Other
Read books online Ā» Other Ā» Tarashana Rachel Neumeier (top 10 motivational books TXT) šŸ“–

Book online Ā«Tarashana Rachel Neumeier (top 10 motivational books TXT) šŸ“–Ā». Author Rachel Neumeier



1 ... 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 ... 211
Go to page:
my eldest brotherā€”or my motherā€”or even my father. This was good.

Lutra inGeiro was not present, though I knew I was not mistaken about her tent. Surprisingly few people were present. Perhaps they had gathered here last night, and meant to gather again later, but for now the large space was not at all crowded. However, Darra inKarano sat on a flat cushion, across from Lalani, withā€”to my surpriseā€”a sestaket board between them. Lalani was teaching Darra to play sestaket. Lalani had hidden her deadly skill with the game behind a friendly smile. Suyet was telling Darra what moves she might make, but although he was not bad at sestaket, Lalani would certainly take all of Darraā€™s pegs if Darra trusted Suyetā€™s advice. Geras, reclining on one elbow, was watching them, smiling indulgently. He had probably made the board and the pegs.

Beside Geras, watching with interest as Suyet explained how to count out the possible outcomes in order to decide which moves might be best, sat Elaro inPorakario, with Raga close beside him. I had hoped my younger brother might be here, but I had not guessed the poet from the east might have come as well. But Darra was here, so of course that was not surprising. I thought I had caught my first reaction quickly enough that no one saw me frown.

I did not see Aras anywhere.

ā€œRyo!ā€ Raga called, jumping up. ā€œWill you join us? This is a game that I think few Ugaro would like, but it is interesting to learn.ā€

ā€œOnly poets and women count fast enough and accurately enough to play sestaket,ā€ I told him, smiling. ā€œI know the game, but I do not play it.ā€ I added to Darra, ā€œNo one who plays Lalani should wager anything important.ā€

ā€œWe are playing for honey cakes,ā€ Lalani told me, smiling. ā€œI like honey cakes the way your people make them, Ryo, but I made enough of them myself last night that I think I can promise I will not win them all.ā€

I greeted my mother respectfully and nodded to Siwa inKera. Then I stole a honey cake from the basket beside Lalani and sat down beside Darra to eat it. Glancing over the board, I warned Darra, ā€œYou have let her take too many of the short pegs. You are thinking of the tall ones as more important, but from what I have seen, I think this is rarely so.ā€

Darra surveyed the board with a dissatisfied air. ā€œI think you could be right, Ryo. Fortunately, I also made many honey cakes last night. We decided we would all use the last of our honey because of the feast tonight.ā€

A feast. This was a good idea. I glanced at my mother, certain she had suggested this. She was speaking to Siwa inKera and watching the sestaket game, pretending not to notice the game with the knives, but she smiled at me.

Darra had sounded far less displeased that I might have expected, but then, sestaket was not a game that mattered to her. I stole another honey cakeā€”from Darraā€™s basket this timeā€”and reclined on the rugs to eat it. ā€œYou made the board and the pegs,ā€ I said to Geras. ā€œBut where did you get the wood?ā€

He nodded toward my mother. ā€œA chest of drawers your mother decided she didnā€™t like, Ryo. Nice inlay, I expect it belonged to some lord first, but the drawers were sticking. The damp cold hereā€™s got to be tough on wood. We got to talking about games, see, and Elaro there, he said sestaket sounded a bit like a game they play in the east, except our versionā€™s got more counting and fewer blood-curdling threats, I guess, so I said Iā€™d make a set if they wanted to try. I did warn ā€™em Lalaniā€™s going to win all their cakes, and everything else they want to wager too. Even with Suyet to help your lot with the counting.ā€

I was smiling. Even Elaroā€™s presence could not irritate me this morning. It helped that the poet was sitting with my younger brother, not beside Darra. ā€œWhere is Aras?ā€ I asked. Wherever he had gone, I was surprised Geras had not gone with him.

But Geras only nodded to the other side of the extended tent. ā€œAsleep. Tough night, I guess.ā€ He lowered his voice. ā€œLots of people arguing all evening, and I figure plenty of ā€™em went on thinking lots of loud thoughts all night. Sometimes sorceryā€™s got to be like people pelting you with rocks. Big rocks, last night, I guess. By dawn everybody had mostly quieted down, at least around here. Just at sunrise, your mother sang a song that seemed, I swear, to work on him just like a lullaby, and off he went.ā€

ā€œThe song to the Dawn Sisters,ā€ I said. ā€œYes. I taught him that song.ā€ Now I saw the shape Aras made, buried amid the furs on that side of the tent. I could very easily imagine the thoughts many people had been thinking last night. I thought Geras was right: many of those thoughts had probably struck him harder than physical blows. I said, ā€œPerhaps everyone will soon become accustomed, as they see my mother does not fear him.ā€

Geras gave me a shrewd look. ā€œYep, pretty sure thatā€™s why heā€™s here. Pretty sure thatā€™s why she arranged a feast for tonight, too.ā€

ā€œThis could be so,ā€ I agreed. She and Darra had probably arranged this between themā€”and Siwaā€”and Lutraā€”and no doubt the women of various other tribes. But I added, ā€œThere are always many feasts during the Convocation. Prosperous tribes wish to demonstrate their generosity, and less prosperous tribes that may be short of stored foods need that generosity. This is a time when the people of tribes that have not been led as wisely may ask to come into a more prosperous tribe.ā€

Tano missed the cowhide target. Worse, the knife he threw did not strike

1 ... 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 ... 211
Go to page:

Free ebook Ā«Tarashana Rachel Neumeier (top 10 motivational books TXT) šŸ“–Ā» - read online now

Comments (0)

There are no comments yet. You can be the first!
Add a comment