IF WISHES WERE HORSES
by
ANNE MCCAFFREY

An original publication of Wildside Press.

All rights reserved.

For more information, contact:

Wildside Press 522 Park Ave.  Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922

Text copyright (c) 1998 by Anne McCaffrey Illustrations copyright (C)
1998 by Wildside Press

ISBN: 1880448572

Many People in our small county village sought advice and help from my
mother long before the War started because she was quite wise as well
as gifted with a healing touch.  Often, day and night, we would hear
the front door knocker--shaped like a wyvern it was, with a stout
curled tail--bang against the brass sounding circle.  That summons was
undeniable, echoing through the Great Hall and up the stairs.

There was no sleeping once someone started pounding.  Sometimes they
didn't pound but tapped, quietly but insistently, so that one was
awakened more by the muted repetition than the noise.  From the time I
was twelve, I got roused quite as often as my mother did.  Of course, I
was also able to turn over and go back to sleep, which my mother could
not.

"Those of us who can help, should not deny it to others," my mother was
apt to say, usually to still my father's grumblings.  "I'll just see
what I can do for them."

"Day and night?"  my father would demand in an exasperated or
frustrated tone of voice.

However, he was such a heavy sleeper that he was rarely disturbed when
she slipped from the huge oak four-poster bed to answer the summons.

As I grew older and she began to rely on me to assist her from time to
time, I realized that he never answered the nocturnal rapping, though
occasionally Mother would send me to wake him to help us.  What I never
did figure out-then-was how she knew, on our way down the main
staircase, that she would need his protection to answer that particular
summons.

'Oh, it's nothing mysterious, Tirza love," Mother told me.  "If you
listen, you'll learn quick enough the difference in the sound of the
knocking.  That can tell me a lot."

It took me nearly two years before I could differentiate between the
hysterical, the urgent, or the merely anxious kind of rapping.

Mother's ability to have some sort of a solution to almost any problem
had become somewhat legendary in our part of the Principality.  She had
a fund of general knowledge, an unfailing sympathy augmented by common
sense, and a remarkable healing touch.

'Much of the time, Tirza, they only need someone who listens, and they
end up knowing their own solutions.  You may well have inherited the
family failing, love," she went on with a sigh.  When she saw my
stunned expression, she had added cheerfully, "But we won't know that
for a while yet.  Oh, it could be worse, you know.  You could have
inherited Aunt Simona's teeth."

That was quite enough to send me into the giggles.

"Oh, I am terrible!"  And she rolled her eyes in mock-penitence.

"However could I be so unkind as to mention Aunt Simona's teeth!  I may
have no jam with tea tonight."

Her lovely eyes twinkled.  "Now do be a good child and get me some
clean bottles for this lotion I've just made for Mistress Chandler."

Nonetheless, I never heard anyone, not even Father, refer to Mother's
ministrations as failings.  Except perhaps Aunt Simona, who had more
than large, protruding front teeth to make her unlovable.  Mother also
had an unerring ability to know who was speaking from the heart,
telling the truth, and who might be unwilling to own up to the
consequences of his or her actions.  Father would invariably delay his
magisterial sittings until she could join him, though her participation
was confined to sitting quietly at one end of the table.  Strangers
would try to prevaricate or settle blame elsewhere, but she was never
deceived in any particular.

She and Father must have worked out some sort of private signals, for
she never spoke at these sessions, merely listened.  Father was the one
who pounced on the culprit and would be in possession of details that
would stun the miscreant, often into a terrified and more accurate
account of what had happened.  So, if Lady Talarrie Eircelly was known
for her wisdom and heaving, Lord Emkay Eircelly was equally renowned
for fair and firm justice.

During the day, village women were more apt to come to the kitchen
door, slipping into the big warm room with all its marvelous aromas and
giving Liwy some hint of what their problem was.  A cup of tea and a
'morsel to eat with it--anything from a slab of cake or plate of fresh
sweet biscuits-- be instantly served by our helpful Liwy.  Even if that
had not been Mother's standing order, Liwy was the sort of person who
knew the soothing properties of nice hot tea and a treat or two.  Some
folk eased in quietly, almost apologetically: others would already be
in tears and found themselves comforted by Liwy's ample self.  The
shyer men would come to the kitchen, too, murmuring about not wishing
to disturb her ladyship.

"Which same," Liwy would say tartly when she sent Tess to guide them to
wherever Mother was at that time of day, "is exactly what they want to
do and why they came.  Mostly," Liwy added, banging her pots and lids
about or doubling the energy with which she did her present task, "all
they need is to hear pure common sense.  If they'd stop and think,
which a body should be able to do, they'd see how to handle things.

Seems to me as if they have to have Authority give 'em the word.  Wear
milady out, so they will."  This threat would be accompanied by one of
her gusty sighs.  "And that's not fair on her.  What'll happen if
they've wore her out so much she's unable to see to all the things she
has to do in any one day or another?"

"Could they wear Mother out?"  my brother, Tracell, asked, startled.

We had seen the latest arrival, for he had skulked about the herb
garden, getting up the courage to come to the kitchen door.  And we,
dreadful children that we were, had followed-just in case there might
be something we could wheedle out of Liwy when she had finished
dispensing hospitality to him.  'I heard her tell Aunt Rachella that it
was having babies that wears her out."

'Most it would, the way she has them," Liwy had said with a snort.

'Two at a time."

"Catron came by herself," 'Tracell reminded her.

Liwy humphed.  "Well bred ladies like your dear mother ought not to be
having twins.  That's for common folk, not ladies!"

"Why not?"

"Now, Lady 'Tirza, that's not for me to tell you and you will kindly
forget ... what was just said.  I wouldn't want anyone saying I'd said
a word against Lady Talarrie."  And she passed us the plate of lady
cakes.

mother's not having another set of twins, is she?"  Tracell demanded
anxiously.

"I should hope not!"  Liwy said so firmly that we knew she must,
indeed, know.  Any way, Mother had always told us, her oldest, when new
babies were coming.

She'd ever known that Catron was coming by herself.  Then she had
Andras and Achill.

And, when Father came back from the Miriseng Campaign, she told us that
the next pair would be girls, Diana and Desma.

"So, don't you fret," Liwy said, putting the now empty plate in the
sink, 'about your lady mother.  She's got strength for seven and sense
for a dozen.  Just do your best not to add to the trials and
tribulations everyone else brings her."

"She's our mother," Tracell said stoutly.

'For which you should be eternally grateful.  Now out of my kitchen!  I
can hear her ladyship's step, and you've no need to be here to
embarrass young Sten.  Like as not, she'll have to bring him through
here to the still room, so make yourselves scarce."

As we could hear my mother's voice with the phrase that ever seemed to
be on her lips, 'I'll just see what I can do about that right now we
were out the door in a flash.

'I'll see what I can do about it," was Mother's habitual response to
most matters brought to her attention.

In itself, the phrase was unusually effective.  For instances, the day
'fray fell off his pony and broke one of the bones in his forearm her
calmly confident, "Now I'll just see what I can do about this.  . . "
cut him off mid-howl even though she had just given a careful yank on
his wrist.  I had heard the grate of the bones as they settled into
line again.  We used our two riding crops as temporary splints, tied on
with the flounce of Mother's petticoat.  Tray was too surprised and-I
must say-rather brave to forego any further outcry, though he was
dreadfully pale until we got him back to the house and into his bed.

I'm not sure why bad news has to pick nice, sunny spring days to arrive
and alter perfectly contented lives.  But I had noticed that Mother had
been wearing all three of her special crystals for the last few days,
and usually she wore only the one.  She had also been casting frequent
glances up the north mi road, outside the gates of Mallafret Hall that
led to Princestown.  I did too, having caught her nervousness, but it
was she in the end who saw the messenger, beating his lathered and
weary horse up the long drive.

Immediately she summoned my father from his study, sent me to get ale,
bread and cheese from the kitchen, and ordered Tray to collect one of
our fast and durable hunters from the stables.

"Bring up that bright bay, the one you say has no bottom to him," she
said.  "Bridled."

"No saddle?"

"The messenger will use his own."

"What messenger?"  asked Tray, because the thick trunks of the oak
trees that lined the drive briefly masked the oncoming rider.

"The one on his way up the avenue.  Go!

Now!"

No one argued with that tone in Mother's voice, and Tray raced for the
stables as I ran to the kitchen.  So we all appeared, along with
Father, just as Prince Sundimin's courier, his face gaunt with fatigue,
as exhausted as the lathered mount who staggered up our drive, reached
the wide front stairs.

His message, while brief, was momentous, announcing that Prince
Refferns of Effester had started a war with our Principality.  Our good
Prince Sundimin perforce had to raise an army to defend our cities and
lands.  All liegemen were to honor their oath to their prince.

"Lord Eircelly," the herald gasped, ('muster your men with all possible
speed."

Then he blinked with gratitude at the tankard of ale, which I held up
to him while Mother gestured he should moisten his dry throat before
continuing.  'Deepest thanks, milady.  Milord, the prince bade me to
deliver into your very hands this message," and he handed over a square
of parchment, "and to assure you that the matter is of the gravest
urgency."  He then tipped the tankard, drinking a good half of its
contents.  "I must also beg the favor of a replacement mount, milord,"
he continued, "since I have far yet to go before I finish my assigned
task."

Stiffly, he swung his right leg over the cantle and would have fallen
against the horse had not my father, leaping forward, immediately lent
a hand to steady him.

"The favor is already granted, I see," my father said at his driest,
with a glance at ray, who was leading a bright bay from the stable
yard.

"Sit, sir, and eat while we change saddle," Mother said and all but
pushed the messenger onto the broad wing of the shallow stairs of
Mallafret Hall.  "Very good, my thanks, milady, milord.  I was urged
not to stop."  ...

"Changing horses is scarcely a stop, my man," my father said, "and you
must restore yourself or you'll not go much further on.

Have you to ride all the way to the sea?"

The weary man nodded, his mouth too full of bread and cheese to
speak.

"The road is good, the way is clear, and the sunshine will hold,"
Mother said.

By then, 'Way and Father had changed the saddle to the bay's back.  As
the man made two attempts to swing aboard his fresh mount, Mother
tucked a second loaf in the saddlebag and urged him to eat as he rode
onward.

"The bay is genuine," Father saidd.  "Rust him.  God's speed!"

Father stepped back and the man immediately kneed his fresh horse into
a canter.  He gave one wave as he turned right at the gate toward his
next stop and the distant sea.

"For that matter," Tray said, "he could probably sleep on the bay and
he'd keep going until he's reined in.  And you, my brave lad?"  Tray
asked the splay-legged, drooping headed mount whose breath came in
wheezing gasps.  "Shall we save you?"

Father looked up from breaking the seal of the message with all its
dangling official princely stamps.

"I shan't expect the impossible, Tracell," my father said, gently, "but
I'd hazard that he's one of those marvelous plains' Cirgassians and
worth the effort."

"A Cirgassian?"  'Day exclaimed, really looking at the exhausted
animal.

"Just look at the ears, the fine head, the deep barrel ... if we can
save him, we should try.  Do see what you can do."  Then, having broken
the seals, his eyes flicked through the usual florid opening paragraphs
to the important part of how many men he must bring in answer to this
muster.

"Last year's bad season in Err ester has made Prince Ref ferns envious
of our prosperity?"  my mother asked.

"As you so often do, my dear Talarrie, you have hit upon the crux of
the matter.  We are enjoined to give our liege prince the service and
support due him as quickly as is humanly possible."

"Then the Shupp is low from the drought?"  Mother asked.

"Correct as usual, my present love.

"Tracell, see this poor fellow stabled in the thickest bed of straw you
and Surgey can make, and groom him into such comfort as he may enjoy in
his sad condition.  Or would you rather take the drum to the village
and announce the muster?"

To my brother's credit, the care of a horse of such a distinguished
breed ranked first in importance.  So it fell to Sir Minshall as
Seneschal, with young Emond beating the drum, to speed to the village
square to announce an immediate muster and set the disaster bell to
peeling out its summons.

There were plenty of young lads in the village to send to apprise
outlying farms, beyond the range of even that melodious bell, of the
emergency and the haste that must be made in answer to the summons.

Mother, Liwy, and I helped Father pack his saddlebags, add an almost
unneeded burnish to his armor, for Emond was not careless with his
duties as equerry, and roll up his travel blankets and gear.

Father immediately dispatched an advance party of armed troopers and
appointed dawn by the next morning as the moment of departure for the
larger force.

Thirty mounted knights there were, plus fifty foot soldiers, the muster
that our prince required of my father from his oath of fealty.

Father looked very pleased with the speed at which all had assembled,
ready to travel.  More was in readiness than could have been expected
for all it had been decades since the prince had had to call upon his
liegemen to defend his borders "Scarce twenty hours between the call to
arms and our response," Father murmured to my mother and me, for
Tracell now held the bridle of Father's heavy-boned war steed in the
courtyard.  In the courtyard and spilling beyond the graveled avenue,
digging up the lawn with heavy boots and shod hooves, were the others,
banners unfurled and faces grim.

"Speed is surely a requirement in any muster," my mother said proudly
and lifted her face for his farewell kiss.

"I didn't think to assemble so smartly, though," my father said,
holding her in his arms.

"I am not the only competent one in this Hall," she said in an attempt
at levity.

Did I see tears in my father's eyes at this moment of farewell?

Possibly mine were overfull as well for I was frightened.  All the
soldiery looked so brave in their fine uniforms, all the metal shiny
and dangerous.

Everyone who could have come to see our brave men depart, lining the
avenue where they could, and the northern road as far as we could
see.

"I can leave all else in your hands, my dear Competence," my father
said to my mother as he stamped his feet into his heavy boots, the ones
with extra flaps above the knee to prevent swords cuts to his thighs.

The other armsmen of Mallafret Hall were no less efficient in preparing
themselves and had organized baggage wains, pack animals, ammunition
and additional horses.

"Had you a warning you kept to yourself, Talarrie?"  I heard my father
softly ask my mother though they did not know I was within hearing
distance.

Mother's hand went unerringly to the crystals she wore on the long
chains about her neck.

"I'd knowledge of a sort, so I thought to have everyone check their
equipment.  We can also be thankful that the year gave us a good spring
to plant in."

"My wise and lovely Talarrie," and there was a pause as they clung
together.

"You will be safe, my love," she added as she stepped back, fingers
tight about the crystals.

So the troop moved at a smart trot, the foot soldiers hanging onto
stirrup leathers to keep up with the mounted troops.  They were cheered
out of the gates of the Hall, and relatives and friends fell in behind
the troop, accompanying them well up the main road to Princestown.

With unbecoming pride, I hoped that they would be first to join the
main army of Prince Sundimin.

"When will they come back, Mother?"  I asked when our brave troop was
so far away that we could no longer see the dust the horses kicked
up.

I had been very much aware of the sorrow in my mother's eyes and the
tense grip of her fine fingers on her crystals.

"Not soon enough, Tirza," Mother said with a sad little smile.  "And
not all who left here this morning."  Then she gave me a little smile,
cupping my face in her hand.  "But he will return."  She released the
crystals, picked up her skirts, and went back into the house.

"Surely the war won't take long, will it, mother?"  asked my brother.

After the scurry to get everyone prepared, he looked disgruntled.  At
fourteen he was much too young to be mustered with the men and, as my
father's heir, he could not even go as drummer as had fourteen year old
Riaret, the smith's lad.  'bay adored our father, as indeed he should,
and while some of his lessons included the studying of old battles and
sieges and such like, he certainly ought to have known that wars had a
habit of taking far longer than the most optimistic opinion.  But then,
Father always won the mock engagements they invented in three days,
four at most.

I knew before my mother answered that the war would not be short or a
four-day rout: one of those awful premonitions to which I was prone.  I
tried very hard not to let them insert themselves in my mind, but they
appeared as they chose.  Like waking one morning, when I was ten, and
knowing that Father's best stallion had impaled him self on a stake in
the top field and bled to death.  Or knowing that my youngest sister,
Desma, was choking on a pea that had fallen out of her rattle.  But
Mother had known, too, and reached her in time to scoop out the
impediment and open the path of air to her lungs.

"The war will take whatever time is required to end it," Mother told
Tray , which was not the answer he wanted.  "Do close your mouth,
'bay.

You wouldn't want to swallow a fly."

I also knew what else worried my twin, but then we were closely bonded
in our twinship.  My father had promised Tracell the pick of the young
horses for his sixteenth birthday, one that he could train on his
own.

Right now our fields and stables were virtually empty of all but brood
mares and the one stallion to old for battle.  And the foundered
Cirgassian.

"If the war lasts very long, there won't be a horse for me on my
sixteenth birthday," Tracell complained as we followed Mother inside
Mallafret Hall.

"If that should be the case," Mother said cheerfully, "I'll be sure to
do something about it, my love.  You will have the promised steed on
your birthday.  I'll see to that."

That was reassurance enough for Tracell, who lost his worried frown and
quite pranced.

"Of course," Mother went on with a sly glance at him, "you must now
share with me many of the duties your father undertakes, for I shall
need a strong man at my side during the times to come."

"But Sir Minshall is Seneschal," my brother said.

"And he is very well known to have been a fine soldier, winning many
battles ... in his day," my mother replied.  "He will look finely
fierce if I am required to give audience to men of rank, but it is on
you whom I rely: you and Tirza."

"Yes, of course, mother," we said in chorus.

That was one reason that I knew that we were in for a long separation
from Father, which increased my original foreboding.

I said nothing but clasped Mother's hand tightly when hers closed on
mine.  So she knew that I knew and was warning me not to speak.  Unlike
'Tracell, who speaks without thought most of the time, I somehow have
the sense to know when to keep silent.  Of course, with such a
collection of brothers and sisters all demanding attention, I had
little opportunity to get words in edgewise.  Tracell had always talked
for the pair of us, even when we were learning to speak and I had been
content to let him.  Until the time I heard Nurse fretting to my mother
that she worried that I talked so seldom.

"Ah, but when she does speak, she speaks in good sentences and to a
purpose," my mother had said, stroking my hair and hugging me.  "My
gracious silence," she added, smiling at me, and her smiles were worth
all the words in the world.

"If you say so, milady," my nurse had replied, still dubious.

After that, I made an effort to talk, though sometimes the only things
to be said were so obvious that it was almost a waste of breath to
mention them.  Why comment on the obvious?  Like a sunny day.  Or a
good soaking rain to encourage crops and flowers to grow.  Or how well
the youngest twins were doing.

By the time I was twelve, I learned that some people would say one
thing-as often my father's tenants did-and yet you could hear what they
should have said, or wanted to say and didn't dare.  There were times
when I knew I should mention the disparity to Father or Mother.

Sometimes I did not.

Unless, of course, Mother took me to one side and asked, "what does my
gracious silence think?"  Which meant it was proper for me to speak
out.

Unlike 'Tracell's anxiety to be given a fine horse for his sixteenth
birthday, I had always known that the present that would be mine when I
became sixteen was safely in Mother's locked chest, hidden behind the
fireplace in her room.  I knew that the crystal had been there since my
birth, for it was a distaff tradition that crystals were given to each
daughter on the occasion of her sixteenth birthday.  Even the ones for
my other sisters-Catron, Diana and Desma-were safely in keeping.

(Mother had known the outcome of each of her pregnancies: that my next
youngest sister, Catron, would arrive by herself.  Followed by two more
Andras and Achill, then Diana and Desma.

The rest of that auspicious day when Father answered the call of his
prince was odd for we were both elated at how quickly the muster had
been made and then suddenly bereft of important tasks to be done.  I
did help Tray with the Cirgassian.  He had the most delicate pointy
ears-still drooping in his exhaustion.  He would need much care if he
were to survive.

"I've never seen a Cirgassian before," 'hay remarked to Surgey as they
gently groomed the last of the hardened lather and dirt from its
flanks.  It stood, head down in the stable, golden straw up to its
belly.  'Day would offer it water from time to time but kept the
portions small.

"Worth our effort, sor," Surgey agreed.

"Maybe you'll cure him well enough to be ridden again," I suggested,
though I wasn't all that sure of it.  It would be very good for Tray if
the animal recovered.  For my brother was much too long in the leg
anymore for his pony.

'Well, I shall certainly see what I can do about this fellow," 'hay
said, hands on his hips.  He sounded so like Mother that I stared at
him until he was aware of my astonishment and gave me a grin.  "After
all, Mother only does what needs to be done and I know what needs to be
done with him."

Which was, of course, the exact and complete truth, and so I was quite
as happy to help my twin as I would be to assist Mother.

Of course, as messages began to arrive from the battle lines, there was
much more to think about.  Father's troops had responded so
expeditiously that they shamed the musters of other villages on the way
into doubling their efforts to swell the ranks at Princestown.  And
thus our Prince Sundimin was able to meet the initial attack of the
aggresson Prince Refferns of Effester.  That prince, thinking to find
an easy mark in our Principality, did not.  In fact, he was pushed back
across the River Shupp, which was the boundary between our
Principalities.  If my father's messages to us singled out the most
valiant of our townsmen, and those whose bravery had cost them their
lives, the messages the heralds proclaimed suggested that our father's
leadership had been the primary cause of our success.  Prince Sundimin
was an older, cautious man who had not previously had to take up arms
to defend his borders.  I could see that the 'games'my father had
played with Tracell and those he had inveigled into their maneuvers had
been far more beneficial than many such other pastimes.

But the war dragged on because Prince Refferns, deprived of an easy
victory, employed mercenaries to strengthen his weakened lines, certain
from the ease and force with which his army had been beaten back across
the Shupp that Sundimin would press the advantage.  So, perforce,
Sundimin had to make alliances with other Princedoms, west and south of
our Principality, to be sure that Effester, now advised by professional
soldiers, did not outflank him.

"We can see them across the wide river," Father wrote Mother-she always
read his infrequent letters to us (though perhaps not every word he
wrote) "and they us, but there isn't a bridge left now for many leagues
on either side of the Shupp.  All have been burned so do not look for
the usual supplies from the east.  Be sure to gather in the harvest and
preserve it well."

Mother had not needed that advice.  The day after Father and his
company had left, she had distressed Siggie the head gardener to the
point of tears when she made him dig up all the flowers-save for the
roses-and plant vegetables, using the arbors for beans, tomatoes,
squash and peas.  She sent word to all our villagers that they were to
do likewise, and had the gamekeepers increase the snares for rabbit and
coney, and for pheasant and arouse, and culled the deer of the old or
lame which would have been allowed to die as their time came.  She had
us all out in the ornamental lakes of the formal gardens, deepening the
long rectangles so that we, like the farmers, could stock pond waters
with river tench, bream and carp.  The wood lakes received her
attention as well, and the forest streams so that we had racks and
racks of drying fish while the cooper's apprentices were increased to
twenty as the orders for kegs, barrels and tuns came in.  I have never
spent such a busy summer, but somehow Mother had the knack of making
the work seem both novel and one more way of keeping Father and all our
friends in his company well supplied when winter came.

At harvest time, while the battles seemed to seesaw across the Shupp by
way of pontoon bridges or other craft tied together, even the oldest
villagers were put to work, sitting down if they could not stand or
glean, or perched on high stools to flail the seed from the full heads
of the crop.  She had the hedgerows scoured for useful herbs, which
were dried against need.  And because we children worked beside her and
the villagers, no complaint came to our ears as we worked all the long
summer hours God gives a day in our latitude.

"Sure'n' we could feed all Prince Sundimin's armies with what we've
here," someone remarked.

"Sure'n what else are we doing this for?"  was the doughly response.

So it surprised no one when my father sent a letter asking for what
supplies could be spared, for the armies were wintering along the river
Shupp, neither force willing to withdraw.  And more princelings,
further down the river, all the way to the seaport, began to eye each
other across the broad Shupp.  Since Mallafret had huge, dry cellars,
much had been stored with us as well as in the three great village
barns.  The last of our horses pulled the wagons.  Our farmers
themselves accompanied the drays pulled by their oxen, determined to
return with the beasts no matter what.  They managed, but only because
Father sent an escort along with them to be sure of their return.

And because meat-even haunches of our venison-had been part of our
offerings, the oxen did not have to sacrificed.

In one exception, Mother had also had us older five children secrete a
portion-a tithe, she called it-in the deepest and darkest cellars of
Mallafret where few would look for anything other than seemingly blank
walls.  And she enjoined us to secrecy.

"You mean the war is going on and on, don't you, Mother?"  Tracell said
gloomily, for we were both now fifteen.

"I said I'd see what I can do about your birthday horse, tracell," she
said firmly.

"Mother, you're as clever as you can stare," Ikay said with a certain
maturity in his voice-for his voice was now a firm tenor, "but with so
many horses needed by the army, however will there be one for me?

Besides Courier who can barely walk without wheezing."  For that was
what we had named the Cirgassian who had somehow survived his ordeal.

"I intend to see what I can do."  And she walked off on some other of
the many duties that were her never-ending responsibility in Father's
absence.

"'Nay, I could kick you," I said, keeping my voice low but meaning him
harm "to doubt Mother so."

He gave me a long look.  "I have every respect for our mother, Tirza,
but there are some things even she will find it difficult to provide in
these times."  he unmistakable *sound of cannon and the discharge of
other weapons wakened us one cold wintry morning just before
Solstice.

While rousing the rest of us to close and bar the shutters of the
all-too-many windows of Mallafret Hall, Mother sent Tkay to see what
had happened and to offer shelter to the villagers.  The barrage was at
least sporadic and the Shupp, half a mile beyond the village, was full
of wintry snow and rain, running too rapidly to allow ice to form-and
thus preventing easy access from our enemy.  'hay, hauling his long
legs up almost to his chin, galloped bareback off' on the pony, who was
speedier of foot than the poor wind-broken Courier.

"While he's gone, we must see what we can do to protect ourselves
should the enemy somehow cross the river and seek to pillage," Mother
said and briskly gave her orders.

"But what can we do, milady?"  Sir Minshall demanded, for Mallafret was
a manor house, not a castle, though it was stoutly built of the native
golden stone.

"Sir Minshall, we may be women and young folk, but there is much that
we all can do.  And will!"  she said so staunchly that he blushed with
shame.  "We have lances, we have the old long rifles-and powder and
shot for them, if I am not mistaken.  We have crossbows and quarrels
from an even earlier war, and bows and arrows even now used to hunt
deer.  We have heights from which we can pour boiling oil on those who
might seek to enter Mallafret.  First, girls, go shutter every
window.

Sir Minshall, Surgey, Siggie, be so good as to pull the heaviest chests
across the doorways.  Liwy, Tess, Tirza, take our largest kettles and
boil oil.  Not the new pressings.  The old will do as well, and be sure
to have lighted torches so we give them a good roasting once they've
been soaked in the oil."

"We have so many doors, milady," Sir Minshall said anxiously.

"And quite likely as many nails.  Fetch the stout planks we use to
clean the ceilings and refresh the chandeliers.  I'll see what else I
can do."

When I helped carry the first of the cauldrons up the many flights of
stairs to be settled just over the main entrance, I could see that the
village was afire.  Leaving Tess and Liwy to arrange the 'welcome'
blessing of hot oil, I raced to tell Mother.

"Tray will know to bring the survivors back to us.  Let us devoutly
hope some have weapons," she said.  "Stuff my lavender scarf through
the shutters above the secret door, for that is the only one
unsealed.

Tray will have sense enough to see what is meant by it."

"No one can have used it in hundreds of years," I said, for although we
of the Eircellys knew of its existence, not even 'Day or I would have
dared use it-for fear someone might oversee us.

Mother favored me with a smile.  "Not used, to be sure, but kept oiled
and passable.

One never does know when something like that will be needed."

Somehow that forethought of hers turned my fear to resolution.

Whatever we must do to secure Mallafret from pillage and destruction
would be done and be sufficient to our need.

ray did return, *four small children sitting numbly on his pony, and
behind him, carrying what they had been able to save, walked many of
the village women.

Luckily the pony fit through the secret door, though first the children
had to be taken from his back.

"The men have all stayed to defend what homes remain," Tray said, his
face covered with smuts and one hand blistered.  He also carried a
musket someone had supplied him.  "But Effestrians cannot cross," he
added fiercely.  "Not that they didn't try, but they did not take into
account the current and have been carried so far below us, toward the
first rapids, that I doubt they will survive the journey or make
another attempt.  Farms are sending reinforcements too assist us, so I
shall return now, having discharged my duty to our people."

"Only after I have seen what I can do about your hand, my son," my
mother said proudly and shortly attended his injury.  As he left,
taking the pony with him out the secret door, I saw her hand clutching
the crystals.  She saw my gaze on her action and nodded solemnly.  "He
will be all right," she murmured before she drew me back to help her
attend others.  "Now let us see what we can do to settle these
people."

"Yes, Mother," I said, following.

"Who is hurt?"  she called in a voice that could be heard across the
Great Hall, now filled with weeping and fretting folk.  ",nrza, we will
need hot water and tea, and perhaps a tot of something stronger to
restore spirits."

"Let us do that, milady," the cooper's wife said, stepping forward.

She had served at the hall before her marriage and knew where things
were kept.

'That is an excellent thought, Merva," Mother said, "much
appreciated.

Tirza, if you will separate the injured from the sound, then we can
continue with our preparations to defend Mallafret.""I doubt they
would be able to come ashore, milady," Merva said stoutly.  "Not only
is the current swift but the river itsells filled with ... things ...

that bump and slither and can easily overturn the silly rafts they
made.  An' as soon as the first cannon went, so my man took the last
horse with four good legs and rode to summon such as are left to come
to our aid."

"Well done, but Quiman has always been sensible," my mother said
approvingly and Merva preened before she recalled herself to the tasks
at hand.

With all the heavy cauldrons full of hot oil, every other pan of size
in the kitchen had to be used to cook a morning porridge while other
women continued with the bread which Liwy had set to rise.  By the time
all stomachs were full of a warm and nourishing meal, Mother had a good
idea of the destruction wrecked on the village from talking to those as
she served them.  Only two of the cannon balls had landed on targets,
yet so many cottages had been built butt-on-butt that almost the whole
riverside row, including the inn, the school, and the church had
burned.  That left over a hundred and fifty without shelter and
deprived of most of their belongings-beds and clothes being the most
critical of the losses in this depth of winter.  And the Solstice but a
week away.  Handcrafts made for the celebration, new clothing, and
other gifts as well as food stuffs hoarded for a good feasting were
like wise so much ash.

"I'll have to see what I can do,' Mother said, fingering her crystals,
and I did wonder how she would manage to rise to this disaster.

Especially with Mallafret not yet secure from attack.

Mid afternoon a troop raced up the avenue led by sons of nearby
estates, too young yet to be mustered-although if the war continued
much longer, they too would be called up.  'bay, of course, rode in the
lead, proudly astride his pony, his legs stuck out in front of him so
they wouldn't drag on the ground.

Although the sight of Tray reassured both Mother and me, we
nevertheless greeted the new arrivals with such men as we had left and
three of the largest women.

Sir Minshall had been unable to stoop sufficiently to use the secret
door but, he manned one of the long rifles bristling through the slits
of the shutters.

"The Effestrian force perished at the rapids, mother," IVay said,
dismounting by the expedient of standing up on his long legs and
letting the pony walk out from under him.  His face was filthy and he
had scrapes on his face and arms where the sleeves were torn, but his
blistered hand was still protected by a very dirty bandage.  "I've left
pickets both north and south," and he pointed, "and we met a scouting
party from Princestown who came to see how far south the Effestrians
managed to push.  We are advised that Prince Monteros is moving his
forces north as fast as he can.  Though some say," and now 'hay sounded
quite cynical, "that he is not apt to pursue anyone past his own
borders."  He had been moving towards her as he spoke and now embraced
her.  "It's all right now, Mother.  Mallafret is safe."

"And you will be hungry, no doubt," Mother said, smiling as if he had
been on an outing with friends.  "We can certainly do something about
that!"

'Day waved his good hand diffidently.  "If you will pack it up for us,
please.  We will quarter ourselves in the village to be sure the enemy
does not return, seeking the cannon which we caused to fall into the
Shupp."

"Oh!"

I believe that was the first time I ever saw my mother at a complete
loss for words.

Then she gripped 'hay by the arms, her face beaming with pride.  "So it
wasn't running that pony through the woods that caused you so many
scratches?"

"Indeed not, milady," said the scion of another family, grinning from
ear to ear.

"Thought 'Day's plan a capital one, since most of us know the ways of
our river and how to cross safely.  I am Keffine, son of Lord
Hyland."

He gave as courtly a flourish as if he had been clad in silks instead
of torn and soot-smutted leathers.

"How are you for ammunition?"  Mother asked.

"Sufficient, milady," Keffine said, tapping bulky saddlebags.

"Much of the village is burned,' she added.

"We'll fare well, milady," the scion said and jerked his head at
'hay.

'We must settle in for the night and set our watches."

"All are safe here?"  'hay asked, looking at the tightly boarded
house.

"We shall be quite safe."  My mother kissed his cheek, a maternal
salute that he bore with considerably more poise than he would once
have managed.

The pony had come back to stand beside him, and swinging his leg wide
and across the little beast, 'Ray reined him about and led his
tatterdemalion troop back down the avenue.

"He deserves a proper horse," I heard my mother mutter as we made our
way back to the secret door-scarcely a secret now, but useful with
every other entrance to the house barricaded.  'I shall just have to
see what I can do about that."

'We've more than a year till we're sixteen, mother," I said.

'I know."  Within that sad acknowledgement was her unspoken knowledge
that this war was not likely to end before the sixteenth anniversary of
our birth.  I felt almost guilty that I would wear my crystal but
Tracell, who had shown such mature fortitude and intelligence, would be
disappointed.

while Mallafret Hall had over twenty bedchambers, it did not have
sufficient warm coverings for so many unexpected guests.  Even bringing
all the horse rugs in from the stable did not suffice and, for the
second time in a single day, I saw my mother thwarted in her incredible
ability to cope with any crisis, disaster, or problem.

"I shall have to do something," I heard her murmur, clutching her
crystals and furiously rubbing them, forcing them to provide an
answer.

"Mother, is it possible there're some usable things stored in the
presses and trunks in the attics?"  All of us children had played up
there on rainy days.

"ooh, milady," Tess said, brightly, "there's ever so many things up
there.  We had to turn out all the old curtains and things before Lord
Emkay left."

Mother's face lit up.  She was so delighted that she hugged us both
indiscriminately.

"The very things indeed.  All those dreary, dreary tapestries that I
couldn't bear to throw out!  They shall do admirably."

If there was a slight musty smell from being stored so long, no one
minded for the heavy brocaded draperies as well as the tapestries were
good insulation against the cold.  And all, even the rugs that were
also discovered in at the apex of roof and rafter, had been carefully
wrapped against the moth and provided covering for even the flagstones
of the Great Hall.  With fires in every hearth, everyone would be able
to sleep with more comfort than they would have had even in the
snuggest of cottages.

We also discovered carefully preserved garments of long-ago fashions.

While some of the gaudy costumes sent people into giggles and smirks,
most of the fabrics-having been of the highest quality-remained in good
condition.  So many of the villagers had fled in their nightclothes
from the cannon barrage that they stood in grave need of warmer
garments.  Best were trunks of liverIt's and house dresses that had
been packed away when Mother had chosen more modern ones.  The women
and children had a marvelous time sorting out and trying on the
apparel.

The sight of Mistress Cooper enveloped in yards of a gauzy material had
us all in tears of laughter, especially when she tried to essay a court
courtesy and fell flat with an oof that also split the back of the
dress.  She was so distressed that it took Mother nearly half an hour
to reassure her.  Finally, Mother took a piece of fragile gauze in both
hands and, with only the least pressure, split it easily.

"It must be well over a hundred years old, Mistress Cooper.  Even the
best of fabrics will deteriorate in that long a time."

"A hundred years, milady?"  Mistress Cooper's distress was replaced by
astonishment.

One chest was stuffed with the voluminous petticoats of the last
century which could be turned into night-clothes.  Another was full of
men's shirts and knee britches.

Fortunately many were made of good heavy cloth, and it was decided they
could be lengthened against the wintry weather.

'And, I think," Mother said as people departed to their various
sleeping chambers, 'tomorrow we will see how to alter the old liveries
and maids' dresses to fit.  Unless there are other calls upon our time
and effort."  There were not, though feeding and clothing one hundred
and eighty-five homeless people required considerable organization and
patience the next day.  Mistresss Cooper was up almost before Liwy, and
the pair wakened four more women to start bread.  Liwy did insist on
reclaiming her largest cauldron to the kitchen after its night on the
ramparts with oil, no longer boiling or needed.  She remarked on the
depth of the frost on the roofs and had a narrow escape falling into
one of the gutters, but there had to be sufficient porridge and she
would have braved much worse than mere frost to do her duty as
Mallafret's cook.

That report of the bitter cold worried Mother.  Not that the Shupp had
ever frozen solid, since it ran so swiftly.  All was snug inside
Mallafret Hall and Mother had to be content that she had accomplished
that much.

Stuffed with hot porridge and tightly bundled with scarves and heavy
capes of yesteryear's fashions, A-ndras and Achill led the older lads
out to bring in more wood to replenish the fires which had to be kept
burning.  Even gloves were found in one wide storage drawer-though they
were of such fine leathers that I saw Mother blanch as she handed them
out-but cold fingers could fumble and this was no time to try to
preserve the antiquated when present need was greater.  Mind you, I had
to go call the boys in when they were suspiciously long at a task that
should been completed more quickly.  At that, Andras and Achill
admitted that they had been the first tempted to skate on the
pathways-which were hoarfrosted and made excellent slides.

We spent the rest of the day inspecting the wealth within the trunks
and presses under the caves.  Mother did return several of the more
magnificent ball gowns to the cambric in which they had been swathed.

The formal court wear, stockings, knee britches and such like were also
set aside.

The rest of the garments-the full sleeved fine cambric and muslin
shirts, the long-skirted jerkins and vests, broadcloth jackets which
could be dyed more suitable shades than buttercup yellow or pale green,
blue, lavender, and gray, and such breeches as there were of the
durable fabrics-came out at once.

Every ground floor room became drapers' shops.  Garments festooned
tables, chairs, firescreens or waited in orderly piles.

Such needles, threads and scissors as we possessed were kept busy until
late that night, and it was nothing short of amazing.  Many people were
clad in more modern clothes on the next morning.

The intense cold continued.  I heard it murmured often that some good
had come out of the bombardment, for never would they have been so warm
and comfortable in the homes they had lost.

Tray and Keffine returned midmorning for more supplies.  They were
red-checked and merry with their new responsibilities, but both had
somehow cleaned up their garments and washed their faces.  Keffine was
mounted on a sturdy well-bred cob while 'Day still rode the pony.  Old
as the venerable fellow was he too seemed to find his new occupation to
his liking for he pranced and danced on his hindquarters as much as the
cob did.

"We've some good news for the cottagers, Mother," 'hay said, once again
putting down his feet and letting the pony walk out from under him.

Keffine's merry glance caught mine and I coughed into my hand rather
than laugh outright.  "You may laugh, Tirza," my brother said with such
sublime arrogance that Mother and I both dissolved into gales of
laughter.

"Thank you," I said, when I had quite exhausted myself with hilarity.

"Bread's baked and some pies are ready and will only need to be
reheated," I said, retreating into the house to assemble the
victuals.

.

It was when I returned with my helpers, dressed in their new finery,
thatnacell and Keffine Hyland gawked with surprise.

'Have you a troop of mummers, too?"

'bay asked, though he accepted the baskets of food readily enough.  In
fact, he had the pony so laden that there was no room left for him to
sit on the sturdy back.  Keffine, likewise, dismounted because it was
far more important that the food reach the hungry recipients than that
he rode comfortably.

I glanced at our unusually clad assistants.  "We have been able to do
what we could to clothe them all decently," I replied, 'by turning out
all those old trunks in the attic."

"What a splendid idea," 'hay agreed, winking at me for the times we had
played with the contents of those self-same discards.  'Some came in
little more than their shifts, shawls and clogs on their feet."

"Save some shirts and vests, would you?"  Tray said, regarding his t
orn and battered raiment.

"You might tell the villagers that we have found quite a few things
that survived the fires," Keffine said.  He had the merriest blue
eyes.

"Which is why you both look as if you'd been sifting through ash and
dirt.  Well done, well done," my mother said.

"One way of keeping warm," 'hay remarked diffidently.

'But kindly thought of," Mother said.

"There's more usable than we'd've thought," Keffine said, accepting the
basket of breads.  "Though we did have a spot of trouble when an
Effestrian patrol ventured to the river bank and tried to interrupt our
labors.  We sent them off with such a rain of arrows, they fell over
themselves running away.

'More slipping and sliding down the bank,"'Way added, grinning.

Mistress Cooper and Mistress Chandler arrived just then, their arms
full of cloaks.

(,you will need these," Mother said, draping a cloak acrossDay's
shoulders.

Astonished, he held a fold up, almost sputtering with indignation.

"Why, this has to have been last worn by great-great uncle .  . ."

"Never you mind who wore it last, Viscount Mallafret," my mother said
firmly.  "It will doubtless deflect arrows as well as keep you warm.

Keffine Hyland bent his knees to allow Mistress Cooper to bestow one on
his broad shoulders.  He looked quite elegant.

The rest of the warm garments were carefully draped across cob and
pony.

"They are indeed welcome, milady," Keffine said, bowing gratefully.

"And these will undoubtedly be as welcome while they hold together."

Mother passed each a pair of heavy mailed gauntlets, so ancient that
the cloaks were almost modern in comparison.

"Now, these are more suitable for warriors like us," 'bay said,
stuffing the gloved fingers as far down as he could force them.

Then they made their way, proud and tall, down the avenue, leading the
laden animals.  I wasn't certain in my mind who looked more elegant, my
brother or Keffine.

The bitter cold lasted so that Andras, Achill and some of the sturdier
lads had to take cross saws and axes into the home woods to keep us
supplied with firing.  Under Mother's command, we took the oxen and the
heaviest wain left in the village tithe-barn and brought back more
wheat which had to be hand-ground, as the millwheel was frozen solid in
the weir.

Several of the men came back from the village and, with our gamekeeper
and Tvay to guide them, brought back deer and cleared the snares of
whatever had been trapped and frozen to death.

While the worst of the cold held, we did not fear renewed attacks from
the Effestrians, and Lord Monteros sent messengers to Mother, and from
us to Princestown, that he had reinforced the river banks of his
province to prevent enemy incursions.  The returning courier brought
very welcome letters from all our brave soldiers so we spent Solstice
in a merriment that was far from the doleful occasion it might have
been.

Not as bitter but still cold, the winter remained.  On such fair days
as there were, new dwellings began to rise in the village, replacing
those burned to the ground.  As Tray had said, iron pots and pans,
skillets, even some crockery had survived the fire.

And the chimneys.

Mallafret, in its turn, provided occupation for all to replace what was
lost.  Mother turned everything out of the attic spaces: chests,
presses, tables (that might lack a leg or a brace), chairs that needed
re-rushing or re-gluing.  She organized those handy with tools to make
up additional stools or tables and arranged for the skilled carpenters
to replace the lost dower chests.  Mallafret was a hive of activity.

Rather than lose valuable space by setting up the big looms, Mother
devised a clever and easier method of replacing bedding.  In the course
of refitting old-fashioned clothing to modern bodies, many pieces and
hems and oddments had been cut off.  These Mother gave to the youngest
and oldest women to piece together into wide bed spreads.  Then she had
some of this year's wool crop carded fine and stitched in place on one
side, while a backing was firmly stitched to provide a triple
thickness.  Some of the defter needlewomen, having finished redesigning
clothing, made interesting patterns of the available colors so that
some of the patchwork was quite beautiful as well as warm.  All were
delighted with the illustrious future use of what might have been
discarded as rags.

pring was late in '$coming that year, as if even the weather was at war
with us.

Fair days found everyone who could do anything, even if only holding a
ladder steady, helping to rebuild the cottages.  The fields were too
wet or still too deeply frozen to be ploughed.  Everyone worried about
planting and so complained to Mother.

"Well, I shall just have to see what can be done," Mother said and,
putting on her oldest boots, mounted Courier, whose stately walk was
slow.  The best that 'Way could say about him was that he eventually
got where he was going.  And he was very comfortable to ride.

Several times on Mother's tour, he became mired down and had to be
hauled out of the mud.  Mother spent several days out, going from farm
to farm.  Pausing in the vilage on her way, she noted the rise of new
.abitations.  That cheered her, I know, because to have so many people
about us constantly in Mallafret had lost any charm.  The earlier
comradeship in disaster had altered to squabbles that Mother had to
arbitrate time and again, taking her away from more urgent planning.

After her inspection tour, she called all together: farmer and
villager.

'Where there is too much water, we must dig little channels for it to
run to the edges of the fields.  Perhaps even line some depressions
with stones to preserve the water should we need it in the summer.  If
this winter has been so wet, we may very well have a very dry
summer."

So sensible was the suggestion that despite the very hard work to
implement her scheme, it was accomplished.  If not all of a field could
be ploughed, enough was drained so that seed would not rot.  Once such
planting was done, work turned back to rebuilding the cottages.  And in
this regard, Mother had a great deal to say to improve the interiors,
the major improvement being her insistence that local slate be used for
the roof rather than the traditional thatch.  Sin Bart the Thatcher's
house had also but he allowed as how he could accept change.  By
raising all the roofs by two feet, there was sufficient loft space
under the caves to provide more sleeping space and, for those on the
ground level, considerably more privacy.

The inn was reconstructed next, with kitchens and nooks snug and open
before the next storey was completed.  There were not yet many
travelers but often couriers passed, and they were grateful for a full
night's rest.  Mother, in grave conversation with Matt the Innkeeper
and his wife, decided that, all things considered, it wouldn't be a bad
idea to have a large room added to one side of the inn, suitable for
village meetings, assemblies, Solstice dances, and any other functions
that required a large indoor space.

"It will, of course," my mother said in the mild way she sometimes used
to such good effect when trying to get her way, "be grand for our
Victory Celebrations."

And so she had all the enthusiastic help such a project required.

However, the large room first saw use as an hospice as walking rounded
began to make their way to distant somes.  They were grateful for the
food and shelter at Mallafret Village, and Mother supervised such
nursing as their injuries required.

"Those of Mallafret will have snug dwelling houses to come home to,
thanks to your efforts, milady," Sir Minshall reminded her, seeing how
downcast the injuries had made her who had been so cheerful through all
our adversities.

"I'll have to see what I can do," she said, shaking her head and
caressing the crystals.

All too soon, my own crystal would be placed on its chain about my
neck, but the prospects of having a horse for my twin diminished from
unlikely to impossible.  We saw horses from far to the south being
driven along the main road to Princestown, resupply for the cavalry.

"There's not one of them,"'Way said, his scathing tone hiding
disappointment, it worth bothering with.  They all have four legs, a
head and tail and that's the best that can be said."

Mother and I exchanged glances, and she sighed.

"Then it's as well we have no silver or gold to beg for one," Mother
replied with a sly glance at him.

"A waste even if we had any!"  Tray replied contemptuously.  "They're
not worth even stealing."

Taking a deep breath, he turned away from us and went off to help
Siggie weed the vegetables.

Mother and I exchanged glances: hers nearly as doting as mine since we
knew how keenly he was trying to hide an almost palpable frustration.

"I really will have to see what can be done."

"Mother," I said from all the wisdom of my nearly sixteen years,
"sometimes even you can't provide the impossible.  Besides which, he
has set his heart on a Cirgassian, like our Courier ... only not
wind-broken."  With the slightest of smiles on her face and her long,
slender, workworn fingers sliding up and down the dangling crystals,
she replied, "It is true that the impossible takes longer, but the
improbable is a force to be reckoned with."

The summer brought so little rain that hose reservoirs which Mother had
had us onstruct to drain or retain the excess winer water proved to be
the salvation of what ops we had been able to nurture.  As fortunate
was the fact that Prince Sundimin, with our father now one of his most
valued generals, was pursuing the war well into Effestrian lands.  Our
village was asked to send reinforcements of any male who had reached
the age of sixteen and those over forty who were still able in body.

This reduced our work force further and worried my mother more.  For,
inexorably, our sixteenth birthday neared and she feared that Tracell
would have to answer the next draft.

However much we had both longed to be sixteen and considered adult,
that status had lost much of its long-desired charm.

Although it was the custom in our land that if a male child becomes
adult at sixteen, it was also true that a girl of that age may put up
her hair and go to balls and other social occasions.  I, who had once
dreamed all sorts of enchantments to occur during my first ball,
drearily realized that no such festivity was likely.  Imagine then my
astonishment when Mother, all smiles and gladness, informed us that of
course Mallafret would celebrate our birthday with a ball.

"And what, dear Mother, shall to wear to a ball?  I asked.  Tracell and
I were then most practicably attired in the sturdy knee breeches that
even women were wearing as more durable apparel for hosing fields and
rebuilding cottages.  Even the thought of a ball, however, was able to
reawaken yearnings, which I had so firmly excluded from
consideration.

"Why, my dears," and Mother's smile was so mischievous that I found
myself smiling back, "we will have our choice of what we want to wear
to a ball.  A costume ball.  You can't have forgotten all the lovely
gowns, long coats, embroidered vests, and fine silken breeches which we
so admired last winter after the village burned?  Who will care if we
dress in old-fashioned finery?  But dress we will.  And Liwy says there
will be enough eggs and flour and sweetening to provide a proper
birthday cake and other confections to make it the occasion all that it
should be.  Your father put down wines at your births and these need
only to be brought up from the cellar."

"But-but-' Even qyacell was now so accustomed to mundane substitutes
that mere thought of such extravagance startled him.  Or maybe it was
the thought of his long-desired and unattainable birthday horse!

"We may be short of many things, my dear'Nay, but there are certain
times when ceremony must be celebrated.  And you both," she encircled
our waists with her arms, "deserve whatever we can contrive.

And I know exactly what I can do."

'Well, I can't say that you don't contrive minor miracles regularly,
Mother," 'Way said, admiringly.  "But must I wear knee breeches?"

"Indeed you must, my love," she said, undeterred by his protest, "for
you've as fine a leg as your father."

Hands raised in passionate rebellion, rhay took a deep breath.

"Not another word," my mother said, putting her fingers on his mouth.

"You'll be surprised at how courtly you will appear.

Every girl in the county will be eager to dance with you."

"No powder in my hair ."'Day said, waggling a finger under her nose.

'With such lovely titian locks as you have, of course not,' Mother
said, pretending outrage at the mere suggestion.

"And how are you going to get every else to dress up that way?"  TVay
demanded.  I knew he did not wish to dress in uncommon fashion.

"We have not been the only family in the county to have seen what our
ancestors put up in their attics,' was Mother's blithe reply.

'I think the pale green for you, Tracell, so I will allow some of the
others to be loaned where they will fit."

By the time he had been forced to try on the pale green, with its heavy
embroidery of silver and froth of lace (bleached to its original white
and mildly starched), he spent quite a while observing himself in
Mother's triple mirror.  Shoes, with buckles and green heels, had also
been found and fitted well enough.

'So gallant, milord,' Mother said, and we both sank into court curtsies
that sent him into guffaws since we were still in our everyday
breeches.  (They were just a little ludicrous since they were much too
long for us and reached our ankles.) But the prospect had put him in a
very good mood.  Which, I think, was what Mother had in mind.

The entire village joined to help Mallafret Hall produce an evening
that would be memorable.  If the journals of our ancestors-which took
up several shelves in the library-annotated in precise detail the
lavish decorations and extravagant excesses of previous sixteenth
birthdays, Mother decreed yet another sensible innovation.  This Ball
would start early enough in the evening so that the summer length of
daylight would not require the use of the thousands of expensive and
totally unobtainable tapers to fill the chandeliers and light the
proceedings.  Indeed, the dancing would be on the greensward below the
terrace on the South Face of Mallafret Hall.  The lawn, or so Andras
and Achill vehemently declared, had been rolled and rolled and all but
manicured with embroidery scissors to a level that would be as smooth a
surface for dancing as any parquet floor.  Garlands of honeysuckle from
the hedgerows, gathered by the villagers, draped across the terrace
balustrade and wherever such floral decorations were needed.  Everyone
seemed determined to take this a truly momentous occasion.  We ,ere not
even daunted by the sultry ,eather that augured of possible thunder
showers.  Indeed, from time to time, I could have sworn I heard distant
thunder in the east.  If that were the case, since our weather went
from west to east, our evening would not be spoiled.

Barbecue pits were dug for the several oxen (who might be tough to eat
due to their extreme age, but they wouldn't have survived another
winter anyway).  Many braces of pheasant, arouse, chicken, pigeon,
dove, and goose were turning on spits.  Carp, tench, and the other fish
that had been taken by diligent anglers from local streams were ready
to be grilled.  The odors of roasting meats and game encouraged us to
work the harder to make all ready for the party.

"We all deserve it," Diana said, and Desma, much as I had been the
silent second to my brother's remarks, nodded emphatically.

'Now you must sit still," Catron told them, for we had dressed them
first since our toilettes would take longer.  As a special concession
to keep them occupied, they were allowed to watch us dress, Catron
giggling nearly as much as I, as we struggled corselettes and hoops and
pettico; quired to underpin our lovely gown then they took turns
pulling the corset strings in so tight I was afraid I'd never be able
to dance, much less eat of our birthday feast.

Mother had designated the pale yellow gown which had been so admired
the previous winter for Catron, since it suited not only her fourteen
years but her dark hair and fair skin.  As Catron was taller than
whomever the dress had been created for, it reached the middle of her
lower limbs, the perfect length for her.  Since I was now a few hours
short of being officially sixteen, I was allowed to wear a much more
elaborate and delectable confection of white gauze over silver silk.

Throwing a muslin cape over Catron's shoulders, Mother first braided my
sister's dark locks tightly to a point just below the nape of her
neck.

Then she allowed the lovely natural curls to fall to Catron's waist:
still a young style but with just enough fashion to please my sister.

My dark red hair was piled and pinned itop my hair, save for the three
long ringlets which, with her curling iron, Mother created fall from
the back knot of my hair across .y shoulder to hang nearly to the
decolletage of the low cut gown.

Then she placed on both our heads, as if tiaras of priceless gems,
headbands of honeysuckle and daisies.  Catron and I exclaimed and
twirled and whirled in front of the mirror while our younger sisters
were struck dumb at the change in us.

"These should be roses or something more exotic," Mother said
apologetically as she arranged garlands.  'Now, for just one more
detail," she said and left the room.

We were both fidgeting at what seemed a very long delay-we were so
eager to show everyone else how fine we looked-when she returned with
two flat black velvet cases: one round, one long.

"Pearls are suitable for you, Catron," she said and opened the first of
the cases to remove the strand of pink-toned pearls that fit around
Catron's lovely neck as if they had been strung for her alone.  "Now,
you may take your sisters downstairs and you are all," and Mother held
up a stern finger, 'to sit quietly in the hall where you may move only
to welcome early-come guests should some arrive before Tracell, 'Arra,
and I descend."

An ecstatic Catron let go of her pearl take her sisters' hands and
leave the room.  Then, with an air of ceremony, Mother turned to me,
the long case in her hand.

"You are not precisely sixteen, dearest 'Arra, but you have acted with
such wisdom in the last trying years that I feel I am conforming to
tradition in letting you choose your crystal today, on the eye of your
sixteenth birthday."

I almost burst into tears.  'But what shall we do about 'hay and his
horse, mother?"

Tears were in her eyes as she embraced me.

"You make my heart leap with pride, my darling.  Not that I haven't
cudgeled my brains in an effort to make his birthday wish come true,
but... " and she gave a little sigh, half-sob, half a catch of her
breath.  Brisk again, she opened the case to show me the four crystals
nestled there, each on fine linked chains similar to those she wore:
one crystal for each of her daughters.  "I will tell you--when we have
more time-how to understand the use of these crystals.  You will find
that their main purpose is an aid to help you focus your mind on what
needs to be done.  I believe yours will help you refine instincts that
I have already seen you exhibit."

I didn't really absorb her words, for the sight of beautiful jewels
awed me.  I fancied I heard gentle music, the kind heard when delicate
crystal is lightly pinged by a finger.

No two of the crystals in that box were alike.

One, two finger-joints long, was the palest of blues, its facets cut
cleanly and ending in a point.  Another, slightly shorter, blushed the
pink of the most delicate rose.  The third was the dainty yellow-green
of the peridot.

"That's Catron's," I blurted out.

Mother chuckled.  "You may well be right, my love."

It was the fourth, the clear one, not white but seeming to hold all the
rainbow colors when the sun coming through the window touched it
briefly.  It was the one to which my hand instinctively went.  I saw
out of the corner of my eye that Mother nodded once, as if she had
known this would be my choice.

"This was the one you reached for when you were barely three months old
and my mother and grandmother brought crystals to see which would suit
you best."

"That long ago?"

"As the world turns, it is not that ago, love."

She put it around my neck and embraced me with a kiss on each cheek and
one on my lips.  As soon as the crystal settled against the skin of my
chest, I could feel the warmth of it.

"Oh!"  I was surprised.

"Oh?"  Mother echoed, her eyebrows rising in query.

"It's warm.  I thought a crystal would be cool."

My mother gave me a long and searching look.  "That depends on the
crystal, but obviously your choice is well made and the crystal is
content to be worn by you."  We were both startled by the sound of
thunder.

"It seems the heavens agree with me.  When we have more time, I will
explain some of the properties of these particular crystals and how the
women of our line have learned to depend on them."

"Do they," and I pointed to the three she vore-this time looped onto a
black velvet )and at her throat so that each, the tenler-blue, then the
white and the deep een-dangled separately, "tell you what to all the
time, Mother?"  he laughed.  "Not in so many words, love, ut they do
help focus the mind when sensible thought is required.  Generally they
take some heat from our bodies.  If it should ever get very hot or very
cold, come to me instantly.  Now," and she turned brisk, "you must help
me dress, for if I do not mistake the sounds, some of our guests are
arriving."

Indeed, the rumbling thunder to the east had caused many of our invited
guests to hurry, lest they in their finery be caught in a sudden
shower.  Mind you, the manner of transport which brought many of them
started the party in high good humor.  So few horses remained in the
county that other animals had been substituted.  Several carts were
dravrn by not so willing pairs of goats.

One elegant barouche was stately drawn by two sets of yoked oxen, while
four mismatched mules pulled a landau.  More than one conveyance used
donkeys, hee-hawing up the drive as if commenting on their new
occupation so that all would notice their promotion.  Several farmers (
actually their elegantly dressed wives in ball dress) hoping their
dainty fabrics would not be covered in road dust.  Those from the
village we haps grateful that they did not have to walk.  I did see
some reach the gate: pause to dust their feet before putting on their
dancing slippers.  .

Of course, Mother had been very generous with the contents of our
attic.  We did recognize some of the fine gowns and male attire.  And
if the fashions were of different centuries, we were all most elegantly
costumed.  'Racell had never looked so handsome, nor so like Father, as
he did in the pale green wide-skirted long jacket, with the beautifully
embroidered paler green waistcoat and white silk knee breeches.  I felt
that Keffine was as handsome in the blue, and his father, Lord Hyland,
posed as a remarkable figure in his purple.  Lady Hyland was certainly
flattered by the lavender silk with its gauzy overskirt trimmed with
silver lace.

There had not been enough of the old-fashioned apparel to fit or
costume everyone of rank in the county from our stores, but following
our example, many appeared in what they had been able to discover.  The
entlemen attired themselves, if informally, "I'm fine cambric white
full sleeved shirts, worn with elegant lacy froths at the throat,
clinging vests, and tight court pants.  Women appeared in every sort of
bodices, full skirts, and embroidered or lacy aprons every bit as
elegant as their menfolk.  As well we were out of doors, for many had
preserved their garments from the moth by camphor, which airing had not
completely removed and which the heat of the afternoon made more
redolent.

Old liveries had been unearthed and freshened so that those who served
the gathering did so as stylishly as those they waited upon.  I don't
know who found the outfits for the village musicians, but they were
certainly clad for a grand occasion and seemed indefatigable in their
energetic playing of old galliards, gavottes, reels, set dances, and
minuets.  Their tankards were rarely left unreplenished.  Perhaps the
food did not rival the victuals or fancies that had been served at
other such Balls, but there was sufficient for all to partake until the
roasts were finished.  Portions of the fish and fowl were passed
around, with napkins, and with fine wine or beer or cider to wash these
tidbits down, so the dancing took on an exuberance that equaled the
occasion.

By tradition, the birthday child or dren danced first.  It should have
been him their who bowed to ask for my hand, Tracell did the honors for
me.  And to accept his hand I had to release my beautiful, exciting
crystal for the first time since Mother had put it on my neck.  Maybe,
just maybe, my fervent prayers for him would be answered, though I had
not had been able to focus my mind on any manner in which I could
spring a horse out of nowhere for Tray.  Then Tray, again assuming my
father's traditional role, swirled Mother, ravishing in the deep red
that was so close a match to her glorious hair, onto the floor while
the spectators cheered.

Keffine was next to ask my hand for a dance, and I only too delighted
to accede as 'Ray partnered an ecstatic Catron.  As my white and silver
skirts whirled against Keffine's blue coat, I felt we made as handsome
a couple as Mother and 'hay.  Keffine had to relinquish my hand to his
father who, while no longer as agile as his son, had obviously
instructed Keffine in all manner of dances.  Protocol now properly
observed, others took the floor.

During the short intervals, we were aware of more thunder, but no one
was going to permit mere weather to interrupt this.  Who knew when the
young men asking to dance with me or Catron (since Mother permitted her
to stand up for the reels and sets) or those of the other pretty girls
of our neighborhood would spend their next days?  So many were now
eligible to answer any new muster that the prince might call.  I won't
say that the atmosphere had even a touch of frenzy or premonition,
though my crystal continued to feel comfortably warm against my skin,
but this evening was for our enjoyment.  And we were all determined to
forget such things as the war and the sparse harvest that must see us
through another long winter with so many other items in scarce
supply.

We were indeed so single-minded in our enjoyment of the pleasures of
the occasion that it wasn't until the horse walked out onto the terrace
that we were forced to recall what we had managed to place at the back
of our minds.

It was Andras who caught up the one remaining rein, and only half of it
at that.  The horse was so weary that it was possibly as happy to be
standing still.  My first thought was that it was a Cirgassian, nowhere
near as exhausted as the Courier had been on his arrival at
Mallafret.

The horse stopped, bowed scraping dissonantly, the flute piping
awkwardly into silence and the accordion ending on a dissonance from
lack of air.  We all turned and stared.

This horse could not be the answer to my prayers, for on closer
inspection we saw that dried blood and lather coated the creature.  Its
saddle was askew and the dark stain smeared on the seat could only be
more dried blood.  No stirrups remained, nor a saber scabbard nor
saddlebags.

Both qyay and Keffine approached the horse carefully, for the animal
was in distress, its sides heaving.  'nay caught a bun from the nearest
plate, which he held out to the animal.  It sniffed, extending its
neck, snatched the bun, and devoured it.  At a gesture from rhay,
Andras and Achill immediately filled their hands with bread to bring
to Keffine and him.  In that sudden silence, we were all aware that the
thunder we had attributed to the weather had not been caused by that
phenomenon, and fear spread as rapidly as if it had the night of the
first bombardment we had suffered.

Because we were at the back of the .ouse, on the greensward, with music
enliusiastically played, the noise to the east had been muffled.  Hand
on my crystal, which was neither hot nor cold but as warm as my skin, I
turned to Mother.  She had her hand spread over the three at her neck
and gave the littlest shake of her head.

'We had best investigate," Lord Hyland said and glanced hopefully at
the horse.

"He's wounded, Lord Hyland,' rhay said, pointing out the clotted blood
down his near side, discoloring the white fetlock.

"The saddle's wet, 'Day,' Keffine said, "and with water.  He's been
swimming."  As the horse continued to munch the food offered him,
Keffine carefully loosed the girth of the off-center saddle and removed
it from the horse's back.  The badly placed saddle had rubbed raw
patches.

Achill had the presence of mind to find a basin and fill it with water,
which the horse sucked eagerly.

"Milord."  One of the farmers came up to Lord Hyland with a big sturdy
mule.  "It's not at all what I'd offer in better times .  . ."

"ooh, not in those britches, milord"' Lady Hyland exclaimed, appalled
to see such splendor ruined in a saddle.

"Keffine, see what else there is to ride, Lord Hyland said and,
disregarding his wife's continued reproaches, mounted mule.

"I'll come, too," Racell said, and encouraging the horse to follow,
beckoned for his brothers to accompany him.

Donkeys were gathered from the paddocks in which they had been
tethered.

Mother and other ladies brought out the muskets, long rifles and such
other weapons as might be useful, handing them around to the quickly
assembled reconnoitering force.

Then IVay trotted out from the stable yard on his pony, feet stuck out
in his fine shoes so as not to be dragged on the ground.  He had
discarded his elegant coat and vest and somehow found a more practical
pair of ancient trousers, which he had secured with a stirrup leather
about his slim waist.  Keffine, down to shirtsleeves and an equally
disreputable pair of breeches, bestrode a donkey not much larger than
qyay's venerable pony.

So variously mounted, the men sallied forth.  Lord Hyland, on the much
larger nule, led the way, equipped with the saber and pistols my mother
had supplied.

Those who could not find four legs to e-no one attempted any of the
ats-used their own two to follow Lord Hyland, leaving the rest of us in
the midst of the party splendor.

I took such comfort as I could from the fact that my lovely crystal
remained merely warm.  I saw Mother's fingers alternating between her
three and moved to her side.

Once the men had gone, we women and children seemed directionless, all
joy in our festivities abandoned.

'Well, we certainly cannot allow the roasts to burn," Mother said,
taking charge again.  'Mistress Cooper, will you not tend one, and
Mistress Chandler, the other.  Tirza love, gather up the aprons our
chefs discarded.  I for one do not care to ruin my finery.  Liwy,
Catron, and Tess can see to the spits with whoever is willing to help
turn them.  We cannot waste good food, and doubtless the men will be
hungry when they return."

"Shouldn't we change, Mother?"  I asked.

My mother smiled.  'No," she said slowly.

"We must allow you as much of your birthday as possible."

"I've had my birthday, Mother," I said, for the first time contesting
her.

That caused everyone to stop and at me and, for one moment, I could
sunk in the ground with dismay at my impudence.

"Thunder's gone," Mistress Cooper announced into the silence that
lengthened as we all listened as hard as we could.

"It could have been thunder," Mistress Chandler offered.

"That horse was wounded," Lady Hyland said sternly.  "With saber
cuts.

And he had swum the river.  Clearly he escaped from some sort of a
battle."

"The men will send a messenger as soon as may be to reassure us.  And
do they all or only some return, there will be edible food to sustain
them.  So please turn that ox before it becomes charcoal, Mistress
Chandler."  My mother spun one finger to remind the woman of her
duty.

That was when three more horses were seen, grazing as if they had seen
nary a blade of green grass for weeks.  Two had no saddles and only
torn remnants of bridles; the third was so badly scored on flank and
withers that it was obvious the animal had followed its picket mates
out of habit.  They 'fered no resistance at all when we tried to lure
them into the stable yard, where Siggield those lads too young to be
allowed to accompany the scouting party were able to attend them.

Mother found some sort of a driving coat, wearing it back to front, to
cover her red dress because the most badly injured animal would need to
have the terrible gash along his flank stitched or he would die from
blood loss.  I found a similar garment-one of father's I think-to
protect my ball gown so I could sew up the gashes on the first animal,
although Siggie had to use a twitch to keep him still enough for me to
set the stitches.

There were many willing helpers to wash and spread honey on the nicks
and smaller cuts and generally see to the comfort of our four war
refugees.

By the time we had finished those, just as Mother and I were about to
doff the thick and confining garments, more horses stumbled in .  . .

Cirgassians from their small pointed ears and conformation.

"My darling Tirza," Mother said to me, bemused as we watched a
veritable troop of wet and tired animals limping into the yard-for
horses will smell the preset other equines as well as food.  "I know
how close you are to your twin, but surely you should have realized
that I was going to make sure of some sort of a birthday horse for
him?"

"Yes, but I wanted to make certab'n sure, Mother."  My hand went to my
crystal and I snatched it away, blowing on my fingers.

Mother, seeing that, reached for hers and, with equal alacrity, let
them go.

"What is it, mother?"  I cried fearfully.

"Off with that garment," and she was stripping hers, spreading her
skirts out again from the confinement.  "My hair?  Is it mussed?"

"No, but our hands-" Vihile we had washed before tending the animals,
we had not yet removed the traces of our ministrations.

Leaning over the horse trough in the stable yard without touching her
dress to its wet sides, mother scrubbed her hands and arms as quickly
as she could, gesturing for me to do so.  We also heard shouting that
added haste to our ablutions.  She did pause long enough to be sure
there was nothing .ender her fingernails, and I did the same.

]Phe cheers and shouts were jubilant, coming 'from the front of the
Hall.

Mother picked up her skirts and ran, :ipping around the droppings which
no one ad time to sweep up from the usually spo ess cobbles.  I
followed, also trying to straighten the edges of my overskirt that had
been crushed down under the protective clothing I had worn.  We also
had to wend our way past even more horses that had run away from
whatever battle they had ridden into.

We took the side gate out of the former rose garden that had supplied
us with vegetables the past two years and down the pebbled side of
Mallafret.  Mother's upraised arm stopped my helter-skelter progress,
for the wide driveway was full of horses, mules, men, and weeping women
embracing haggard but happy soldiery.  Lord Hyland sat his mule with
great dignity and, seeing our arrival, pointed and shouted.

"Here they are, milord!"  Out of the press a horse was urged forward,
and Mother, uttering a cry of great joy, ran in that direction.  I
started to follow but halted, taking in what she evidently ignored or,
in relief at the sight of his tall figure, did not see: bandages and a
tunic that showed tears and holes.  My eyes fixed on the hand, reaching
for her, and the bands looked far too narrow to be covering fingers.

An even older, dirtier wrapping covered the left side of his head, half
hidden under a military cap set at a jaunty angle as if to hide as much
of the bandage as possible.

But even as she reached him, she touched first his left hand and then
his forehead.

Then allowed herself to be swung up in his arms and twirled around.

I could see her speaking to him and knew, without any sound, what she
must be saying: 'I must see what I can do about these."

Then Father threw back his head, laughing.  "Why else do you think I
have returned to you?"  he said with such a jubilant tone that I knew
he had not been as badly injured as he appeared.  He whirled her again
and, though one cheek was pressed against hers, I could see him
wince.

Well, he was home and Mother would certainly see what she could do
about healing him.

From the fragments of joyful welcome around me, I knew that the war was
over, hat the thunder we had heard had come from Prince Sundimin's
artillery, sending he Effestrians running for whatever safety Ely could
find.  Even their most recent als, the plains' Cirgassians whose brave
horses had taken refuge at Mallafret Hall, were in full retreat ...

many of them no doubt reduced to walking.

Father had been ordered south along the Shupp to intercept whatever
stragglers came ashore to terrorize our people or seek merciful
sanctuary from that final rout.  (Not many that attempted the river
survived.) The Shupp might not have been an insurmountable obstacle for
horses bred to cross the swift and dangerous mountain rivers of the
Cirgassian homelands, but only the strongest of human swh=ers could
have breasted those treacherous currents and come ashore.

We learned later that many of the Cirgassian horses that managed to
stagger up our banks had been swept miles down from their point of
entry on the final battleground.

Then Father strode towards me, and I nearly sobbed to see the twinkling
in his eyes, the way they crinkled with his happiness, and the proud
expression on his dirty tired face: pride of me, his daughter.

"I did mean to be here at your six daughter dear, but that is surely
toi unless I have somehow lost a day fearsome battle we won."

"We were informed that there would be another muster, my love," Mother
said, one arm about his waist, heedless of the mud, dust, and other
stains now rubbing against her beautiful govern, so glad was she to be
holding him again, "so it seemed a sensible idea to celebrate the day
before should he be required to answer his prince's call."

"So you decided on a costume ball?"

'Indeed, my dear lord," Mother said, laughingly dismissing the past
years of hardship and scarcities, "a costume ball was the very thing.

And indeed the only festive apparel most of us had to our backs."  She
gestured to the guests, mingling now with restored husbands, fathers,
and sons.  "And the early hour makes it unnecessary to use tapers,
which we don't have anyway."

"We could not have had a more glorious welcome home had we sent out
invitations, my love.  How marvelous it is to see elegant women in
beautiful gowns!"  Then he leaned forward to touch the crystal at my
throat.  "As I recall, it is the very one your baby hands ached for."

He kissed my forehead and then which cheek.  "So where is my birthday
son?"

E! now demanded, wheeling Mother around arch for 'Racell in the
throng.

"Vthat finery did he assume for this prenatal celebration?  I have
brought him something which I believed he greatly desired and which,
indeed, I had promised to provide."

He pointed then to where his war-horse stood, single-mindedly cropping
grass.  That was when we realized his equerry held the reins of two
grazing horses and was being pulled first in one direction and then the
other.  The unsaddled animal was nearly as tall as Father's and so dark
a shade he gleamed bluely in the now fading evening light.

"Tracell is in a very elegant shade of green.  . . . " Mother began and
then pointed down the avenue.

'Great heavens .  . . " my father exclaimed, so stunned at the sight
that he slapped his right hand to his forehead.  For 'Way, legs
straight out before him, was galloping the pony across the lawn, the
nimble little beast weaving his way among the assembled.

Father, roaring with laughter at the approaching vision, doubled up
with mirth as Tray dropped his legs to the ground the pony run out from
under him.  "'Twillnever do for the son of a General."

"I was setting sentries along the Shu Father, before your sergeant
arrived to take over their disposition and informed me of your turn,"
Tray said, standing just short of father, unsure whether to bow or
salute.

Father took the initiative and embraced his son--the two were nearly of
a height so much had Tracell grown in the last two years.  As men will,
they were thumping each other on the back until both Mother and I saw
that Tracell's young strength had too much force for a man who was
certainly not recovered from his wounds.

tracell caught mother's gesture and stepped back from Father, a trifle
embarrassed at how warm a greeting he had given a nation's hero.

'Bring the Cirgassian over here, Barton,' my father called to his
equerry.  "My old fellow knows he's home and will not wander."  So
Barton, wrapping the charger's reins safely around his neck, trotted
over with the fine young animal.  "One of my spoils, Tray, when we took
an entire reLount contingent by surprise.  I knew he ould suit you.

Rising three and entire.  I )ubt his like will be matched anywhere."

.er beamed with pride as Tracell, his eyes gleaming with delight as he
circled the proud horse who stood, head high, as if he knew he was
being closely inspected.  "Prince Sundimin himself approved my choice
when he learned the reason for the gift."

Just then Andras, Achill, and two of their peers came charging through
the stable gate.

"There're ever so many more wandering in, rhay, that Siggie doesn't
know where to put them ... Father!"  The Cirgassian plunged in alarm at
their ecstatic race to Father, and the two boys all but climbed him in
their efforts to kiss and hug him joyfully.  They had, indeed, been so
busy succoring the tired and injured strays that they had not realized
what had happened at the front of the Hall.

"Well, let us just see what other jetsam has landed in our demesne," my
Father said, setting the boys down again and letting himself be pulled
towards the stable yard.  He looked back to see that 'Racell had calmed
the excitable young horse and was leading him towards a quieter section
of our crowded front lawn.

"My dear Talarrie," my father exclaimed as he paused to behold the
stable yards of horses there seemed little space for grooms attempting
to feed and water them, "could it be that you have overworked your
crystals?"

"I asked only for one," she said and pointedly did not glance in my
direction, though I, too, had only asked for one.  "But since we must
replace horses for all our ten ants and neighbors, perhaps that
accounts for these numbers."

"You have always been the most generous of .  . ."  He broke off,
stiffening, his head unerringly turning towards greensward where the
delectable aromas of roasting meats quite overwhelmed the odors which
can occur in any stable yard.  'Is it at all possible that there might
be something left of this early birthday feast?"  he asked, his face
wistfully hopeful.

L- She patted his hand and turned him in the right direction where I
knew that our festivities would recommence with true joy and
celebration.

"I'll see what we can do!"

As it was then, so it is now.

The End

immmmms mummi



