The first day was spent with Tilden and Diona closeted with the twins, not even coming out for meals. The other children circled each other like wary dogs for half a day, then made up their minds to be friends and went out for snowfights. When Tilden and Diona emerged, they didn't say anything, but they spent part of the second day closeted with Kethry, then joined the rest of the company and acted as if they had come here only for the pure pleasure of the trip.
Today was Midwinter Day, and with it the start of three days of gift-giving and feasting, which thus far had managed to keep everyone off of serious subjects. The one surprise Tilden had managed to pull off was the magical production of the litter of kittens and puppies. Tarma still had no idea how he'd managed to keep their existence a secret.
Still, the one subject that had not been broached was the kidnapping, and Tarma was waiting. They were just about due for it now.
The same thing seemed to occur to everyone else in the room at about the same moment, for an awkward silence fell, and Tilden cleared his throat carefully.
'I want to thank you,' he began, a bit stiffly, as if he wasn't quite sure what to say. 'Although thanks is inadequate-'
'Tilden-' Kethry began, but he hushed her rather fiercely.
'I made mistakes. I knew about the fanatics and I didn't take them seriously. I certainly never thought they would dare to strike inside the borders of Rethwellan! I sent green untrained men instead of experienced men, and I gave them the impression that this would be more of an excursion than a serious duty.' He shook his head. 'Those were all my mistakes, and if it hadn't been for your quick thinking and quick action -- well, I don't know what would have happened, but I can't imagine anything good coming out of this disaster.'
'The twins are as much responsible for their rescue as we are,' Tarma pointed out. 'They were the ones who thought of slowing down their kidnappers, and they were the ones who laid a clear trail for us to follow.'
'Because they were well taught,' Tilden insisted. 'Because of that, they didn't panic, and they didn't assume they were helpless because they were children in the hands of adults. You taught them to think that way.'
'You can't teach that,' Kethry replied. 'That's something a child learns from the way she is treated, and it begins in infancy. No, Tilden, be as grateful to your own sense in raising and teaching your girls as you are to us.'
'Have you informed Sursha about this yet?' Jadrek asked shrewdly. 'I know Kethry has sent off a report to the King, and I expect that you have as well.'
'I was waiting to talk to the girls and get Kethry's description of the leader before I sent word to Sursha,' Tilden replied grimly. 'I think now that this should be delivered by someone I can trust completely, but I don't quite know who-'
'How about me?' Ikan offered. 'I know my way around down there; I could go and be back again before spring thaw. Sooner, with a change of horses. Justin and Tarma can handle the boys without me for that long.'
Tarma laughed. 'I might accuse you of trying to get out of some hard work if I didn't already know how miserable winter is in Jkatha; you're going to be in for a cold, soppy ride. Of course we can spare you; this is too important to be left to an ordinary messenger.'
Tilden sighed with relief. 'Thank you, and now I'm further in your debt. I suppose I'll have to put up the money to build a dormitory for the school or something of the like.'
'Actually-' Kethry got a thoughtful look on her face. 'Why don't you hunt up some mage-gifted children from impoverished families and sponsor them here? There's a limit to the number of charity students a school can afford, even ours.'
Diona's eyes brightened, and Tilden nodded decisively. 'Good plan, I'll see to it.' His face clouded a little. 'I have a real concern though, about these fanatics. Are there more of them? Would they consider coming here, do you think?'
Tarma looked to Kethry, who shook her head. 'Not as far as my sources have been able to discover,' she told him. 'And believe me, I have been very, very thorough. I intend to fortify the warning systems I've put in place as well; right now nothing larger than a sheep can get onto our property without my knowing it, and when I'm done, nothing larger than a rabbit will.'
Tilden relaxed, and his wife parted his hand. 'I told you,' she said in a whisper that was audible to Tarma, at least. Tarma repressed a smile.
'I have to admit that I've learned a lesson or two from this myself,' Tarma said slowly, and traded glances with Kethry and Jadrek. 'And maybe not the ones you're thinking.'
