RoseIII sang. He draped a strand of pinecone scales over and under the rope, securing it. Byrne swept along the back of his neck and under his coat.
“We ask a blessing upon the work of our hands and grant us grace, kindness, and mercy,” Yewsy whispered, offering two walnut halves. Brennen moved to lock himself around her waist as a type of belt.
Memo took a leather bracelet from her wrist and affixed it to the rope. “Bestow upon us abundant kindness and return our Avapeony to us.” She took Higen into her hands and moved back.
Talew and Saffron approached together. Saffron was humming the Lares into awareness as she placed an unpolished diamond atop the rock pile. “Help us reach our destination and return in joy,” she whispered.
I hummed along with her to make sure the Lares saw our offerings as Talew bowed and laid a tiny secret bundle, wrapped and tied in cloth, against the rocks. He whispered words that were snatched away by the wind as he said them. Finner, his fammie, crept up the sleeve of his tunic, making a lump at Talew’s shoulder.
“Hearken to the voice of our prayer, Guardians, for you hear the prayers of all. Guide us with your blessings, for the good of all,” I said.
I pulled two acorn tops from my bag and filled them with a few drops of blessed energy oil. I placed them where the wooden panels of the bridge met the earth and stone. I knew we would step across them there and they would energize our path even as the Lares received the gift.
We stood in silent blessing for another moment, Afton’s cloudy warmth pressing against my stomach under my tunic, and then RoseIII stepped onto the bridge. He held out one hand and Capel grasped it. Next Lemon and Saffron stepped onto the bridge, hands clasped.
“Levitate and allow your fammies to help,” I reminded them all as I helped Talew guide the Neisi onto the boards. I looked at the rushing water far below. “Talew, Lemon, if it falls, don’t try to catch it. The Neisi live in the river and the fall won’t hurt it.”
Talew nodded but held the Neisi’s arm even as he made the sign for levitation with his free hand.
“Come, wits,” I said, taking the hands of Memo and of Yewsy. “Avapeony awaits.”
We stepped onto the swaying bridge.
Book Twelve
THE VIEW FROM the center of the long bridge was breathtaking. We could see all the way to Lake Feidlimed to the southwest and past the southern greens toward our own little forest hamlet to the east. I paused for a quick look only, for sister wind was devastating as she rocked the bridge and almost sent us tumbling. Levitation magic kept us secure, however, and we crossed without incident.
At the end of the bridge, we turned back toward the riverbank so we could release the Neisi. Before we could reach the water, however, we were quickly surrounded by the local clan of Gobbyes. They appeared suddenly from the brush and boulders along the descent from the bridge. I immediately recognized the same cave Gobbye that I had encountered before. Lemon, Saffron and Capel squeaked and ran behind me. Surely their first sight of a Gobbye must have been frightening for them.
“Ahh, you again,” I said, standing tall.
“Yes, me again,” he responded then sighed in a deep, wheezing breath. “We require a token of good faith before we allow you to cross into Gobbye land.”
“It’s but a short way across, a narrow stretch of your land,” RoseIII interjected. “Less than a leg to get to the other side and onto Brinc land.”
I laid one hand on his arm to try to calm him. “Gobbye, there is no need for this. We mean no harm to you or your clan.”
He scratched at his beard with one grimy hand. “There are many layers of harm,” he said quietly. “Give us the water sprite and you can pass.”
I frowned. “The water sprite? Why do you want such a creature?”
He moved to one side so he could see the Neisi better. “We like this one. It’s not like the others, full of
“We ask a blessing upon the work of our hands and grant us grace, kindness, and mercy,” Yewsy whispered, offering two walnut halves. Brennen moved to lock himself around her waist as a type of belt.
Memo took a leather bracelet from her wrist and affixed it to the rope. “Bestow upon us abundant kindness and return our Avapeony to us.” She took Higen into her hands and moved back.
Talew and Saffron approached together. Saffron was humming the Lares into awareness as she placed an unpolished diamond atop the rock pile. “Help us reach our destination and return in joy,” she whispered.
I hummed along with her to make sure the Lares saw our offerings as Talew bowed and laid a tiny secret bundle, wrapped and tied in cloth, against the rocks. He whispered words that were snatched away by the wind as he said them. Finner, his fammie, crept up the sleeve of his tunic, making a lump at Talew’s shoulder.
“Hearken to the voice of our prayer, Guardians, for you hear the prayers of all. Guide us with your blessings, for the good of all,” I said.
I pulled two acorn tops from my bag and filled them with a few drops of blessed energy oil. I placed them where the wooden panels of the bridge met the earth and stone. I knew we would step across them there and they would energize our path even as the Lares received the gift.
We stood in silent blessing for another moment, Afton’s cloudy warmth pressing against my stomach under my tunic, and then RoseIII stepped onto the bridge. He held out one hand and Capel grasped it. Next Lemon and Saffron stepped onto the bridge, hands clasped.
“Levitate and allow your fammies to help,” I reminded them all as I helped Talew guide the Neisi onto the boards. I looked at the rushing water far below. “Talew, Lemon, if it falls, don’t try to catch it. The Neisi live in the river and the fall won’t hurt it.”
Talew nodded but held the Neisi’s arm even as he made the sign for levitation with his free hand.
“Come, wits,” I said, taking the hands of Memo and of Yewsy. “Avapeony awaits.”
We stepped onto the swaying bridge.
Book Twelve
THE VIEW FROM the center of the long bridge was breathtaking. We could see all the way to Lake Feidlimed to the southwest and past the southern greens toward our own little forest hamlet to the east. I paused for a quick look only, for sister wind was devastating as she rocked the bridge and almost sent us tumbling. Levitation magic kept us secure, however, and we crossed without incident.
At the end of the bridge, we turned back toward the riverbank so we could release the Neisi. Before we could reach the water, however, we were quickly surrounded by the local clan of Gobbyes. They appeared suddenly from the brush and boulders along the descent from the bridge. I immediately recognized the same cave Gobbye that I had encountered before. Lemon, Saffron and Capel squeaked and ran behind me. Surely their first sight of a Gobbye must have been frightening for them.
“Ahh, you again,” I said, standing tall.
“Yes, me again,” he responded then sighed in a deep, wheezing breath. “We require a token of good faith before we allow you to cross into Gobbye land.”
“It’s but a short way across, a narrow stretch of your land,” RoseIII interjected. “Less than a leg to get to the other side and onto Brinc land.”
I laid one hand on his arm to try to calm him. “Gobbye, there is no need for this. We mean no harm to you or your clan.”
He scratched at his beard with one grimy hand. “There are many layers of harm,” he said quietly. “Give us the water sprite and you can pass.”
I frowned. “The water sprite? Why do you want such a creature?”
He moved to one side so he could see the Neisi better. “We like this one. It’s not like the others, full of
Similar Books
