'I'll do a sending; there are White Winds sorcerers everywhere. You should be getting one or more up here within a couple of months.' Kethry bit her lip a bit, trying to do a rough calculation on how far her sending would reach. 'I can't promise that you'll get anything higher than a Joumeymanclass, but you never know. I won't tell them more than that there's a position open with you -- you can let whoever you hire in on the whole thing after you take them on. Remember, White Winds school has no edicts against using magic for fighting, and I'll make it plain in the sending that this is a position with a merc company. That it means killing as well as healing. That should keep the squeamish away. Have Tresti look them over first, then Oreden and Jiles. Tresti will be able to sense whether they'll fit in.'
'I know; she checked you two out while Idra was waiting to interview you.'
Kethry nodded wryly. 'Figures; I can't imagine Idra leaving anything to chance. All right, does that pretty much take care of things?'
'I think so....'
'Well, as cold as the trail is going to be, there is no sense in stirring up a lot of rumors by having us light out of here with our tails on fire,' Tarma said bluntly. 'We might just as well take our time about this, say our goodbyes, get equipment put together -- act like this was going to be an ordinary sort of errand we're running for you. Until we've been gone for about a week, you just make out like I'm running the string out to sell, and Keth's coming with me for company.'
Sewen nodded. 'That sounds good to me. I'll raid the coffers for you two. You'll be needing stuff to make you look good in the court, I expect.' He rose and started for the door-then turned back, and awkwardly held out his arms.
'I-I don't know what I'd have done without you two,' he said stiffly, his eyes bright with what Kethry suspected might be incipient tears. 'You're more than shieldbrothers, you're friends -- I -- thanks -- '
They both embraced him, trying to give him a little comfort. Kethry knew that Idra had been in that 'more than shieldbrother' category, too -- and that Sewen must be thinking what she was thinking -- that the Captain's odds weren't very good right now.
'Te'sorthene da'dera, big man,' Tarma murmured. 'When we come across someone special, like you, like Tresti, like Idra -- well, you help your friends, that's all I can say. That's what friends are there for, her'yr'
'If anybody can help her out, it'll be you two.'
'We'll do our best. And you know, you can do us a favor -- ' Kethry almost smiled at the sudden inspiration.
'What? Anything you want.'
'Leslac. I want you to teach him a lesson. I don't care what you do to him, just get him off Tarma's back.'
The weather-beaten countenance went quiet with thought 'That's a pretty tall ord -- wait a moment -- ' He began to smile, the first smile he'd worn since he walked in their door. 'I think I've got it. 'Course, it all hinges on whether he's really as pig-ignorant about Shin'a'in as he seems to be.'
'Go on -- I think after that damned song we can count on that being true.'
Sewen's arms tightened about both their shoulders as he looked down at them. 'There's this sect of Spider- Priestesses down south; they sort of dress like Tarma -- deal is, they didn't start out life as girls.'
Tarma nearly choked with laughter. 'You mean, convince the little bastard that I'm really a eunuched boy? Sewen, that's priceless!'
'I rather like that -- ' Kethry grinned. '-I rather like that.'
'I'll get on it,' he promised, giving them a last hug and closing the door to their room behind him.
Tarma went immediately to her armor-stand, surveying the brigandine for any sign of weakness or strain, Kethry put another log in the stove, then approached the wall where Need hung, reaching out to touch the blade with one finger.
Yes -- the call's still there. And I can't tell anything, it's so faint -- but it is Idra. The call gets perceptibly stronger when I think about her.
'Get anything?' Tarma asked quietly.
'Nothing definite, other than that Idra's in trouble. How long do you think it will take us to get to Petras?'
'With a string of thirty horses -- about a month to cross the passes, then another two, maybe three. Like you
