Thursday, September 24. 20096
The big ger, a nearly-empty bird hutch, a bookcase full of ornately bound books, and the rugs and pallets that had been scattered about the ger all went into a large wagon with a brightly striped cover. There were carefully designed trunks and boxes for everything. “A place for everything, and everything in its place,” the Mask sang out, as we began packing.
His daughter, Lena, saw me running my fingers over the book bindings, and asked, “Do you read?” “No. Do you?” “Yes. My father taught me.” “I don’t think I’ve ever known anyone who could read. A lot of the people in my village could do figures, but there’s not much call for reading.” “Would you like to learn how?” “I’m not sure. I don’t know where I’m going from here. My village is gone. My brother’s dead. My parents probably are, too. They were in the battle. I could probably get a farmer to take me on as a farm hand, but I don’t have anyone to vouch for me as an apprentice . . .” My voice trailed off as I realized how precarious my situation was, and I felt myself tearing up, but Lena was kind enough not to notice when I sniffled and wiped my nose on my sleeve. “Don’t you remember? You’re supposed to learn to be my father’s bird keeper.” “I am?” “Yes, that’s why he traded for you.” For a moment, I was thrilled, but then I remembered what had prompted him to trade for me. “What if I don’t do a good job?” She looked like she was about to reply, but then I saw the Mask looking our way, and I cut her off. “We better get to work. There will be time to talk on the road.” We had just finished hitching the oxen to the wagon, and tying the riding pony to the ring on the back corner of the wagon when a fluttering pigeon landed on the seat. The Mask beckoned to it with a strange warbling call. It hopped over to him, and he turned to Lena. “Get us on the road while I find out what the king has to say. The Weald seems to be deserted, so we’ll be safe to drive all night. Have Ian spell you when you get tired. I have a feeling that we’re going to want to get to Belkeep much faster than these oxen can take us.” With that, he disappeared into the wagon, drawing the flaps of the cover tightly behind him. Trackbacks
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