Zypheria's Call (A Tanyth Fairport Adventure) by Nathan Lowell Page B

but...” she shrugged. “Ya never really know what’s gonna happen ’til it does, now do ya?”
    Amber said, “And there’s always Frank. You’d be hard pressed to find a better man to fill your wood box.” Her eyes twinkled over a sly smile.
    Sadie giggled and scrubbed a bit of butter across the tops of her fresh loaves.
    “Oh, you two and your wood box fillin’,” Tanyth said, her own laugh escaping in spite of herself. “I’m more interested in what Rebecca’s up to and I’d feel a lot better knowing what she’s planning before we have to get on the road.”
    Amber glanced at Sadie who gave a small shrug in return.
    “You two know what she’s plannin’?”
    “She asked us not to tell, mum,” Sadie said.
    Amber added, “You’ll see soon enough, and you’ll have plenty of time on the way to Kleesport to fix anything that’s wrong.”
    Tanyth looked back and forth between the two for several long moments. “Long’s she’s not planning on haulin’ any more than she can carry.”
    “Well, I don’t know about that, mum,” Amber said. “She’s packed up her goods and will be droppin’ off a couple of trunks full when she gets to Kleesport.”
    “Frank already left room for ’em on the lorry wagon,” Sadie said.
    “Does she have a bedroll and a backpack?” Tanyth asked.
    “Yes’m. William and Thomas gave her one out of stores, along with travelin’ gear. She and Thomas been practicin’ for the last week and if Thomas says so, she’s set,” Sadie said and Amber winced.
    “Practicin’?” Tanyth asked, eyeing Amber with a raised eyebrow.
    “Oh, you know, mum. Lightin’ fires, layin’ out a bedroll, cookin’ without a hearth. Like that,” Amber said.
    “Uh, huh.” Tanyth wasn’t convinced but judging from the narrow-eyed glances the women shot back and forth, she wasn’t about to find out from them. The uncertainly made her uneasy.
    “What about you, mum? Are you ready?” Sadie asked. “You figured out how to put on a pack around that sling?”
    Tanyth grunted. “Won’t be pretty, but we can do it. Just have to put the sling over my head, put on the pack and then put the arm in the sling after that.”
    “And your coat?” Sadie asked with a wry grin.
    “That’s a bit more trouble, but it has to go on over all of it.” Tanyth sighed. “I’m just hopin’ I’ll have this cast off by the time I need to wear the coat and carry the pack.”
    “Got supplies and all?” Amber asked, following Sadie’s lead in trying to change the subject.
    “Oatmeal, tea, a bit of cheese. I’ll stock up in North Haven before we leave there. Not much sense in carryin’ food all that way.” She nodded at a crate tucked in the corner of the kitchen. “Frank’s got enough food in there to feed half the village, I think. More’n enough for the three of us to get to Kleesport.”
    Amber snorted. “And back most likely.”
    They heard the sound of boot heels in the common room and Amber frowned. “I didn’t hear anybody come in.”
    Just as she turned to investigate, the connecting door swung open. A youth slipped through and froze, mouth poised to speak. Tanyth had just time enough to register the homespun trousers and deer hide vest before she recognized the face staring out at her.
    “Rebecca?” Tanyth said.
    “Well, that kinda spoils the surprise,” Sadie said.
    “Oh, mum. I figured you’d be in your hut packin’.” Rebecca sighed and let the door close behind her. “You’d have seen at dinner anyway, but we were gonna surprise ya.”
    “Well, I’m surprised right enough,” Tanyth said with a short laugh. “What’ve you done?”
    Rebecca stood with her arms out from her sides and gave a shuffling turn. “Got the clothes from the quarrymen. Mostly they’re Kurt’s stuff that the others couldn’t use. Got a spare pair of pants and a couple of shirts.”
    “You cut your hair?” Tanyth felt a pang of guilt for the woman’s sacrifice. “You had such a lovely