Christopher Stasheff - Rogue Wizard 09 by A Wizard In A Feud

Author:A Wizard In A Feud
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Alea couldn’t tell who it was; they were all scowling now. She turned to them and said, “There’s no danger in preaching peace, if the preacher doesn’t belong to a clam”

“There’s truth in that,” Hazel said grudgingly. “That’s half the reason we always welcome Moira, though we know we’ll have to endure her cant.”

“And the other half?” Alea asked. “She’s a Druid.”

It was nice to know the clergy were still honored a little. Alea turned back to Moira. “Perhaps I should become a Druid.”

“I’ll be glad to teach you,” the young woman said, “if I travel with you.”

The Gregors turned to exclaim to one another, almost in alarm.

“Peace, friends!” Alea called, smiling. “You’ll be passing me on to another clan soon enough. Surely you can’t object to escorting both of us for a few more miles.” Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Moira relaxing a little.

The Gregors didn’t look convinced.

“Of course, if you really don’t want to, we can always go on by ourselves.”

“No, we can’t have that,” Hazel said quickly. “If anything happened to you, our honor would be stained for years.” She turned to Moira. “None of your preaching, though, not while we’re with youl We’re enjoying the journey and we don’t want it to become a burden!”

“I’ll not talk peace while I’m with you,” Moira promised, smiling.

“Then come along.” Alea held out a hand. “Tell me what else you foresee.”

“The lady was buried in the high chancel. And the lord, he was buried in the choir.”

And out of the lady grew a red rose bush, And out of the lord a sweet briar.

“They grew till they crept up the walls of the church,

And climbed each side of the spire,

Where they met and twined in a firm love-knot,

For all true lovers to admire!”

Gar nodded his approval. “Very good. A most charming conceit.”

“They’d have had a right to feel proud,” Kerlew said, “if they’d been alive to see it.” He looked around at the trees to either side of the road. “Can’t be much of anyone nearby, or they’d have challenged us an hour ago.”

“They certainly must have heard us,” Gar agreed, “but who would trouble two honest peddlers?”

“There are other outlaws besides Rowena’s band,” Kerlew told him.

“Why would they want to attack two madmen?”

Kerlew stared at him a moment, then grinned. “Who but a madman would sing at the top of his voice in the forest, eh?”

“Who but a madman would want to attract attention?” Gar returned. “Not that we…” He broke off, staring at Kerlew. Kerlew stared back.

“Ouch,” Gar said tentatively. “Your shin?” Kerlew asked. “How did you guess?”

“Because mine hurts, too.”

As one, they turned and looked down.

A score of people blocked their way-and they needed a score, for they were only two feet tall. The ones right next to the travelers held spears pressed just under the peddlers’ knees.

“Who are you,” one of them asked in a high, reedy voice, “to go singing so loudly in our woods?”

Gar stared; they were most amazing little people.

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