The Protectors war

He recognized the type; Sam Aylward was another, solid noncommissioned officers, perfectly capable of ru

And young Lord Bear has come a long way: I suspect most dynasties were founded by men much like him. Wit enough, even if he's no genius, but willpower to spare. Not half so dangerous as his wife, though, I would venture. Beautiful to a fault, yet she reminds me a bit too much of Queen Hallgerda. And I rather think she's a good deal more intelligent, not to mention personally formidable. Mr. Havel is welcome to her.

The two from Corvallis had the harassed look of good men doing their best in a situation that they knew was beyond them. Sam Aylwardhe looked a little different, and not just because he was nearly a decade older. He didn't seem as detached as he would have been at a briefing before the Change; the matter at hand obviously touched him in more than a professional ma

He's more settled, Loring thought. He was always a fine soldier, but a bit lost out of uniform. Glad to see he's found a home. And we could have used him back in England after the Change.

And then there was Juniper Mackenzie. He noticed that she spoke little, but tended to quiet arguments when she did, and help keep people focused. And her voice was interesting in itself, softly musical, the American accent he'd always found rather harsh and flat softened by the trace of a brogue.

West-Irish, at that, I think she said. Fine figure of a woman, too. Pretty in a colleen fashion, but with character too-someone interesting has been living in that face. Friendly, but I suspect there's a volcano of a temper under that red hair as well.

He'd known Witches before; a good few had survived in England by geographical accident or prescient flight to somewhere remote-two dozen had hidden out in the New Forest, evaded the mobs by some cascade of miracles, and greeted the king's men when they came surveying. Juniper seemed to have her feet planted more firmly in the earth than most of the breed that he'd met. At that moment she looked up and met his eyes; there was a slight jolt that left him blinking, and then she winked at him. He hid his smile, smoothing down his mustache with a finger, then bent his attention back to the discussion. When it ended, she cleared her throat.

"That leaves the question of where to keep Mathilda Arminger." At Havel's quick glance she went on: "Come now, Mike, it's not as if it would stay a secret for long, wherever we put her, sure. You can hide people in a city, but those days are gone, and all we have are villages where everyone knows everything about everybody-we could scarcely chain her up in a cabin in the woods. Too many saw her at that fight in Molalla's territory, for what happened to stay secret for long. Too many of my folks and his."

Havel exchanged another glance with his wife. "She's got to stay somewhere safe, at least."

Juniper nodded. "That leaves either here or Dun Juniper-unless Corvallis would like to keep her, as neutrals?" The two emissaries of the city-state made quick fending-off gestures, and Loring hid another smile.

"Well, then, Dun Juniper for the present. It's out of the way, and as strong as any of our holds, and farther from Protectorate territory," Juniper said, with a trace of reluctance in her voice. "Though if anyone would care to volunteer to take her off my hands: "

Signe Havel nodded slowly and unwillingly. "For now that's the best option, yes," she said.

"Sure, Signe, and we can reconsider later if it seems wise," Juniper agreed. "From what I've heard back, she's not the sweetest-tempered guest ever received in my Hall. But moving her across the valley would be far too risky: "

Hmmm, something there, Loring thought. But there's something about Lady Juniper's voice that makes it hard to stay angry with her, I think.

"Yeah, it would be an invitation to a raiding party," Signe conceded. "She'd better stay at your place for now."

A little surprised at himself, Loring spoke: "It might be a good idea to give her some additional guards. I and my son and John Hordle have more than a little of experience at clandestine operations between us, before the Change and after it. And we'd like to see a little more of the neighborhood, since we seem likely to settle here at the last."

"Good idea-" Signe and Mike Havel's voices tripped over each other. Havel cleared his throat and continued: "Very good idea. Arminger has some sneaking-around-the-woodshed types himself."

Chapter Nineteen

Dun Juniper, Willamette Valley, Oregon

May 31st, 2007 AD-Change Year Nine

So, what's this Sir Nigel like? Eilir asked.

She looked around one last time to check that everything was in place. The sun was setting to her right, westward; the sky there bright towards the Coast Range, while the snow peaks of the High Cascades on her left were touched with a last touch of crimson, and a first few stars bloomed in the purple above. Birds sang towards evening, under the murmur of voices and the eternal sough of the forests above.

From what Mom writes, he's quite a man, she went on. Sam thinks so too of course. It's enough to turn me against him, almost.

"I only saw him for a few minutes. He's nice enough, for an old guy, I suppose: sort of like Theoden, if you know what I mean," Astrid replied.

Decrepit, senile and playing sub to a bearded top in a dress? Eilir signed, and dodged a revengeful elbow.

Most of Dun Juniper was gathered to greet the Mackenzie and her guests, and to celebrate victory. For some like Judy Barstow grief was uppermost, but since the Change people had learned death wasn't something that happened invisibly to old people in hospitals. Most were happy, and the walls were a blaze of flower wreaths as colorful as the gardens at the foot of the plateau beneath a bright blue sky scattered with white cloud. Even the meadows beyond seemed to celebrate, their green grass lavish with scarlet foxglove, white daisies, purple lupine and trembling sheets of blue camas flower; the year's colts ran up and down the fences and hedges, kicking up their heels at the excitement and noise. Eilir and Astrid stood before the closed gates with Chuck Barstow and a few others; the rest lined the walls, or stood beside the road, or waited inside. Astrid had a wreath of crimson penstemon in her hair; Eilir had her Scots bo

How come you didn't stay over at Larsdalen? Eilir went on. Not that I don't appreciate the company, but you have those horses you were working on.

The approaching column turned from toy-tiny to human-sized as it rode westward down the winding gravel road through the benchland and towards the Dun. Her mother was there, and Sam Aylward, and three figures who must be the Englishmen, and an escort that included Rowan and Cynthia Carson. They were just close enough to hear Juniper Mackenzie throw back her head and laugh.

Astrid went on: "What, don't you want help keeping an eye on the Little Girl from Udun?"

She's improved, Eilir signed. Rudi's been showing her around and she's not sulking nearly as much.

"Yeah: but Larsdalen is getting too crowded to stand," Astrid said. "Especially the big house. You know, with Signe's kids and Lua