The Son of Thunder

Chapter Thirteen

Annadam was the only Star Child eager to help. Most of them hung about the lobby and prayed. Some helped cook, but they didn't mingle. Most looked down on Annadam for embracing the Thundonian ways. Magpie was glad for the assistance. She complained about chores, but Glenada was overwhelmed. Magpie had no choice.

Guards were toting buckets of cement around the perimeter of Thundonia. Magpie didn't know if someone had reported an opening in the wall or if it was now a routine duty to check for hidden passages.

Annadam toted the sheets to the washing square and Magpie carried the soaps, brushes and washboards. Those were too heavy for Annadam. Magpie couldn't get the cart that day because Hawk needed it to carry vegetables home from market. He'd learned the value of meats. He could sell it as well as Magpie could. And washing was women's work, so Magpie got assigned to it. She would have fought, but Annadam preferred washing to following her around the marketplace while she bargained the price of her cuts.

Some days they would talk of Valley of the Star and Rasha.

"If he's not dead, where is he?"

Annadam swore he was being held captive by Wolfdrums or some other tribe.

Wolfdrums wouldn't have let him live, but Magpie let Annadam have her dream.

Some days they moaned of the war and how congested Thundonia was.

"It wouldn't be so bad here if it wasn't so crowded," Annadam had said once. Which was very liberal, considering how many Thundonians accosted her.

Today they washed in silence, periodically looking up at one another and enjoying the presence of the other.

* * * * *

Eternity and Shawna walked about Thundonia in the marketplace. Most stands were for food, clothing or weapons. Everywhere vendors called out their wares. "Fresh fish," one man said. A woman was yelling, "Rutabaga, broccoli, spinach!" One man was selling ice. Ice was expensive and the man must have lost much money selling in Thundonia. It melted too fast and the nearest ice was in the Northern Mountains.

Eternity loved chocolates and she was taking meat with her meals, though she wouldn't admit that she enjoyed it.

"Lightening and Rhysya are tolerating each other better lately," Eternity muttered through tight lips. She picked up an apple and rubbed it against her robe. Shawna gave the peddler a dira. He went to his cash box to make change, but Shawna cast her eyes down.

The man nodded to her. "Thank you, Shawna. Thank you." The man gazed at the dira once more before depositing it in his cash box.

To Eternity, Shawna said, "It's been sometime since either of them has used the word 'dunce'."

"I'm glad. The two couldn't hold a conversation without using it the first two moons."

Shawna looked off at another stand, one selling necklaces, bracelets and other baubles. Such a stand was rare. So few people wore jewelry in Thundonia. It wasn't practical to have petty adornments. Shawna couldn't identify most of the clans standing before the merchant.

"Shawna," Eternity said beguilingly, "do you know what they meant when they said 'dunce'?"

"No. I never will."

Eternity smiled unperturbed. "You must be glad they're not arguing as much."

"It's more peaceful. I have enough headaches without them."

Eternity sat on a stool and ate her apple. "What if the two made peace in the future?"

"I'd never let that happen. And neither would you."