Read Online Nerilka's Story by Anne McCaffrey - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Anne McCaffrey
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had to remember to move like a drudge. As I passed under the lintel of the kitchen door, I slumped my shoulders, lowered my head, canted my knees at each other for a more awkward gait, and pretended to be weighed down by my burdens, scuffing my feet in the dust.
Master Capiam was looking to our left, to the main forecourt and stairs where Master Tirone was moving down the ramp along with the healers who tended our elderlies, and the three harpers.
“He’ll be watching them! Not us,” I told Master Capiam, for I, too, had caught sight of my father’s figure in the open window. Maybe he’d catch his death of a cold. “Try to walk less proudly, Master Capiam. You are, for the moment, merely a drudge, burdened and reluctantly heading for the perimeter, terrified of coming down sick to die like everyone in the camp.”
“Everyone in the camp is not dying.”
“Of course not,” I said hastily, hearing the anger in his voice. “But Lord Tolocamp thinks so. He has so informed us constantly. Ah, a belated attempt on his part to prevent the exodus!” I caught sight of the helmet tips over the balustrade. “Don’t pause!” The Masterhealer had stopped briefly, and I didn’t want anything to call attention to us. The departure of healers and harpers was a useful diversion. “You can walk as slowly as you want, that’s in character, but don’t stop.”
I kept my head turned to the left, but then drudges were always attempting to ignore what they were supposed to be doing in favor of any activity that appeared more interesting. Seeing guards chasing after healers and harpers was very interesting. Especially guards who did not wish to follow their particular orders. I could just imagine Barndy’s consternation. “Arrest the Masterharper, Lord Tolocamp? Now how could I do such a thing? The healers, too? Are they not needed more in their own Hall right now than here?”
There was a brief scuffle as Tirone barged through the halfhearted attempt to thwart him. I suppose words were exchanged between the guards and the others, but no one truly interfered with those departing, and Master Tirone led them all down onto the road at a good pace.
Our path had already taken us across the roadway, and their steps would cover our footprints in the dust. I continued my awkward pace and wondered if my father even noticed the passing of the drudges. Sim and the other two had reached the perimeter, and Theng was looking with some disgust at their burdens. He had come hastily out of his little hut, but then he identified the basket holding the noon meal of the guard contingent and relaxed.
I began to worry about Master Capiam immured in the camp when he really ought to remain in his Hall, no matter what he had said to Master Tirone.
“If you go past the perimeter, Master Capiam, you will not be permitted back.”
“If there is more than one way into the Hold, is there only one past the perimeter?” he asked me flippantly. “I’ll see you later, Lady Nerilka.”
I was relieved to think he was right. I was close enough to the dip in the roadway to see the encampment, and the men and women, well back of the guarded zone, waiting patiently for the food.
“Here now, Master Capiam.” Theng came up, alarmed to see the resolution in the Masterhealer’s stride. “You can’t go in there without staying—”
“I don’t want this medicine heaved about, Theng. Make sure they understand it’s fragile.”
I turned to one side, pretending to ease the weight of the demijohn. Theng knew me well enough to raise a commotion if he recognized me.
“I can do that much for you,” Theng replied. He placed the demijohn to one side of the bales, then yelled down to the waiting men and women. “This is to be handled carefully, and preferably by a healer. Master Capiam says it’s medicine.”
I wanted to tell Capiam that I would see that the medicine was given to the appropriate people, but I dared not get too close to Theng, who was
Master Capiam was looking to our left, to the main forecourt and stairs where Master Tirone was moving down the ramp along with the healers who tended our elderlies, and the three harpers.
“He’ll be watching them! Not us,” I told Master Capiam, for I, too, had caught sight of my father’s figure in the open window. Maybe he’d catch his death of a cold. “Try to walk less proudly, Master Capiam. You are, for the moment, merely a drudge, burdened and reluctantly heading for the perimeter, terrified of coming down sick to die like everyone in the camp.”
“Everyone in the camp is not dying.”
“Of course not,” I said hastily, hearing the anger in his voice. “But Lord Tolocamp thinks so. He has so informed us constantly. Ah, a belated attempt on his part to prevent the exodus!” I caught sight of the helmet tips over the balustrade. “Don’t pause!” The Masterhealer had stopped briefly, and I didn’t want anything to call attention to us. The departure of healers and harpers was a useful diversion. “You can walk as slowly as you want, that’s in character, but don’t stop.”
I kept my head turned to the left, but then drudges were always attempting to ignore what they were supposed to be doing in favor of any activity that appeared more interesting. Seeing guards chasing after healers and harpers was very interesting. Especially guards who did not wish to follow their particular orders. I could just imagine Barndy’s consternation. “Arrest the Masterharper, Lord Tolocamp? Now how could I do such a thing? The healers, too? Are they not needed more in their own Hall right now than here?”
There was a brief scuffle as Tirone barged through the halfhearted attempt to thwart him. I suppose words were exchanged between the guards and the others, but no one truly interfered with those departing, and Master Tirone led them all down onto the road at a good pace.
Our path had already taken us across the roadway, and their steps would cover our footprints in the dust. I continued my awkward pace and wondered if my father even noticed the passing of the drudges. Sim and the other two had reached the perimeter, and Theng was looking with some disgust at their burdens. He had come hastily out of his little hut, but then he identified the basket holding the noon meal of the guard contingent and relaxed.
I began to worry about Master Capiam immured in the camp when he really ought to remain in his Hall, no matter what he had said to Master Tirone.
“If you go past the perimeter, Master Capiam, you will not be permitted back.”
“If there is more than one way into the Hold, is there only one past the perimeter?” he asked me flippantly. “I’ll see you later, Lady Nerilka.”
I was relieved to think he was right. I was close enough to the dip in the roadway to see the encampment, and the men and women, well back of the guarded zone, waiting patiently for the food.
“Here now, Master Capiam.” Theng came up, alarmed to see the resolution in the Masterhealer’s stride. “You can’t go in there without staying—”
“I don’t want this medicine heaved about, Theng. Make sure they understand it’s fragile.”
I turned to one side, pretending to ease the weight of the demijohn. Theng knew me well enough to raise a commotion if he recognized me.
“I can do that much for you,” Theng replied. He placed the demijohn to one side of the bales, then yelled down to the waiting men and women. “This is to be handled carefully, and preferably by a healer. Master Capiam says it’s medicine.”
I wanted to tell Capiam that I would see that the medicine was given to the appropriate people, but I dared not get too close to Theng, who was
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