The Robin And The Kestrel

As soon as he mentioned the presumed renegades, the heat of anger began to chase away the chill of fear. And while she didn't have much use for people who were not Free Bards or Gypsies_well, this affected both those groups, intimately. She flushed, and nodded. 'They should,' she said, firmly. 'In fact, they have to be. First, I can't just report a supposition to the Gypsy Clan Leaders; I have to have proof that I'm not just speculating. And I do have to find out exactly who they are before I can bring punishment down on them. Or rather, before the Clan Leaders do. That's for them to order, not me.'

'Punishment?' Kestrel eyed her inquisitively. 'Wh-what kind?'

'I can't tell you that,' she said, with real regret. 'But_it'll be appropriate. Peregrine will probably be the one to handle it. He's done it before.'

She saw by the widening of his eyes that she had said enough. Kestrel was only too aware that Peregrine was a mage, possibly the most powerful magician they knew; he was an Elf-Friend, and he might be the ally of many more magical creatures. So any 'punishment' would be magical in nature.

'At any rate, we can't do anything about it all now,' she continued, and sighed. 'I guess we should be trying to stay focused on the things we can do, and not worry about the things we have no control over. I'm going to take things as lightly as I can. Otherwise I'd fret myself to pieces in this town.'

She sensed his sudden relaxation, as if she had answered some question in his mind that he hadn't even articulated. Well, whatever it was, there were enough mysteries to solve without trying to figure out what was going on in his mind!

'I want a hot bath, a good meal, and a little time alone with you before we start in on making more Stars,' she said firmly, as she opened the rear door of the wagon and blew out the lantern. 'Which I guess,' she added, acidly, 'makes me just as 'primitive, lascivious, and lewd' as these preachers claim!'

'I can o-only h-hope,' he laughed, and followed her down the stairs, closing and locking the door after her. And wisely, very wisely, he said nothing else.

Practice made perfect, and that was as true with handicrafts as it was with music. They were much faster making this new batch of Stars than they had been with the first batch. Gluing bright glass beads to the ends of the crossbars of the miniature Stars was a good idea; it made them look more like jewelry. Stringing them on chains of matching beads was another wonderful notion.

And the best part_so far as Robin was concerned_was that no one else would have anything like them in the market. Once again, they would have a monopoly of sorts. While they were not here to make money, no Gypsy worth the name would ever have turned down such a golden opportunity.

And if any of the street preachers questioned the presence of the beads, she could blithely point out that there were no colors in the miniature Stars to indicate what the owners intention-prayer was. The beads served that function, of course.

If they can use their twisted logic to prove that nonhumans are demon-inspired, I can use the same rules to my advantage, she thought, making the final wrapping on a miniature Star of copper with red and gold beads. Let the rooster crow all he wants; it's the hen that lays the eggs, not him.

They had gotten up early perforce, awakened by the morning bells, but they'd put the time between breakfast and lunch to good use. And when they came down to lunch, the innkeeper himself sauntered over to their table with a note in his hand.

He looked only mildly curious. 'This's from m' old friend Donnar,' he said. 'It come this mornin'. He doin' well?'

'As well as can be expected,' Robin replied, opening the sealed note. She noticed with amusement that Donnar had sealed it with a blob of candle wax and the impression of a coin. A rather unusual coin. It was, in fact, one of the silver coins she'd given him in exchange for his information and help, an ancient piece bearing a strange bird with two tails.

'Sometimes I wish I'd'a followed his advice,' Wylie said wistfully, without elaborating on what the advice had been; then he shrugged, and took himself off.

The note said simply, 'Go to Threadneedle Street, to the shop of Ardana Bodkin. Say, 'I've come to order an alabaster alb and an ivory altar cloth.' Don't bring instruments. It's been taken care of.' There was no signature, which was wise on Donnar's part.

Robin memorized the code-phrase, and burned the note in the candle at their table. 'Are you tired of making Stars?' she asked. 'Could you use a break?'

Kestrel nodded.

'Good. So could I.' She stood up, and brushed her skirts off. 'Lets go for a walk.'