'That I could do in my sleep. Let's see -- first I need a vehicle-'
Warrl got to his feet, and padded over to Tarma.
'Warrl just volunteered to find your 'vehicle.' '
'Bless you, Furface! I take it there's something within range?'
'He says 'maybe not as big as you were hoping, but smarter.''
'I prefer brains over brawn for this task--'
Warrl whisked out the door, and was back before a half hour was up, herding an odd little beast before him that looked like a combination of fox and cat, with humanlike hands.
'Bright Lady -- that looks like a Pelagir Hills changeling!'
'Warrl says it came from the same place as the monster -- when that got loose, apparently a lot of other creatures did, too.'
'All the better for my purposes--' Kethry coaxed the creature into her lap, and ran softly glowing hands over it while she frowned a little in concentration. 'Wonderful!' she sighed in relief, 'It's Bright-path intended; and nobody's purposed it yet. It's like a blank page waiting to be written on -- I can't believe my luck!' The glow on her hands changed to a warm gold, settled over the creature's head and throat, and sank into it as if absorbed. It sighed and abruptly fell asleep.
'There--' she said, rising and placing it beside the hearth. 'When it wakes, all its nurturing instincts will be imprinted for Landric's children; as bright as it is, he'll be able to leave them even with a fire burning on the hearth without them being in danger.'
She stood, and swayed with exhaustion.
'That's more than enough for one night!' Tarma exclaimed, steadying her and walking her over to the pallets Landric had supplied. 'It's definitely time you got a little rest! Greeneyes, I swear if I wasn't around, you'd wear yourself into a wraith.'
'Not a wraith-' Kethry yawned, but before she could finish her thought, she was asleep.
They left the next morning with the entreaties of the four youngest children still in their ears. Despite the distraction of the new 'pet' they still wanted the two women to stay. None of the six had wanted Tarma, in particular, to leave.
'I'd've liked to stay,' Tarma said, a bit wistfully, as she turned in her saddle to wave farewell.
'So would I -- at least for a bit,' Kethry sighed. 'Need's not giving me any choice though -- she's nagging me half to death. All last night I could feel her pulling on me; a few more days of that and I'll start chewing furniture. Besides, I had the distinct impression that Landric was eying me with the faint notion of propositioning me this morning.'
'You should have taken him up on it, Greeneyes,' Tarma chuckled. 'You could do worse.'
'Thank you, but no thank you. He's a nice enough man -- and I'd kill him inside of a week. He has very firm notions about what a wife's place is, and I don't fit any of them. And he wouldn't be any too pleased about your bringing up his offspring as Shin'a'in either! You just want me married off so you can start raising a new clan!'
'Can't blame me for trying,' Tarma shrugged, wearing a wry grin. The loss of her old clan was far enough in the past now that it was possible for Kethry to tease her about wanting to start a new one. 'You did promise the council that that was what you'd do.'
'And I will -- but in my own good time, and with the man of my choice, one who'll be a friend and partner, not hope to rule me. That's all very well for some women, but not for me. Furthermore, any husband of mine would have to be pleased with the idea that my oathsister will be training our children as Shin'a'in. I didn't promise the Council, she'enedra,' she rode close enough to catch Tarma's near hand and squeeze it. 'I promised you.'
Tarma's expression softened, as it had when she'd been with the children. 'I know it, dearling,' she replied, eyes misting a trifle, 'And you know that I never would have asked you for that -- never. Ah, let's get moving; I'm getting maudlin.'
Kethry released her hand with a smile, and they picked up their pace.
They entered the town, which huddled at the foot of the lord's keep like a collection of stellat shoots at the foot of the mother tree. The ever-present dust covered the entire town, hanging in a brown cloud over it. Warrl they
