Shadowkill

##

Pirs came in. He waved Tinoopa away, settled on the stool beside the bed and drew his fingertips along Allina’s bare arm. Kizra continued to play quietly though her fingers shook with the impact of what lay under that gentle restrained gesture.

After a minute Allina caught his hand, sniffed at it. She didn’t say anything, just looked at him.

“Raid on the South Pasture,” he said. “Not Brushies. Tumaks. A dozen of them. It got hot there for a while, but we drove them off. Karr and Ritmin were hurt, flesh wounds, nothing to worry about. We chased the ones left alive past the boundmarks, they had a rover hidden away, got to it before we could get close enough. We let, it go, no chance of catching up with them on horses. Too much chance of ambush.”

“So close to the house. How they dare… Damage?”

“Slaughtered a herd of woollies, tried to fire the brush, but it’s not dry enough yet. Karr thinks they’re townbred, their landcraft was more notable by its absence.”

“Fire.”

“Yes. That was a mistake. I saw a Brushie watching and a pair of l’borrghas. I don’t think we’ll have more trouble with fires, Lina aklina. I don’t think the tumaks will have time to strike a match if they try it again. Just to make sure, though, I’m going into the Brush tomorrow for a limalima with Chul-Gop.”

“It’s not necessary.”

“I think it is, Mi-matja. You know Chul-Gop, he won’t lose his head.”

“If he kills you…”

“He hasn’t before, Lina mi’klien.”

“Tell no one. I’m not worried about the Brushies. Well, not much. It’s your kin that… brother Mingas drools in his beard when he thinks of this Kuyyot. And Rintirry…” She caught his hand, held tight to it. “I’d burn the Kuysstead and kill myself before I let Rintirry lay one finger on it or me.”

In their corner, the two girls had gone very quiet. Aghilo crossed her arms and hugged herself, her face blank.

Tinoopa stood in a shadowy corner, brooding over this new turn.

Kizra kept playing the same song over and over, the sound like water flowing, unobtrusive, gentling.

Pirs stood. “It’s time you slept, Mi-matja. Aghilo, cousin, take the girls and… wait. Come here, Ingva, Yla.” When they were standing before him, he touched each head, lightly, a small caress. “Say nothing of what you heard tonight, you hear, my lirrilirris?”

Yla blinked. “Not even to the Jili Arluja, Papay?”

“Particularly not to the Jili Arluja. Even if she asks, hmm? It’s for her protection, Yla-lirri, what she doesn’t know she can’t be expected to tell.”

“I won’t, Papay… I won’t tell anyone.”

“Ingva.”

The girl looked fierce. “I won’t, Papay; it’s none of their business.” She stroked her hand along his arm, took his hand. “You will see us soon’s you come back, huh, Pa-pay?”

He laughed, tapped her on the nose. “The very minute. Now go get your baths and go to bed.”

“Papay?”

“Ingva?”

“Take me with you. I won’t keep you back, I ride better than Wurro even, I do. You talk to the old ’uns, I’ll talk to the young ’uns. Babeyla and Tink and the rest. They’re as good as the old ’uns at looking out for strangers.”

“Not this time, lirri. It’s a good idea, but now’s not the time. I tell you what. We’ll do it in a week or so, when I see how things are going to jump. All right?”

Ingva gave a brisk quick nod, then took her sister’s hand and went out.

Tinoopa curtsied, said, “Arring Pirs, be sure we shan’t speak of this even to each other.” She hauled Kizra to her feet and hustled her out.