The Son of Thunder

Chapter Seventeen

News of the Acidonian attack was rumbling in the marketplace. Magpie was wandering the inn like a specter. She couldn't get her mind around it. The Son of Thunder nearly killed. The stupid Star Children were twittering like it was idle gossip. Magpie wanted to cry, be alone. She couldn't even hunt alone, not that she could bring herself to hunt that day.

Glenada rushed into the inn waving around a bit of paper. "Answer to a prayer!"

They already knew that the Son of Thunder had recovered from the attack. The war wasn't over and the Star Children weren't going anywhere. The best news that could be had during the phasely announcement was that no one had been killed. So it wasn't an answer to any prayer that Magpie had. Two Star Children besides Annadam and her keepers were sitting with Magpie. She had become a regular bodyguard to the Star Children in the inn.

"The Son of Thunder is taking a wife!"

Again, not an answer to any of Magpie's prayers, but her interest was piqued. She took the paper from her mother's hand. "I didn't know that the Son had bothered with female company."

"Apparently he hasn't," Glenada said.

"Oh," she muttered, pretending she could read the declaration.

"Don't go 'oh' like that."

Glenada had it in her head that the Son would marry one of her girls. Magpie picked out the important words, 'females,' 'Playground,' 'Son of Thunder,' 'wife.' That was enough to understand that females were to be corralled for the Son of Thunder to select his cattle at random. Magpie'd had a higher respect for that man.

"Mana, he will have every female in Thundonia, the Middlelands, all the minor tribes—he'll be inundated. He's not going to pick one of us." The Lovebirds weren't old enough. Canary was almost twelve. Many would object to one as young as she being allowed to put herself forth.

"Still, one should try," Glenada said, lifting Magpie's braid and putting it on the back of her head, testing styles.

Magpie smacked her away. "I have absolutely no interest in being treated like a cow."

"But you're in love with the Son of Thunder!"

"I haven't been in love with him for annae."

Glenada started shaking her head and quaking. "Obstinate child!"

Annadam was looking the paper over keenly. The other two Star Children were peering over her shoulder. Magpie didn't think any of them could read either.

"Does it list restrictions?" Annadam asked.

Glenada was pleased to rattle off all the information she knew. "Any eligible female of marrying age. No restrictions whatever."

"Then I could stand in line," Annadam said. She checked Magpie for approval. "I could do it. Put myself forth as a prospective bride for the Son of Thunder."

Dark shot to his feet. The two Star Children drew back and her keepers shrieked at her.

"What on earth would possess you to do that?" Magpie said.

"It would be good for peace," Annadam said, her back straight, every fiber of her being vibrating sincerity.

"Getting rid of the Acidonians would be good for peace," Magpie said. They should have stormed their castle and killed the lot. Magpie didn't know why they hadn't done it yet.

Annadam had a way of looking at Magpie like she was stupid that made Magpie want to remind her that she was a Star Child and had absolutely no right to call anyone stupid.