would be a bad idea to go back there. He'd gotten away once by doing the unexpected. He couldn't expect to be so lucky twice, and of course everybody wanted to wish both him and Idalia well. And with those wishes came tankards of drink from the men, and kisses from the women and girls. One or two of those farewell kisses had left him feeling flushed and uncomfortable already, and those were from the girls he knew the least…

But he'd promised…

As he stood in the darkness of the forest he realized that it was dark here under the trees, too dark to find his way, and the moon wasn't going to be high enough to show him the way to where he'd left the horses for several hours.

Great. Now I do have to go back. Honey-cakes and a lantern…

He looked back at the clearing, and for a moment had the unsettling impression that one of the lights was swelling like a frog about to sing. Then he realized that it was moving. Away from the party. Moving toward him?

Kellen slithered behind the nearest big tree and waited.

Merana came walking slowly down the trail, placing each hoof slowly and carefully. She had a basket over one arm, and was holding a lantern high over her head and talking to herself in a loud whisper.

'Idalia said he'd be out here somewhere. Kellen? Are you here? Kellen?' She held the lantern down near the ground and peered at it, looking for footprints that weren't there, then straightened, and peered at the trees on either side of the path.

'Kelleh?' she called in a louder voice. 'Are you here? Kellen?'

When Kellen didn't immediately answer, Merana took another couple of hesitant steps down the path, then stopped, fidgeting and whispering to herself again. 'She must have been wrong. Why would he be wandering around alone when he could be snuggled under a blanket and a cart with a nice warm willing—'

Kellen decided he didn't want to hear any more, and stepped out from behind the tree. Merana squeaked, and for a moment he thought she was going to rear up like a startled horse.

'Kellen?' she said out loud. 'What are you doing here? You gave me such a fright!'

'Sorry,' Kellen said. He couldn't exactly say what he was doing out here, because he didn't really know himself. 'Idalia sent you to look for me?'

'Uh-huh.' Merana nodded. 'She packed a basket for you, with a warm cloak and everything. Are you sure you don't want to stay for the rest of the dancing and all?' she added pleadingly, switching her tail so that the bells braided into it jingled. 'I've—we've hardly gotten warmed up.'

He shrugged. 'Guess not. It's a great party, though.'

'The best,' Merana said eagerly. 'Almost as fine as Harvest Home— though I don't know as anybody's going to be doing much celebrating of that this year,' she added, with a hint of that dark mood that seemed to be underlying everything at the festivities. She set down the basket and held out the lantern. Kellen took it.

'Won't you need it?' he asked.

She shook her head. 'I can make my way back by the lights, fear you not. Well, I guess this is good-bye, then. A kiss for luck?' she added hopefully.

Kellen took a step back, shaking his head apologetically.

'I was right then,' Merana said with satisfaction. 'It is a Wild Magic thing! Oh, don't worry—I won't tell. I can keep my mouth shut when I ought. And don't you worry about Cormo, either—Haneida and I have him all settled between us.'

'Good,' Kellen said, and meant it. 'You take care of him. He needs— somebody to boss him around and make it stick, I guess. If he gets that, he just might turn out all right.'

'He might.' Merana's spirit of mischief must have fought clear at that moment, for she added saucily, 'Still, it's too bad you aren't coming back to the party. You'll miss the rest of the dancing—and other things besides.'

She turned away, and with a last flirt of her tail, trotted back quickly toward the lights and the music.

It's the 'other things' I'm worried about, I guess, Kellen thought doubtfully.

He set down the lantern, and investigated the basket. A warm cloak was folded on the top—not necessary just now, but if he was going to be spending most of the night out in the woods, it might be later. And beneath it, a selection of delicacies from the feast, including a generous number of honey-cakes and several patties of maple sugar.

Вы читаете The Outstretched Shadow
Добавить отзыв
ВСЕ ОТЗЫВЫ О КНИГЕ В ИЗБРАННОЕ

0

Вы можете отметить интересные вам фрагменты текста, которые будут доступны по уникальной ссылке в адресной строке браузера.

Отметить Добавить цитату