Lords and Ladies
Page 47
Page 47
“Shoeing the unicorn,” said Nanny, shaking her head. “Only youd think of shoeing a unicorn, Esme. ”
“Ive been doing it all my life,” said Granny.
Now the unicorn was a speck on the moor land. As they watched, it disappeared into the evening gloom.
Nanny Ogg sighed, and broke whatever spell there was.
“So thats it, then. ”
“Yes. ”
“Are you going to the dance up at the castle?”
“Are you?”
“Well. . . Mr. Casanunda did ask if I could show him the Long Man. You know. Properly. I suppose its him being a dwarf. Theyre very interested in earthworks. ”
“Cant get enough of them,” said Casanunda.
Granny rolled her eyes.
“Act your age, Gytha. ”
“Act? Dont have to act, can do it automatic,” said Nanny. “Acting half my age . . . now thats the difficult trick. Anyway, you didnt answer me. ”
To the surprise of Nanny, and of Ridcully, and possibly even of Granny Weatherwax herself, she slipped her arm around Ridcullys arm.
“Mr. Ridcully and I are going to have a stroll down to the bridge. ”
“We are?” said Ridcully
“Oh, thats nice. ”
"Gytha Ogg, if you keep on looking at me like that I
shall give you a right ding around the ear. "
“Sorry, Esme,” said Nanny.
“Good. ”
“I expect you want to talk about old times,” Nanny volunteered.
“Maybe old times. Maybe other times. ” The unicorn reached the forest, and galloped onward.
The waters of the Lancre gushed below. No one crossed the same water twice, even on a bridge.
Ridcully dropped a pebble. It went plunk.
“It all works out,” said Granny Weatherwax, “somewhere. Your young wizard knows that, he just puts daft words around it. Hed be quite bright, if only hed look at whats in front of him. ”
“He wants to stay here for a while,” said Ridcully
gloomily. He flicked another pebble into the depths. “Seems fascinated by the stones. I cant say no, can I? The kings all for it. He says other kings have always had fools, so hell try having a wise man around, just in case that works better. ”
Granny laughed. “And theres young Diamanda going to be up and about any day now,” she said. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, nothing. Thats the thing about the future. It could turn out to be anything. And everything. ”
She picked up a pebble. It hit the water at the same time as one of Ridcullys own, making a double plunk.
“Do you think,” said Ridcully, "that . . . somewhere . . .
it all went right?"
“Yes. Here!” Granny softened at the sight of his sagging shoulders.
“But there, too,” she said.
“What?”
“I mean that somewhere Mustrum Ridcully married Esmerelda Weatherwax and they lived-” Granny gritted her teeth “-lived happily ever after. More or less. As much as anyone does. ”
“How dyou know?”
“Ive been picking up bits of her memories. She seemed happy enough. And I aint easily pleased. ”
“How can you do that?”
“I try to be good at everything I do. ”
“Did she say anything about-”
“She didnt say nothing! She dont know we exist! Dont ask questions! Its enough to know that everything happens somewhere, isnt it?”
Ridcully tried to grin.
“Is that the best you can tell me?” he said.
“Its the best there is. Or the next best thing. ”
* * *
Where does it end?[45]
On a summer night, with couples going their own ways, and silky purple twilight growing between the trees. From the castle, long after the celebrations had ended, faint laughter and the ringing of little silver bells. And from the empty hillside, only the silence of the elves.
The End