in the few days they had been here, although still not his usual effortless way of moving that she associated with goblins.

She didn’t say

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