The crowd turned upon itself. They had a system, though I could never understand it, by which they could locate and account for the tribesmen when called upon. Now on Mancha’s asking, the rustle and movement began, hesitated, and grew rapidly into a deep excited hum of resentment as the word passed from group to group that Ravenutzi was not among them.
X
THE LEDGE
Between the morning and the dead hours of night I was awakened in the hut, feeling Evarra’s hands go over me lightly as squirrels’ as she gathered up her belongings.
“What are you doing, Evarra?”
“Making ready.”
“For what?”
“Child, the Ward is stolen and the Far-Folk have taken the King’s Desire, and you ask me that!”
“What is that sound I hear, Evarra, like a wounded creature?”
“It is the mother of the Ward.”
“It hurts to hear it; may I go to her?”