Fall of Angels (The Saga of Recluce #6)(89)

"Cessya can help."

Cessya looked at Huldran, her eyes dark.

"It's easier than clearing and packing snow," intervened Nylan.

"What are you talking about?" asked Gerlich.

"We still have to keep the area around the doors, the outfalls, and the trails to the stables and down to the forest open." Nylan pulled at his chin, then looked toward Ayrlyn, then Ryba. Both nodded.

"We'll need to have ways the horses can travel. They'll need some exercise," pointed out Ayrlyn. "We'll need them to bring up more wood." She cleared her throat "Hryessa, Siret, and Murkassa need to gather more cones."

"Cones?" asked Nylan.

"They have seeds, and they'll help feed the chickens," Ayrlyn said.

"Your chickens, they will taste like the pine trees."

"I'd rather have live pine-tasting chickens than dead tasty ones halfway through the winter. We don't have near enough food for the livestock, and that will help," answered Ayrlyn. "If the traders come back, they're supposed to have some more dried corn. If they come back . .."

"We can't have people sitting around all winter," added ' Saryn. "They'd be at each others' throats."

"They can't sit around anyway," said Ryba. "We'll need some additional food, something from hunting, and probably more firewood."

"A lot more firewood," predicted Nylan. "We probably ought to require dragging as much up here as we burn."

"How?"

"If we keep doing it, we should be able to keep a path clear to the forest at the base of the ridge. Ayrlyn-you said we could drag trunks with the horses, and cut them outside the causeway."

"The guards can only stay out so long, and we don't have enough cold-weather clothing for everyone," pointed out Saryn.

"We have wool and thread and needles," said Ayrlyn.

Nylan cleared his throat. "We could dry some of the wood near the furnace, and we need a lot of furnishings-tables, even dressers."

"We don't have that many nails," said Ryba.

"They used to put things together with pegs. We can do that," Ayrlyn pointed out. "It takes more time, but we're going to have a lot of time."

"You can make glue," added Relyn. "The crafters dry and grind hooves, I think, and some parts of the hides and boil them."

"Arms practice. For everyone. I don't want a tower full of crafters come spring," added Ryba. "They'll have to be better than any of the locals when the battles resume."

"I think archery is out," said Nylan.

"Because of the weather? No. There will be enough clear days . . ."

"The clear days are cold enough to a freeze a man's lungs," said Relyn.

"Woolen scarves would help," Ayrlyn said, "but you'd have to hold down heavy exertion and mouth breathing."

"We'll take it as it comes." Ryba broke off a chunk of bread. "There's a lot we can do to get ready for next spring and summer."

"How are we going to get around in this stuff?" asked Huldran, with a gesture toward the window. "We don't have skis or sleds or sled dogs."

"Slowly," says Hryessa. "In the lower Westhorns, the snow gets deeper than a horse's head."

"Snowshoes," Ryba said, "and old-fashioned wooden skis with leather thongs, just like Gerlich and Saryn have been making."

Nylan frowned. Would he have to learn to ski? He didn't look forward to that at all, not at all.

"Have you ever skied?" Ayrlyn asked him.

"No. I never saw the joy of slogging through powdered ice for fun."

"I can learn it, and I'm not even Sybran," insisted Ayrlyn. "I'm mostly Svennish. You're at least half Sybran, aren't you?"

"About half and half. It gets complicated. But my grandfather Weryl was a Svenn. He came to Heaven as a boy. Does that make me more Sybran than if he'd come as an adult?" Nylan laughed. "He didn't ski, either."

"Was he a blond, too, ser?" asked Istril. "Like you used to be?"

"I think so. He died when I was little."

"Just because he didn't ski doesn't mean you can't," pointed out Ayrlyn.

"Especially since you'll have to if you want to go anywhere in the wintertime," added Ryba.

"You make it sound so attractive. I'll have to." Nylan frowned. "Either freeze or be stranded in the tower."

"It's not that bad," said Saryn.

As Nylan thought about a response, he saw Istril hurry from the table, toward the north door, and disappear. Her bread was untouched.

"You'll like it," added Ryba.

Ayrlyn gave a quick grin.

Nylan took a sip of tea, warm tea, and wondered just how badly he would freeze learning to get around on wooden slats.





XLVI



IN HER GREEN tunic and trousers, her hair bound back in a green and black enameled hairband, Zeldyan steps into the tower room. After closing the door, she bows deeply to the lady Ellindyja. "Honor and greetings to you, lady."

"You are now the Lady of Lornth, and I am honored," answers Ellindyja. She does not rise from the cushioned bench in the alcove, but lowers the embroidery hoop to her lap. "Your grace in coming to visit so soon shows great respect for your lord, and I am pleased to see that."