Wren's War by Sherwood Smith

Author:Sherwood Smith
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 2012-01-18T23:10:35+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

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Far to the northeast, Teressa was also awake, sitting in her little tent and writing by the light of a small lamp.

When her pen went dry she warmed her fingers over her lamp, then dipped the pen into the inkwell. Carefully she inscribed the date, and then the results of the morning’s negotiations.

Promised to Elkin, Mayor of Craeg, free and untaxed foraging for their sheep on the Crown Land south of town, all the way to Griswold Knolls.

Teressa laid her pen down and flexed her fingers. It was hard to write so small, especially by such dim light, when her entire body seemed to be half-frozen. But her little book was already partially full. She leafed through the remaining pages, wishing that she’d found a bigger empty book at the Haven House. Well, at least I have this.

Now, what else to write?

She twisted her neck, which was still stiff from the day’s long ride, then bent over the book once more. In the ancient Leric script that she had learned once just for fun, she added:

Observation: If people think a suggestion comes from someone they respect, they’ll obey it. The same suggestion from someone they don’t like is sure to cause argument.

She thought about how Garian had grumped when she had insisted they stay well away from streams, hills, and other “tactically significant” terrain when they first camped. “This is ridiculous,” Garian had said. “If it rains, this field will get soggy, and it will take forever to hike to a stream to get wash water.”

“We’ll camp here,” Teressa had replied. “I’ve been told by someone with experience that this is best.” She hated to mention Connor, as his name always sparked Garian’s temper.

At first Garian scowled, then he asked, “A lesson from the King?” Teressa opened her mouth to deny it, saw that Garian was—for once—not pestering her with arguments; so she shrugged. “My father taught me a great deal,” she said, not quite answering—but it was enough for Garian, who turned away and gave the order for the camp.

Now she put pen, ink, and book away, doused her light, and curled up on her mat. But she couldn’t sleep, not until she had reviewed her plans for the next day.

That delegation from Hroth Falls ought to be here. That is, if the message-relay system is still working.

She tried to calculate how long their supplies might last and where they might get more. Maybe it’s time to sell that ruby necklace I was wearing the night of the attack. If this war drags on much longer, food will become more precious than jewels.

That was her last thought before sleep overwhelmed her. It seemed only a short time later that she was startled awake again by the crunch of footsteps outside her tent.

“Highness.” The whisper somehow managed to sound apologetic.

Teressa lifted her head. Cold air shocked her into sitting up quickly. Her braid caught under her elbow, jerking her head painfully back. She bit her lip against a scream of annoyance and scrabbled in the dark for the few hairpins she had left.

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