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and bread, along with a complete haunch of mutton for the grudgingly grateful
Ahlitah. When Ehomba protested at this largesse, the sheepherder only smiled.
I have plenty of food. It must be something in these mountains. The air, or
the water, or the forage, but my sheep do better than anyone else s. They grow
fatter, and produce thicker wool, and drop more lambs.
You are fortunate, Ehomba told him even as he glanced in the direction of a
certain dog. But Roileé
did not react, busy gnawing methodically on a scrungy femur.
You ll hit Bebrol first, Coubert was telling them. On the other side of the
table, Simna was devouring all that was set before him. It is the
southernmost town in the Dukedom of Tethspraih. A small province, but a proud
one. North of Tethspraih lies Phan, an altogether more wealthy and
cosmopolitan sort of place. You three will stand out in Tethspraih, but not so
much in Phan and the larger kingdoms. If you want to make time you should keep
to yourselves as much as possible.
We always do. His mouth full of mutton, the swordsman had difficulty
speaking.
How far from Phan to Hamacassar? Ehomba ate delicately but steadily.
Coubert sat back in his chair, fork in one hand, and pondered, his lower lip
pushing out past the upper edge of his beard. Hard for me to say. I ve never
been that far north. Never even met anyone who has.
His smile returned. You ll be able to get more accurate information in Phan.
More tea?
No, no thank you. Simna wiped at his greasy lips with the back of his
forearm. Your fount of generosity filled me with enough liquid last night.
Now I need to fill my gut with solid stuff to sop it up. He punctuated his
confession by shoving a sizable chunk of brown bread into his mouth.
At least let me top off your supplies. I don t know what resources you have.
Food muffled Simna s grunted response. Hoy! Spent most of our resources, we
have.
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Into the Thinking Kingdoms: Journeys of the Catechist, Book 2
You have been too kind to us already, Ehomba told him, ignoring the
swordsman s bugging eyes and frantic semaphoring.
Please allow me to help. It s my pleasure. I have so much, and your journey
is of noble intent. Pushing back his chair, he placed his linen napkin on the
table and rose. Besides, Roileé seems to like you, and over the years I ve
come to trust her judgment. Strange how sometimes a dog can be more perceptive
than a person.
Passing strange, agreed Ehomba. From her place prone on the floor, the witch
dog winked at him. No one else saw it, as was intended.
They departed the cottage with their packs stuffed full of jerked mutton and
their water bags filled to overflowing. Though Coubert offered to supply one,
Ahlitah refused to wear a pack. It was enough, he growled, that he was
compelled to suffer the company of men. To expect him to adopt, however
temporarily, their constricting accoutrements was too much. He would remain
free physically if not otherwise.
Coubert stood in the doorway of his home and waved until they passed out of
sight. His dog sat at his feet, saluting their departure with several joyful
yips and barks.
Nice dog, that one, Simna was moved to comment as he hitched his heavy pack
higher on his shoulders. Getting on in years, but still good company.
More than you know. As always, Ehomba s gaze was focused forward, scanning
the lay of the land ahead of them. She was a witch.
Hoy? By Gyerboh, I never would have guessed! The swordsman looked back the
way they had come, but the little cottage had already disappeared from view,
swallowed up by rolling boulders and brush and the gentle incline they were
now descending. How could you tell?
She told me. And showed me some things. In a dream.
Ahlitah looked around sharply. So that was not a dream within a dream.
Thought it might have been you there with me, but couldn t be sure. The big
cat shook its head and the great black mane flowed and rippled. Don t
remember much of it. What were you doing in my dream, man?
I thought you were in mine. Not that it matters.
Simna s bewilderment underlined his words. What the Ghoska are you two
babbling about?
Nothing. Nothing real. Ehomba stepped over a wandering rivulet, doing his
best to avoid crushing the
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Into the Thinking Kingdoms: Journeys of the Catechist, Book 2
tiny flowers that fought for life on its far side. It is all gone, like
smoke.
The swordsman snorted derisively, a common reaction when Ehomba or the cat
spoke of things he did not understand. After a while he exclaimed, So she was
a witch, was she? I ve known bitches who thought they were witches, but this
is the first one who fully qualifies on both counts.
She was righteous, and helpful. The herdsman did not tell his friend that
Roileé had recapitulated the virulent prediction that had first been read to
him in distant Kora Keri.
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