Ginger set her a chair by Fawn"s bench, and Nattie laid out the cloth in which she"d wrapped the braided cords; she"d just delivered Dag"s to him, together with the other, surprise present.

"Did he like his wedding shirt?" Fawn asked, a bit wistful because she couldn"t very well ask Nattie How did it look on him How did it look on him?

"Oh, yes, lovie, he was very pleased. I"d say, even moved. He said he"d never had anything so fine in his life, and was in a wonder that we got it together so quick and secret. Though he said he was relieved for the explanation of you girls with your measurin" strings yesterday, which had evidently been worryin" him a bit." She unrolled the wrap; the dark cord lay coiled in her lap, the gold beads firm and rich-looking upon the ends.

"Where is he wearing his cord? Where should I wear mine?"

"He says folks mostly wear them on the left wrist if they"re right-handed. T"other way around if not, naturally. He"s put his around his left arm above the harness, for now. He says when the time comes for the binding, he can sit down and you can stand facing him, left side to left side, and I should be able to do the tyin" between you without too much trouble."

"All right," said Fawn doubtfully, trying to picture this. She stuck out her left arm and let Nattie wrap the cord several times around her wrist like a bracelet, tying the ends in a bow knot for now. The beads dangled prettily, and she twisted her hand to make them bounce on her skin. A little of her most secret self was in it, Dag said, bound in with her blood; she had to take his word.

Then it was time to get her dress on, the good green cotton, washed and carefully ironed for this; her other good dress being warm wool for winter. That Dag would remember this dress from that night in Gla.s.sforge when he had so gently and urgently removed it, unwrapping her like a gift, must be a secret between them; but she hoped he would find it a heartening sight.

Ginger and Filly together lowered the fabric carefully over her head so as not to muss her hair or crush the lilies.

A knock sounded at the door, from someone who did not wait for permission to enter; Whit, who looked at Fawn and blinked. He opened his mouth as if to fire off one of his usual quip-insults, then appeared to think better of it and just smiled uneasily.

"Dag says, what about the weapons?" he recited, revealing himself as a messenger sent. "He seems to want to put them all on. He means, all all of them, at once. He says it"s to show off what a patroller is bringing to his bride"s tent. Fletch says, no one wears weapons to a wedding, it just ain"t done. Papa says, he don"t know what should be done. So Dag says, ask Spark, and he"ll abide." of them, at once. He says it"s to show off what a patroller is bringing to his bride"s tent. Fletch says, no one wears weapons to a wedding, it just ain"t done. Papa says, he don"t know what should be done. So Dag says, ask Spark, and he"ll abide."

Fawn started to answer Yes, it's his wedding too, he should have some of his own customs Yes, it's his wedding too, he should have some of his own customs, then instead said more cautiously, "Just how many weapons are we talking about, here?"

"Well, there"s that great pigsticker that he calls his war knife, for starters. Then there"s one he slips down in his boot, and another he straps on his thigh sometimes, evidently. What he wants with three knives when he only has one hand, I don"t know. Then there"s that funny bow of his, and the quiver of arrows, which also has some little knives stuck in it. He seemed a bit put out that he didn"t have a sword by him-seems there"s one he inherited from his pa back at his camp, and some ash spear or another for fighting from horseback, which he also doesn"t have here. Fortunately."

Ginger and Filly listened to this lengthening catalog with their faces s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g up.

Whit, nodding silent agreement at them, finished, "You"d think the man would clank when he walked. You wouldn"t want a patroller to fall into water over his head on his way to his wedding, I"ll say." His own brows rose in gruesome enthusiasm. "You suppose he"s killed anybody with that a.r.s.enal? "Spect he must have, sometime or another. That"s a right sobering collection of scars he has, I saw when we were down washing up. Though I suppose he"s had a long time to acc.u.mulate "em." He added after another contemplative moment, "Do you think he"s getting nervous "bout the wedding? He don"t hardly show it, but with him, how would you tell?"

With Whit as a helper, it was a wonder Dag wasn"t frenzied by now, Fawn thought tartly.

"Tell him"-Fawn"s tongue hovered between yes yes and and no, no, remembering just what all she remembering just what all she had had seen Dag kill with those weapons-"tell him just the war knife." In case it seen Dag kill with those weapons-"tell him just the war knife." In case it was was nerves and the weapons a consolation. "Tell him it can nerves and the weapons a consolation. "Tell him it can stand for stand for the rest of them, all right? We"ll know." the rest of them, all right? We"ll know."

"All right." Whit did not take himself off at once, but stood scratching his head.

"Did the shirt fit him good?" Fawn asked.

"Oh, yeah, I guess."

"You guess? Didn"t you look? Agh! Useless to ask you you, I suppose."

"He liked it fine. Kept touchin" it with his fingertips peekin" out of those bandages, anyhow, like he liked the feel. But what I I want explained is-you know, I had to help him b.u.t.ton and unb.u.t.ton his trousers. So how in the green world has he been managing them for the past week? "Cause I haven"t never seen him going around undone. And I don"t care how much of a sorcerer he is, he has to have been doin" the necessary want explained is-you know, I had to help him b.u.t.ton and unb.u.t.ton his trousers. So how in the green world has he been managing them for the past week? "Cause I haven"t never seen him going around undone. And I don"t care how much of a sorcerer he is, he has to have been doin" the necessary some some time..." time..."

"Whit," said Fawn, "go away." away."

Ginger and Filly, thinking this through, looked at Fawn"s flushing face and began to giggle like steam kettles.

"Because," Whit, never one to take a hint, forged on, "I know it wasn"t me or Fletch or Pa, and it couldn"t have been the twins, who didn"t warm to him a bit. Suppose it could have been Nattie, but really, I think it must have been you, and how-ow!" He ended in a yelp as Nattie smacked him firmly and accurately across the knees with her cane.

"Whit, if you don"t go find yourself a ch.o.r.e, I"ll find you one," she told him. "Don"t you go embarra.s.sin" Fawn"s patroller with all your supposing or you"ll have me to answer to, and I will will be here tomorrow." be here tomorrow."

Whit, daunted at last, took himself out, saying placatingly, "I"ll say just the knife just the knife, right."

Outside, Fawn could hear the sounds of hoofbeats and creaking carts coming up the lane, and calls of greeting, more folks arriving. It felt very peculiar to sit still in this room waiting, instead of being out bustling around doing.

Mama came in, wiping her hands on a towel, to say, "Shep Sower and his wife just got here.

They were the last. The sun"s as close to noon as makes no never mind. We could start most any time."

"Is Dag ready? Is he all right?"

"He"s clean, and dressed neat and plain. He looks very calm and above it all, except that he"s had Whit switch out his wooden hand for his hook and back again twice now."

Fawn considered this. "Which did he end up with?"

"Hook, last I seen."

"Hm." So did that mean he was getting more relaxed, to let himself be seen so by strangers, or less, to have the most useful tool and maybe-weapon ready, as it were, to hand? "Well, it"ll be over soon. I didn"t mean to put him through such an ordeal when I agreed to stop back here."

Mama nodded to Fawn"s cousins. "You girls give us a minute."

Nattie rose to her feet, endorsing this. "Come along, chickies, give the bride a breather with her mama." She shepherded Fawn"s helpers out to her weaving room and closed the door quietly behind them.

Mama said, "In a few minutes, you"ll be a married woman." Her voice was stretched somewhere between anxious and bewildered. "Sooner than I expected. Well, I never never expected anything like this. We always meant to do right by you, for your wedding. This is all so quick. We"ve done more preparing for expected anything like this. We always meant to do right by you, for your wedding. This is all so quick. We"ve done more preparing for Fletch Fletch." She frowned at this felt injustice.

"I"m glad it"s no more. This is making me nervous enough."

"You sure about this, Fawn?"

"Today, no. All my tomorrows, yes."

"Nattie"s kept your confidences. But, you know, if you want to change your mind, we can stop this right now. Whatever trouble you think you"re in, we could manage it somehow."

"Mama, we"ve had this conversation. Twice. I"m not pregnant. Really and truly."

"There are other kinds of troubles."

"For girls, that"s the only one folks seem to care about." She sighed. "So how many out there are saying I must be, for you to let this go forward?"

"A few," Mama admitted.

A bunch, I'll bet. Fawn growled. "Well, time"ll prove "em wrong, and I hope you"ll make them eat their words when it does, "cause I won"t be here to."

Mama went around behind her and fussed with her hair, which needed nothing. "I admit Dag seems a fine fellow, no, I"ll go farther, a good man, but what about his kin? Even he doesn"t vouch for your welcome where you"re going. What if they treat you bad?"

I'll feel right at home. Fawn bit down on that one before it escaped. "I"ll deal. I dealt with bandits and mud-men and blight bogles. I can deal with relatives." As long as they're not my As long as they're not my relatives relatives.

"Is this sensible sensible?"

"If folks were sensible, would anyone ever get married?"

Mama snorted. "I suppose not." She added in a lower voice, "But if you start down a road you can"t see the end of, there"s a chance you"ll find some dark things along it."

About to defend her choice for the hundredth time, Fawn paused, and said simply, "That"s true." She stood up. "But it"s my road. Our road. I can"t stand still and keep breathin". I"m ready." She kissed her mama on the cheek. "Let"s go."

Mama got in one last, inarguable maternal sigh, but followed Fawn out. They collected Nattie and Ginger and Filly along the way. Mama made a quick circuit of the kitchen, finally set aside her towel, straightened her dress, and led the way into the parlor.

The parlor was jammed, the crowd spilling over into the hall. Papa"s brother Uncle Hawk Bluefield and Aunt Rose and their son still at home; Uncle and Aunt Roper and their two youngest boys, including the successful water-lily finder; Shep Sower and his cheery wife, always up for a free feed; Fletch and Clover and Clover"s folks and sisters and the twins, inexplicably well behaved, and Whit and Papa.

And Dag, a head above everyone but still looking very surrounded. The white shirt fit him well. There hadn"t been time for smocking or embroidery, but Nattie and Aunt Roper had come up with some dark green piping to set off the collar and cuffs and b.u.t.ton placket. The sleeves were made generous enough to fit over his splints, and over his arm harness on the other side, with second b.u.t.tons set over to tighten the cuffs later. There had been just enough of the sh.e.l.l b.u.t.tons left to do the job. Fawn had whisked his sling away from him yesterday long enough to wash and iron it, so it didn"t look so grubby even though it was growing a bit tattered. He was wearing the tan trousers with fewer old stains and mends, also forcibly washed yesterday. His worn knife sheath, riding on his left hip, looked so much a part of him as to be almost unnoticeable despite its wicked size.

A bit of spontaneous applause broke out when Fawn appeared, which made her blush. And then Dag wasn"t looking at anything else but her, and it all made sense again. She went and stood beside him. His right arm twitched in its sling, as though he desperately wanted to hold her hand but could not. Fawn settled for sliding her foot and hip over, so that they touched along the side, a rea.s.suring pressure. The sense of strain in the room, of everyone trying to pretend this was all right and be nice for Fawn"s sake, almost made her want them all to revert back to their normal relaxed horribleness, but not quite.

Shep Sower stepped forth, smiled, cleared his throat, and called them all to attention with a few brief, practiced words. To Fawn"s relief, he glanced at Dag and skipped over his usual dire wedding jokes, which everyone else here had likely heard often enough to recite themselves anyhow. He then read out the marriage contract; the older generation listened with attention, nodding judiciously or raising eyebrows and exchanging glances now and then. Dag, Fawn, her parents, the three adult couples, and Fletch and Clover all signed it, Nattie made her mark, and Shep signed and sealed it all.

Then Papa brought out the family book and laid it open on the table, and much the same exercise was repeated. Dag stared curiously over Fawn"s shoulder at the pages, and she thumbed back a bit through the entries of births, deaths, and marriages and land swaps, purchases, or inheritances to silently point out her own birth note and, several pages earlier, the note of her own parents" wedding, with the names and countersigned marks of the witnesses-many long dead, a few still right here in this same room doing this same task.

Then Dag and Fawn, coached by Shep, said their promises. There had been a bit of a debate about them, yesterday. Dag had shied at the wording, all the farmer pledges to plow and plant and harvest in due season, since he said he wasn"t likely to be doing any of those things and for a wedding vow he ought to be speaking strict truth if ever he did. And as for guarding the land for his children, he"d been doing that all his life for everybody"s children. But Nattie had explained the declarations as a poetical way of talking about a couple taking care of each other and having babies and growing old together, and he"d calmed right down. The words did sound odd in his mouth, here in this hot, crowded parlor, but his deep, careful voice somehow gave them such weight it felt as if they might be used to anchor ships in a thunderstorm. They seemed to linger in the air, and all the married adults looked queerly introspective, as if hearing them resonating in their own memories. Fawn"s own voice seemed faint and gruff in her ears by comparison, as though she were a silly little girl playing at being a grown-up, convincing no one.

At this point in the usual ceremony it would be time to kiss each other and go eat, but now came the string-binding, about which most everyone had been warned in carefully casual terms. Something to please Fawn's patroller Something to please Fawn's patroller, and in case that seemed too alarming, Nattie Nattie will be doing it for them will be doing it for them. Papa brought out a chair and set it in the middle of the room, and Dag sat in it with a nod of thanks. Fawn rolled up Dag"s left sleeve; she wondered what was going through his head that he chose to so expose his arm harness to view. But the dark cord with the copper glints was revealed, circling his biceps, Fawn"s own cord having been out in plain sight all along.

Papa then escorted Nattie up, and she felt along and found everything, cords and arm and wrist. She pulled loose the bow knots and collected both cords in her hands, winding them about one another, murmuring half-voiced blessings of her own devising. She then rewrapped the combined cords in a figure eight around Dag"s arm and Fawn"s, and tied them with a single bow. She held her hand on it, and chanted: "Side by side or far apart, intertwined may these hearts walk together."

Which were the words Dag had given Nattie to say, and reminded Fawn disturbingly of the words on Kauneo"s thighbone-knife that Dag had carried for so long aimed at his own heart.

Possibly the burned script had been meant to recall just such a wedding chant, or charm.

The words, the cords, and the two hearts willing: all had to be present to make a valid marriage in Lakewalker... not eyes, but groundsense, that subtle, invisible, powerful perceiving. Fawn wondered desperately how it was people made their a.s.sent work the strings" grounds that way. Thinking really hard about it seemed, for her, about as effective as being a five-year-old wishing hard for a pony, eyes scrunched up in futile effort, because a child had no other power by which to move the world.

Doing has no need of wishing.

She would do do her marriage then, hour by hour and day by day with the work of her hands, and let the wishing fall where it would. her marriage then, hour by hour and day by day with the work of her hands, and let the wishing fall where it would.

Dag had his head c.o.c.ked as though he were listening to something Fawn could not hear; his eyelids lowered in satisfaction, and he smiled. With some difficulty, he lifted his right arm and positioned the fingers of his hand about one end of the knot, gathering up the two gold beads from the two different cords; Fawn, at his nod, grasped the other pair. Together, they pulled the knot apart, and Fawn let the cords unwind from around each other. Fawn then tied her cord on Dag"s arm, and Dag, with Nattie"s help, or rather Nattie with Dag"s hindrance, tied his cord around Fawn"s wrist, this time with square knots. Dag glanced up under his lids at her with a muted expression, joy and terror and triumph compounded, with just a touch of wild unholy glee. It reminded Fawn of the loopy look on his face right after they"d slain the malice, actually. He leaned his forehead against Fawn"s and whispered, "It"s good. It"s done." done."

Lakewalker ground magic of a most profound sort. Worked in front of twenty people. And not one of them had seen it. What have we done What have we done?

Still sitting, Dag snaked his left arm around her and snugged her in for a proper kiss, though it felt disorienting to be lowering her face toward his instead of raising it. With an effort, they both broke off before the kiss continued at improper length. She thought he just barely refrained from pulling her into his lap and ravishing her right there. She was way overdue for a good ravish. Later Later, his bright eyes promised.

And then then it was time to go eat. it was time to go eat.

The boys had set up trestle tables in the west yard under the trees, so there would be room for everyone to sit down who wanted to. One whole table was devoted to the food and drink, which people circled and descended upon like stooping hawks, carrying loaded plates away to the other tables. Women banged in and out of the kitchen after things forgotten or belatedly wanted. With only the four families plus the Sowers present, it was literally a quiet wedding, with no music or dancing attempted, and as it chanced, there were no little ones present to fall down the well or out of trees or stable lofts and keep the parents alert, or crazed.

There followed eating, drinking, eating, talking, and eating. When Fawn hauled Dag and his plate to the food trestle for the third time, he bent and whispered fearfully, "How much more of this do I have to get down so as not to offend any of those formidable women I"m now related to?"

"Well, there"s Aunt Roper"s cream-and-honey pie," said Fawn judiciously, "and Aunt Bluefield"s b.u.t.ter-walnut cake, and Mama"s maple-hickory nut bars, and my apple pies."

"All of them?" of them?"

"Ideally. Or you could just pick one and let the rest be offended."

Dag appeared to cogitate for a moment, then said gravely, "Slap on a big chunk of that apple pie, then."

"I do like a man who thinks on his feet," said Fawn, scooping up a generous portion.

"Yeah, while I can still see them."

She smirked.

He added plaintively, "That dimple"s going to be the death of me, you know?"

"Never," she said firmly, and led him back to their seats.

She slipped away soon after to her bedroom to change into her riding trousers and shoes and the st.u.r.dier shirt that went with them. She left the lilies in her hair, though. When she came back out to Nattie"s weaving room, Dag stood up from his neatly packed saddlebags.

"You say when, Spark."

"Now," she replied fervently, "while they"re still working through the desserts. They"ll be less inclined to follow along."

"Not being able to move? I begin to see your clever plan." He grinned and went to get Whit and Fletch to help him with the horses.

She met them in the lane to the south of the house, where Dag was watching with keen attention as his new brothers-in-law tied on the a.s.sorted gear. "I don"t think they"ll try any tricks on you," she whispered up to him.

"If they were Lakewalkers," he murmured back, "there would be no end of tricks at this point. Patroller humor. Sometimes, people are allowed to live, after."

Fawn made a wry face. Then added thoughtfully, "Do you miss it?"

"Not that that part," he said, shaking his head. part," he said, shaking his head.

Despite the cooks" best efforts, the relatives did drag themselves from the trestle tables to see them off. Clover, with a glance at the addition rising on this side of the house, bade Fawn the very best of luck. Mama hugged her and cried, Papa hugged her and looked grim, and Nattie just hugged her. Filly and Ginger flung rose petals at them, most of which missed; Copperhead seemed briefly inclined to spook at this, just to stay in practice evidently, but Dag gave him an evil eye, and he desisted and stood quietly.

"I hate to see you going out on the road with nothing," Mama sniffled.

Fawn glanced at her bulging saddlebags and all the extra bundles, mostly stuffed with packed-up food, tied about patient Grace; Fawn had barely been able to fight off the pressing offer of a hamper to be tied atop. Dag, citing Copperhead"s tricksiness, had been more successful at resisting the last-minute provisions and gifts. After a brief struggle with her tongue, she said only, "We"ll manage somehow, Mama."

And then Papa boosted her aboard Grace, and Dag, wrapping his reins around his hook, got himself up on tall Copperhead in one smooth lunge despite his sling.

"Take care of her, patroller," Papa said gruffly.

Dag nodded. "I intend to, sir."

Nattie gripped Fawn"s knee, and whispered, "You take care o" him, too, lovie. The way that fellow sheds pieces, it may be the thornier task."

Fawn bent down toward Nattie"s ear. "I intend to."

And then they were off, to a rain of good-byes but no other sort; the afternoon was warm and fair, and only half-spent. They would be well away from West Blue by time to camp tonight.

The farmstead fell behind as they wended down the lane, and was soon obscured by the trees.

"We did it," Fawn said in relief. "We got away again. For a while I never thought I would."