Legacies

by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

  'I just found out they were here. Would you like me to unload the barrels?" Alucius looked to Kyrial.

  'If we each take two," Royalt said, "we can just set them inside the shed and out of the way, and then Alucius and I will take care of them tomorrow."

  'Fine by me," answered Kyrial. "They were done, and I thought I'd spare you a trip." He smiled at Alucius. "Though I'd not be sure that the young man would have minded that."

  Alucius managed not to flush as he lifted one of the larger barrels and carried it into the shed.

  'This time of year, he'll be there sooner or later," Royalt predicted, taking a barrel as well. "There's always something needed."

  'I'd be apologizing for being a trace late," offered Kyrial, "but I was delayed by Gortal. He wanted to order some special barrels."

  'We've all got legacies to bear," Royalt replied. "Herders have to deal with the weather and sandwolves, coopers and merchants with difficult buyers."

  'At least, Gortal's not a Legacy of the Duarches," suggested Clerynda. "Close… but not quite that bad."

  'Might as well be," replied Royalt humorously.

  Alucius nodded, knowing that "Legacy of the Duarches" meant different things to different people, although to herders it referred to something left that was not what it was supposed to be, usually less than good.

  When they finished with the barrels, Royalt looked to his grandson. "Alucius… would you like to show the young woman and her brother to the refreshments? We older folk take longer."

  'Yes, sir." Alucius offered his arm, and Wendra took it.

  'I'll stay with you and mother," announced the boy. "They'll just say—"

  'Korcler…" Clerynda's voice was low and stern.

  'Yes, ma'am," Korcler said very contritely. "But might I?"

  'Yes, you may."

  Alucius kept his smile to himself as he and Wendra moved away from the larger group. "I'm glad you could come." He took a long look into her gold-green eyes.

  'So am I." This time, she did not look away. "I like your vest."

  'Thank you. It was a harvest gift from my grandparents. I like your vest, too."

  'Thank you."

  'Have you finished with Madame Myrier?"

  'Weeks ago. Right after you came to the shop. I've started to keep the ledgers at the shop now. Father checks them, and so does Mother, but I haven't made any errors so far."

  Alucius sensed the pride behind Wendra's words. "You are sitting with me at dinner."

  'You might have asked me." There was a hint of mischief in Wendra's words.

  'I didn't want to give you a choice." Alucius offered an embarrassed grin.

  'What will your family say?" she asked, amusement still coloring her voice.

  'I told them already. We can sit with your family or mine, but together."

  'And which death do you prefer, young herder Alucius—death by sandwolves or sanders?"

  'It won't be that bad," Alucius protested.

  'If you have to sit beside Korcler, it will be."

  'He seems nice enough."

  'Seems' is a good word. He's been warned by Father. That will last but a short while. If… if I have a choice, I would like to sit with your family."

  'If that is your choice, then that's what we'll do. Probably, Mother won't sit down for long. She never does, but my grandparents will." The two went up the main steps onto the porch.

  Vardial gave a broad smile as Alucius escorted Wendra toward the refreshment table.

  Elyra elbowed Vardial and murmured, in a voice Alucius was not meant to hear, "Not a word, or I won't eat with you."

  'That's not fair," Vardial mumbled back, even as he offered a tumbler of the berry punch to Wendra. "Would you like a glass, Alucius?"

  'Yes, please. I could get it."

  'Maybe… after you and Wendra have a few moments, you could…"

  'We'd be happy to," Wendra replied.

  'In a moment," Alucius added. "It's a long ride from town. Let Wendra have a moment to enjoy her punch."

  That moment passed quickly, and before long both Alucius and Wendra had finished their tumblers and were standing behind the table.

  One of the first to arrive was Kyrial. "I see you put her to work immediately, Alucius."

  'She volunteered." Alucius paused. "Ale for you and Madame Clerynda?"

  'Ale for her, punch for me."

  Alucius filled one tumbler with ale, while Wendra filled the other with punch.

  After Kyrial left the table and before anyone else came up, Alucius glanced at Wendra.

  'Father says the ale doesn't serve him well," Wendra replied to the unspoken question. "He never drinks any. He said I'd have to be careful with it when I'm older to see whether I'm like him or like Mother."

  'Wise man, your father," said Royalt, who had eased up to the table. "Takes after his father that way. Pleased to see you here, Wendra. You have your mother's good looks, and from what I hear, your sire's judgment. Don't hesitate to use both on this young fellow."

  Alucius managed not to flush as he refilled Royalt's tumbler.

  'You're much too kind, sir," Wendra replied.

  Royalt laughed, genially. "Kindness isn't an offense I'm often accused of."

  'That's probably because you take care not to show it in public, I'd think."

  Royalt shook his head. "Alucius… you show this lady the greatest of kindness. Were I your age, you'd not see her again." He grinned at Wendra.

  She returned the grin with a cheerful smile. After Royalt had left, she murmured, as Kustyl neared the table, "I think I'll like your grand-sire."

  Alucius hoped so.

  'Are you treating this young fellow right, Wendra?" asked Kustyl.

  'I'd hope I am," she replied with another smile.

  'Good… he deserves it." Kustyl grinned at Alucius. "But then, so does she."

  'I've always thought that," Alucius said.

  As Kustyl walked away with the tumbler of ale that Alucius had refilled, Wendra and Alucius looked at each other. Then they both laughed.

  'Supper's ready. Serving in the kitchen!" called Veryl from the front door.

  'We'll wait and see if people want more to drink with their supper," Alucius said.

  'I thought so. That's the way Grandfather always wanted it, too," Wendra replied.

  'Your parents didn't mind coming?"

  'Late on Novdi, business is slow anyway. No one had been in the shop for a glass or more, and we were already closing when Gortal showed up. Otherwise, we would have been here sooner. Mother was very pleased to be able to come. So was Father—once Gortal left."

  Wendra stopped as Tynan—the son of Veryl's brother and a herder from farther north—neared the table.

  'More ale?" asked Alucius.

  'Please, young fellow. Can't enjoy supper to the fullest without a healthy tumbler of ale."

  He winked at Alucius. "Course, a pretty girl helps, too."

  Alucius couldn't help flushing.

  After Tynan stepped away, Wendra murmured, "You're blushing."

  'You are pretty, and I am enjoying being with you, but everyone is watching us."

  Wendra laughed softly. "What do you expect? Why else would you have a new vest? Why else did Mother insist on new clothes for me? Everyone wants to know if we'll get along."

  Alucius knew he was blushing even more furiously.

  Wendra reached out and squeezed his hand. "It's all right. Don't you think that it's good they care? My cousin Syndra had to marry a butcher in Emal, and she didn't even know him."

  Alucius winced at that.

  'It's not for me, Alucius," Wendra added. "It's for you. All this will be yours one day, and everyone knows it's important that you have the right woman." She smiled. "I'm just lucky to be someone you're interested in."

  'I'm the lucky one," he protested.

  'I hope you always feel that way."

  They both looked up as Korcler marched toward them.

  'Mother said I co
uld have another glass of punch." He looked up at Alucius. "If you please, Alucius?"

  'I'm sure we can manage that, Korcler." Alucius took the proffered tumbler and refilled it.

  'Thank you." Korcler bowed, turned, and headed for the kitchen.

  'He was very polite," Alucius remarked.

  'Father probably threatened him with having to smooth the inside of the barrels."

  'That sounds as bad as sharpening blades on a grindstone."

  'It's worse," W'endra said. "I've done both."

  In time, Alucius and Wendra walked toward the round table for five that had been put in the corner of the main room. Although he and Wendra had been among the very last to serve themselves, there had been more than enough food, and they had piled their plates with not only the spiced mutton rolls and the cheesed lace potatoes, but with the fresh buttered gladbeans and the maize-carrot salad, and the warm current biscuits.

  As Alucius had predicted, even after everyone had been served, the place reserved for his mother was vacant.

  'You both know Wendra," Alucius said to his grandparents as he seated the brunette.

  'We've known about her for years. Kustyl never stopped talking about you, his little granddaughter." Veryl smiled at Wendra. "And now you're a grown woman."

  Wendra returned the smile, shyly. "I'm not sure my brother would agree to that." She managed one bite of the mutton roll after speaking.

  'Brothers never do," Veryl replied, dismissively. "Mine still call me their little sister… and I'm the oldest."

  'Your father says you've a fine head for figures," Royalt suggested.

  'I like working with numbers. Madame Myrier even gave me a book that has some ways to calculate how strong parts of buildings should be. I don't understand it all yet, but I will."

  As he took a mouthful of the potatoes, Alucius nodded approvingly at the determination in Wendra's voice.

  'Lucenda!" called Veryl. "You've done enough. Come here, and sit down and eat."

  Alucius stood and pulled out the chair for his mother.

  'Thank you." Lucenda settled at the table. "It is good to sit down." She turned to Wendra. "I'm glad to see you. Thank you for helping Alucius serve the punch and ale."

  'I enjoyed it, and I'm very glad to be here. It's so beautiful, and everyone is so friendly."

  'Beautiful it is, if in a stark and barren way," Royalt answered. "Not the best place for those who aren't comfortable with themselves."

  'I can see that," Wendra replied. "Grandfather is like that."

  'That's a lovely outfit," Lucenda said.

  'Mother and I made it."

  'Specially for the gathers?" asked Veryl, with a twinkle in her eyes and a lilt in her voice.

  'No—just for this gather," Wendra answered. "The last time I saw

  Alucius, I was working on making flour bags, and what I wore wasn't that much better than the bags."

  Alucius hid a grin at the directness of the pleasant response—and the iron beneath the gentle words.

  Royalt didn't bother to hide his smile. "A young woman who knows her mind and who's pleasantly forthright!"

  'And one who needs to eat," Lucenda said firmly. "Like all of us, she's had a long day, and I imagine she's more than a little hungry."

  'I am," Wendra admitted.

  'Nothing wrong with being hungry after hard work." Royalt nodded to Lucenda. "Good mutton rolls."

  'The lace potatoes are good," Alucius added, wanting to keep the conversation on the food. "I always like them."

  Before all that long, supper was over—even the apple pies and the pear-cream tarts—and people began to gather on the front porch in the twilight. Alucius and Wendra sat on a bench on the north end.

  'I always like it when there's singing," Wendra said.

  'I like to sing, if no one's listening. Sometimes, when I'm working alone, I'll sing, too."

  'You have a good voice, I'd wager."

  Alucius shrugged.

  'Is everyone ready for some singing?" asked Royalt loudly, stepping into the middle of the porch, standing less than a yard from where Lucenda sat on the wooden chair, tuning her gitar.

  'Of course we are," Kustyl called. "We're just sitting here quiet-like to give you a chance to yell at us."

  More than a few laughed.

  Royalt shook his head and nodded at Lucenda.

  Holding the gitar easily, she played several chords, and then launched into a song.

  'Sing a song of silver, sing a song of gold, pocketful of coppers, makes a fellow bold .

  When the song ended, Wendra looked at Alucius. "She sings well." "She always has. Her voice is truly fine." "You like things to be the best, don't you?"

  Alucius was saved from answering that as another round of song swept over the porch.

  'Gone, gone from Westridge, with little to say, the herders we knew have long gone away. Saddled, and booted, and bridled rode they…"

  Alucius tried to suppress a wince at the song, wondering as he did why his mother had allowed that mournful ballad to be sung.

  Wendra leaned closer and whispered directly in his ear, "That bothers you, doesn't it?"

  He nodded.

  She reached down and squeezed his hand.

  The next song was far more cheerful.

  'I rode home one night, as drunk as I could be, and found a white sheep flock where my flock ought to be. I asked my wife, my dear wife, what's this flock a doing here, where my flock ought to be…

  '… I've traveled these valleys a thousand quints or more, but nightsheep without their horns, I ain't never seen before…"

  After several more songs, Alucius looked at Wendra, then glanced toward the rear door into the house. She frowned.

  He leaned forward and whispered over the singing. "I'd just like to take a walk, a few moments alone with you."

  She nodded, then whispered back, "I'll leave first. I'll meet you on the north side of the house."

  Alucius forced himself to sit and sing yet another song after Wendra left. Then, he eased himself off the bench and across the porch and into the house, as the group enthusiastically continued with another raucous favorite.

  'There once was a herder so bold, a herder from Soulend so cold…"

  Wendra was waiting in the shadows of the house. Alucius took her hands for a moment, then offered his arm, and they began to walk westward, away from the voices and their songs. The cool wind had died into a calm that made the evening seem warmer than it was, and the faint sweet scent of blooming quarasote filled the air.

  'I am glad you came." He looked at her, taking in her face, before their eyes met, and they stopped walking.

  'It's hard, isn't it?"

  'Hard?"

  'Trying to say what you feel, when…"

  Alucius nodded, sensing both her feeling of wanting to be close to him, and not wanting to be. At least, that was what he thought she felt, but it wasn't anything like with the nightsheep—or even his family. "Feelings aren't the same as words, and when you try to say what you feel, the words aren't right, or they sound too simple… or too cold."

  'You are sweet, Alucius. Promise me… promise me you won't lose that."

  'How could I be anything but what I am?"

  'I don't know, but people change." She looked at him for a long moment. "I like you the way you are. Please promise me."

  'I promise."

  She reached out and squeezed his hand. "Thank you."

  They stood silently.

  'Look, Alucius." Wendra pointed.

  Alucius turned and followed her gesture. There, in the eastern purpled evening sky, Selena shone above the long rise that was Westridge. Beside the larger pearly-lighted moon was a single brilliant star.

  'Isn't it just beautiful?"

  'It is beautiful." Alucius thought Wendra was even more beautiful.

  Behind them, Alucius could hear that the singing had stopped. Various voices echoed into the darkening night.

  'I can hear Father roundi
ng up Korcler. He'll be calling for me," Wendra said softly.

  Alucius put his hands on her waist and looked into her eyes once more. "I'm so glad you came. It's been a wonderful day."

  'The best day of harvest." She parted her lips slightly.

  He drew her into an embrace, then kissed her, gently, barely touching her lips.

  For just a moment, her arms tightened around him, and the kiss was no longer gentle. Then, she turned her head, so that they were cheek to cheek, and she whispered, "I wish we had more time."

  'So do I."

  They kissed once more, fumblingly and desperately, before Wendra eased away.

  'We need to go back. I can hear Father calling."

  So had Alucius, but he had not wanted to say anything. He caught his breath, and then offered his arm. They walked slowly southward, back toward the house, the gather crowd, and the uncertain future.

  In some ways, Alucius had thought things would change after the gather. Yet nothing substantial did change. He still got up before dawn and did the exercises his grandfather prescribed, and went through all the drills, and practiced with the throwing knives, sparred against Royalt with the shortsword, and grappled with the older man as well. He no longer had nearly so many bruises, and Royalt often was breathing hard when they finished. But the sessions got longer, rather than shorter, and that meant that the days were also longer.

  It was the end of another too-long day, one threatening rain, when he and his grandfather guided the flock back down the western side of Westridge and toward the stead. For all of the enjoyment he'd had at the gather, even after two weeks had passed, it seemed like it had been a season, if not longer.

  A mist drifted from the low clouds that were darkening more than from the twilight. The drizzling mist foreshadowed the fall—just damp and cold enough to make riding and herding uncomfortable, but without enough real moisture to improve the forage or encourage more shoots on the quarasote bushes.

  'This could last," Alucius said.

  'It's the kind that does." Royalt glanced toward the stead and the lane beyond the buildings. "There's someone riding down the lane from the main road. Looks to be Kustyl. Wonder why he's here. Best go see." He looked to Alucius. "You can bring 'em in."

  While Royalt rode toward the other herder, Alucius guided the flock toward the shed for the night. The two were still talking when Alucius finished closing up the shed, and continued even after Alucius had stabled and groomed the gray he had ridden. So he walked toward the house, knowing that Royalt preferred his talks with Kustyl not to be interrupted—or intruded upon.