The Robin And The Kestrel

Stara started to wave him to silence, but it appeared that on this subject, at least, he would not be henpecked. He raised his chin and his voice stubbornly. 'You know very well how sinful we were when that daughter of yours was playing her music here! And every night the tap room was full of people dancing, singing, taking no thought of their souls _'

'I know,' Stara muttered resentfully, no doubt thinking how full the cashbox had been back then.

'Well, what if these people are the same kind?' he asked her, his voice rising with a touch of hysteria. 'I'm sure the Sacrificed God has been punishing us for our sin of letting people like that play here while that daughter of yours was here. Worse than that, what if they're magicians? I don't think we should let anyone play here who hasn't been approved by the Church!'

Harperus' words rang at her out of memory. 'How long before the signs say, 'No one permitted without a Church license'?'

She grimaced, her expression hidden in the shadows of the wagon. Not that I'd want to play here, with or without a license.

'I would not want to make anyone uncomfortable, much less give them the impression that they were sinning by simply listening to music,' Robin said, smoothly. 'I personally have never heard of any such nonsense as musicians who were magicians, but since your Priest evidently has, I will take his word that such things exist. And since obviously you don't want us, and no one can prove he isn't a mage, we'll just be on our way. We would never want to play where we were under suspicion, or where our music wasn't wanted.' She raised her voice a little more, and pitched it to make certain that it carried. 'We are really in no great need of lodging, as you can clearly see, so do not concern yourselves for us on that score.'

Not that you would care, but it's a nice little dig, isn't it?

Stara looked disgusted and stormed back into the tap room. The innkeeper followed, wearing a look that mingled triumph and apprehension in equal measure. Triumph that he had his way, no doubt_and apprehension for the way that Stara was going to make him pay for getting his way. The door shut behind them.

Kestrel looked over at her, holding the reins quietly. 'Interesting,' he said.

She nodded. 'I really think we ought to try camping somewhere down the road. Between the bullies and Priests with tales of music that leads you into sin, I'd sooner trust myself to wolves than Westhaven.'

'But would ye trust yerselves to ghosts, young friends?' asked a hoarse voice from the shadows of the rear door, across the inn-yard from the sorry excuse for a stable. 'An ye would not, turn back 'round and take the long road_or follow th' right-hand fork o' this one.'

A stolid woman with a round, red face moved out of the shadows and into the uncertain light of the torch. 'She wouldna tell ye, an' he would be just's pleased t'see a sinner come t'grief, but yon's the road over Skull Hill. There be a Ghost there, a murderin' Ghost. It's taken a priest in it's time, no less, so it don't care a tot fer holiness. Yer safe enough by day, but by night, ain't nobbut safe on Skull Hill.'

Kestrel nodded, gravely. 'Th-thank you, l-lady.'

The cook looked pleased at being called 'lady.' 'Tush. Tain't nothin' no decent person wouldna pass warnin' 'bout.'

Robin looked closely at the woman; they knew all about the Ghost from Rune, of course, but Rune had described someone very like this woman_one of her few supporters after the innkeeper's first wife had died. The cook_

'Are you Annie Cook?' Robin asked. The woman stared at her, and nodded, slowly, her expression turning to one of apprehension.

'How d'ye know _' Annie began, clearly suspecting Robin of an uncanny, unnatural method of learning her name.

'Rune told me about you,' Robin replied quickly, not sure how long it would be before Stara or Jeoff came to chase them off. 'She said you were a good friend to her while she was here.'

The uneasy expression turned again to one of pleasure. 'Rune! I hope th' child's well! She did aright t' run off from here.'

Impulsively, Robin decided to tell Annie a more edited_and truthful_version of what she had told the villagers. 'Rune is doing wonderfully; she is a Master Free Bard herself, she's wedded Master Bard Talaysen, and they are both in the service of the King of Birnam. She is very happy, and she and Talaysen are expecting their first child in the summer.'

Annie gaped at her, then the gape turned into a smile. 'Ye don't say! Welladay!' The smile widened. 'Why good for the girl! If ever there was a child deserved a bit'a luck, it was that 'un!' She glared at the closed door of the inn. 'Not like 'er mother. That bit can't get nothin' without it bein' through some man's bed. An' had Rune stayed here, she'd'a been slavin' away i' that tap room while her mam sat on 'er fat rump