and ears, and finally fall asleep using the beast as a mattress.
When the children were all safely in bed, Kethry cleared her throat in a way intended to suggest she had something touchy she wanted to ask their host.
He took the hint, and the sleepiness left his eyes. 'Aye, mage-lady?'
'Would you object to my working a bit of magic here? I know it's not precisely in the tenets of the Path to use the arcane -- but--'
'I'm a bit more pragmatic than some of my fellows -- nay lady, I've no objection to a bit of magicing. What did you have in mind?'
'Two things, really. I'd like to scry out this monster of yours and see what we're going to be up against-'
'Lady,' he interrupted, 'I -- would advise against going at that thing. Let the hired heroes deal with it.'
'While it takes more women and children?' She shook her head. 'I can't do that, Landric -- if it weren't against my conscience, I'm geas-bound. Anyway, the other thing I'd like to do is leave you a little help with the children -- something like a cross between Warrl and a sheepdog, if you've no objection. It won't be as bright, or as large and strong, but it will be able to keep an eye on the little ones, herd them out of mischief, and go for help if need be.'
'How could I object? The gods know I need something like that. You shouldn't feel obligated, though--'
'Balance the Wheel your way, and I'll balance it in mine, all right?' The twinkle in Kethry's eyes took any sting there might have been out of her words.
He bowed his head a little. 'Your will, then, mage-lady. If you've no need of me, I'm for bed.'
'No need, Landric, and thank you.'
When he'd left, Kethry went to the stack of clean dishes and selected a dark, nearly black pottery bowl.
'Water scrying?' Tarma asked, settling herself on one side of the table.
'Mh-hm,' Kethry replied absently, filling it very carefully with clear, cold water, then bringing it to the table and dusting a fine powder of salt and herbs from a pouch at her belt over the surface. 'For both of us -- you may see what I'd miss.'
She held her hands just above the water's surface and chanted softly, her eyes closed in concentration. After a few moments, a mistlike glow encircled her hands. It brightened and took on a faint bluish cast -- then flowed down over her hands onto the water, hovering over it without quite touching it. When it had settled, Kethry took her hands away, and both of them peered into the bowl.
It was rather like looking at a reflection; they had to be careful about moving or breathing, for the picture was distorted or lost whenever the surface of the water was disturbed.
'Ugly rotter,' was Tarma's first comment, as the beast came dear. 'Where and when?'
'I'm past-scrying; all the encounters with the would-be heroes thus far.'
'Hmm. Not having much luck, is he?'
That was an understatement, as the monster was making short work of a middle-aged man-at-arms.
'It looks like they feed it once a week,' Kethry said, though how she was able to keep track of time passage in the bowl was beyond Tarma. 'Oh, this is a mage -- let's see how he fares.'
'Huh -- no better than a try with a sword.'
Magics just bounced oft its hide; the mage ended up traveling the same road as the fighters.
'It's a good bet if s a magic creature,' Kethry concluded. 'Any mage worth his robe would armor his own toys against magic.'
After watching all the trials -- and failures -- they both sat silently.
'Let's think on this a while -- we've got enough information for now.'
'Agreed. Want to build Landric's little shepherd?'
