Part 15 (2/2)

Talen had caught deer with counterweight snares before. It was possible that the noose would grab a leg, but it also might tighten up around the neck. If all worked well, they'd have a hatchling before dawn. Of course, a real deer might trip it as well. But Talen didn't think so. The dogs were usually very good at chasing most things off.

And that reminded him: the dogs would have to come in. This trap could very easily choke and kill one of them. He went to where Blue lay then picked him up and carried him back to the house.

A soft light from one lamp spilled from River's room. In the main room, a double spout lamp burned on the table. Da held the waste basket to the edge of the table and brushed wood shavings into it. He'd been working on a rose carved in cherry wood. Ke sat at the other end of the table rubbing sheep's tallow into his boots.

Queen went to Da silently, wagging her tail and asking for attention.

Da looked up. ”I don't want the dogs in here.”

”I'll keep them in the loft with me,” said Talen. ”Blue needs to be close.”

Da grunted. ”So what were the two of you doing out there?”

”Nothing,” said Talen.

”You were doing something.”

Talen glanced at Nettle and back at Da. Talen knew he'd make them take down the snare. ”We were just talking.”

Da grunted again and then went back to his work.

”What are we going to do about the watch?” Talen asked.

Da motioned at a harness of parade bells. ”Ke's going to take first watch. He's going to string a line around the property. That line will be rigged to these bells. Anyone trips that line and we'll hear it.”

”And then what?”

”Then we see what tripped the bells,” Ke said.

That didn't sound like much of a plan, but Talen didn't argue. He took Blue upstairs. Nettle and Queen followed behind.

When they reached the loft, Nettle said, ”If something comes, we won't have time to be looking for our bowstrings in the dark. We'd best get them ready now.”

It wasn't good to leave a bow strung, but in this case Nettle was right. So they strung their bows and leaned them and their quivers against the wall, and then they lay down in their narrow beds. Queen came over and licked Talen's face until he told her to settle down.

The light coming up the stairs diminished. Someone sc.r.a.ped open River's tin candlesave and closed it. She loved the smell of beeswax and herbs, even if it did cost more than oil or tallow. But the mice loved beeswax so the candles had to be put beyond their nibbling. Soon the light from downstairs disappeared altogether.

Talen heard Da go outside and draw up water from the well then come back in and retire to his room. The house quieted. An owl hooted outside.

He lay on his bed unable to sleep. He waited for what seemed a long time, staring at the ceiling.

A jingle sounded from below.

”Nettle,” Talen said.

”I heard it,” said Nettle.

Another small jingle, then one big one.

Talen and Nettle jumped out of bed, startling Queen, grabbed their bows and quivers, and dashed down the stairs in the dark. Nettle slipped on the narrow steps at the bottom and crashed into Talen. They would have both sprawled out onto the floor, but Talen held onto the railing and swung into the wall instead.

”Ho!” said Talen. ”The alarm!”

There was laughter in the darkness, and then Da lifted on side of a lantern to illuminate himself and River. Da was shaking so hard with laughter he almost knocked the lamp over. River sat next to him holding her sides. Ke stood across the way in the doorway of his room grinning like an idiot.

Da grabbed the alarm line, gave it a good shake. ”Just testing your speed, son. Just testing your speed.”

Da! He was worse than River. ”Very funny,” said Talen.

That only set all three of them to laughing again.

”Come on,” Talen said to Nettle and marched back upstairs.

They had both just lain down when the bell jingled again.

”I'm busting my sides with laughter,” Talen called down.

Da laughed again. But he was going to find crickets in his boots this week. And next week, he'd sink to the ground while sleeping with loose bed ropes. And then it would be Talen's turn to laugh.

He heard three more jingles and laughter, and then Da called up a good night.

After everything that had happened today, Da was joking. It was ridiculous. It was- Talen stopped mid-thought. He suddenly knew why Da was making light of it. He was trying to relax them, just as he did his bowmen when they went into battle, which meant that Da was taking this very seriously indeed. Maybe Da was concerned about sleth after all. Maybe all of his arguing against the Fir-Noy was just a way to help them keep cool heads. This comforted Talen, and he suddenly found he could close his eyes.

14.

Fugitives SHOUTS JOLTED TALEN out of bed.

”Hold,” Ke said from below. ”Identify yourself.” There was no joking in his voice now.

Talen grabbed his bow in the darkness. This time when he and Nettle reached the bottom of the stairs, the door stood open and Ke had his own bow drawn, pointing it out in the moonlit yard.

”Zu,” the soldier said. ”We are part of the barbican watch. I bring Captain Argoth's summons.”

The moon had risen and Talen could see one man wearing a helm and a chain mail s.h.i.+rt standing out in the yard. Men and horses stood behind him.

Talen's first thought was of the armsmen they'd beaten earlier. But there were no Fir-Noy markings on the soldiers he could see. Only Shoka. Furthermore, this soldier's wrist also bore the tattoo weave of Shoka bull horns. But, then, it had been Shoka that had beaten him at the village. Talen nocked an arrow and silently moved closer to the hearth in order to get a clear shot at the man outside the door and those beyond.

”What's this about?” asked Da.

”You know the sleth woman?” the soldier asked.

”You're referring to Purity, the smith's wife?”

<script>