"Rula. Make some broth. He'll need lots of it. I'm going to the barn. I'll get something for the pain. Steban. Wash your hands."
The boy was staring at his father's blood on his fingers.
A gust of wind stirred fire and door covering. The wind was cold. Then an avalanche of rain fell.
A more solid sound counterpointed the patter of raindrops.
"Hailstones," Rula said.
"I have to get my horse inside. What about the sheep?"
"Steban will take care of them. Steban?"
Thunder rolled across the Zemstvi. Lightning scarred the night. The sheep bleated.
"Steban! Please! Before they panic."
"Another lesson, Steban." Tain guided the boy out the door. "You've got to go on, no matter what."
The rain was cold and hard. It fell in huge drops. The hailstones stung, The thunder and lightning picked up. The wind had claws of ice. It tore at gaps in Tain's clothing. He guided the roan into the rude barn. The gelding's presence calmed the mule and cow. Tain rifled his packs by lightning flashes.
Steban drove the sheep into the barn too. They would be crowded, but sheltered.
Tain went to help.
He saw the rider in the flashes, coming closer in sudden jerks. The man lay against his mount's neck, hiding from the wind. His destination could be nowhere but the stead.
Tain told Steban. "Take this package to your mother. Tell her to wait till I come in."
Steban scampered off.
Tain backed into the lee of the barn. He waited.
The rider passed the spring. "Torfin. Here."
The paint changed direction. The youth swung down beside Tain. "Oh, what a night. What're you doing out in it, friend?"
"Getting the sheep inside."
"All right for a Caydarman to come in out of it?"
"You picked the wrong time, Torfin. But come on. Crowd the horse inside."
Lightning flashed. Thunder rolled. The youth eyed Tain. The ex-soldier still wore his shortsword.
"What happened?"
"You haven't been to the Tower?"
"Not for a couple days."
"Torfin, tell me. Why do you hang around here? How come you're always watching Steban graze sheep?"
"Uh... . The Klecklas deserve better."
Tain helped with the saddle. "Better than what?"
"I see. They haven't told you. But they'd hide their shame, wouldn't they?"
"I don't understand."
"The one they call the Witch. She's their daughter Shirl."
"Lords of Darkness!"
"That's why they have no friends."
"But you don't blame them?"
"When the Children of Hell curse someone with the Power, is that a parent's fault? No. I don't blame them. Not for that. For letting her become a petulant, spoiled little thief, yes. I do. The Power-cursed choose the right or left hand path according to personality. Not so?"
"It's debatable. They let me think she was dead."
"They pretend that. It's been a little over a year since she cast her spell on the Baron. She thought he'd take her to Iwa Skolovda and make her a great lady. But she doesn't understand politics. The Baron can't go back. And now she can't come home. Now she's trying to buy a future by stealing."
"How old are you, Torfin?"
"Nineteen, I think. Too old."
"You sound older. I think I like you."
"I'm a Caydarman by chance, not inclination."
"I think you've had pain from this too."
A wan smile crossed Torfin's lips. "You make me wonder. Do you read minds? What are you, carrying such a sword?" When Tain didn't respond, he continued bitterly. "Yes, there's pain in it for Torfin Hakesson. I was in love with Shirl. She used me. To get her into the Tower."
"That's sad. We'd better go in. Be careful. They're not going to be glad to see you. Caydarmen burned the Kosku place. One of his girls was killed."
"Damn! But it was bound to happen, wasn't it?"
"Yes. And that was just the beginning. Kosku went after Olag and Grimnir. He was killed too."
"Which one did it?"
"Too late. Olag, but he's dead too. He killed Mikla and wounded Toma first, though."
"Help me with the saddle. I can't stay."
"Stay. Maybe together we can stop the bloodshed here."
"I can't face them. They already hate me. Because of Shirl."
"Stay. Tomorrow we'll go to the Tower. We'll see the Baron himself. He can stop it."
"Mikla lived with Stojan's daughter. The old man will want to avenge him."
"All the more reason to stop it here."
Torfin thought again. "All right. You didn't cut me down. Maybe you have a man's heart."
Tain smiled. "I'll guard your back, Trolledyngjan."
XV
Rula and Toma were talking in low, sad tones. Tain pushed through the doorway. Silence descended.
Such hatred! "Torfin will stay the night. We're going to the Tower in the morning. To talk to the Baron." Tain glared, daring opposition.
Toma struggled up. "Not in my house."
"Lie down, damn it. Your pride and fear have caused enough trouble."
Toma said nothing. Rula tensed as if to spring.
"Tain!" Steban whined.
"Torfin has said some hard things about himself. He's almost too eager to take his share of responsibility. He's willing to try to straighten things out.
"In no land I know does a father let his daughter run away and just cry woe. A man is responsible for his children, Toma. You could have gone after her. But it's easier to play like she's dead, and the Witch of the Tower has nothing to do with you. You sit here hating the Baron and refuse to admit your own part in creating the situation...."
He stopped. He had slipped into his drillmaster's voice. Pointless. Recruits had to listen, to respond, to correct. These westerners had no tradition of personal responsibility. They were roundeyes.
They blamed their misfortunes on external forces....
Hadn't Toma blamed Mikla? Didn't Rula accuse Toma?
"That's all. I can't do any good shouting. Torfin is spending the night. Rula. Steban gave you a package."
She nodded. She refused to speak.
"Thank you."
For an instant he feared she hadn't understood. But the packet came with a murmured, "It's all right. I'll control my feelings."
"Is the broth ready?" He felt compelled to convince Rula.
She ladled a wooden bowl full. "Tain."
"Uhm."
"Don't expect me to stop feeling."
"I don't. I feel too. Too much. I killed a man today. A man I didn't know, for no better reason than because I responded to feelings. I don't like that, Rula."
She looked down, understanding.
Steban chimed, "But you were a soldier...."
"Steban, a soldier is supposed to keep the peace, not start wars." The almost-lie tasted bitter.
The Dread Empire interpreted that credo rather obliquely. Yet Tain had believed he was living it while marching to conquest after conquest. Only when Shinsan turned upon itself did he question his commanders.
"Tain... ." There was a life's worth of pain in Steban's voice.
"People are going to get killed if we don't stop it, Steban." Tain tapped herbs into Toma's broth.