Sure enough, it was the hawk-faced swordswoman who was directing the activities of all of the children. She was somehow managing to simultaneously change the baby's dirty napkin, tickling him so that he was too helpless with giggles to fight her as he usually did; directing the four-year-old in his task; and admonishing the six-year-old when she missed a spot in her sweeping. And looking very much as if she were enjoying the whole process to the hilt.
Landric stood in the door with his mouth hanging open in surprise.
"I hope you two washed after you finished with the horses," Kethry called from her tub of soapsuds. "if not, wait until I'm through here, and you can use the wash water before you throw it out." She rinsed the last of the dishes and stood pointedly beside the tub of water, waiting for Landric to use it or carry it out.
"This was -- not necessary," he managed to say as he hefted the tub to carry outside. "You are guests--"
"Oh, come now, did you really expect two women to leave things in the state they were?" Kethry giggled, holding the door open for him. "Besides, this isn't the sort of thing we normally have to do. It's rather a relief to be up to the elbows in hot water instead of trouble. And Tarma adores children; she can get them to do anything for her. You said you know Swordsworn; you know that they're celibate, then. She doesn't often get a chance to fuss over babes. But what I'd like to know is why you haven't hired a woman or gotten some neighbor to help you?"
"There are no women to hire, thanks to the monster," he replied heavily. "Those that didn't provide meals for it ran off to the town, thinking they'd be safer there. I'm at the farthest edge of Lord Havim's lands, and my nearest neighbors aren't willing to cross the distance between us when the monster is known to have taken my wife within sight of the house. I can't say that I blame them. I take the eldest with me, now, and I have the rest of the children barricade themselves in the house until we come home. The Gods of the Wheel know I'd be overjoyed to find some steady woman willing to watch them and keep the place tidy for bed, board, and a bit of silver, but there isn't anyone to be hired at any price."
"Now it's my turn to beg your pardon," Kethry said apologetically.
"No offense meant, none taken," an almost-smile stretched his lips. "How could I take offense after this?"
That night Tarma regaled all the children with tales until they'd fallen asleep, while Kethry kept her hands busy with mending. Landric had kept glancing over at Tarma with bemusement; to see the harsh-visaged battle-scarred Shin'a'in warrior smothered in children and enjoying every moment of it was plainly a sight he had never expected to witness. And Warrl put the cap on his amazement by letting the baby tumble over him, pull his fur, tail, and ears, and finally fall asleep using the beast as a mattress.
When the children were all safely in bed, Kethry cleared her throat in a way intended to suggest she had something touchy she wanted to ask their host.
He took the hint, and the sleepiness left his eyes. "Aye, mage-lady?"
"Would you object to my working a bit of magic here? I know it's not precisely in the tenets of the Path to use the arcane -- but--"
"I'm a bit more pragmatic than some of my fellows -- nay lady, I've no objection to a bit of magicing. What did you have in mind?"
"Two things, really. I'd like to scry out this monster of yours and see what we're going to be up against-"
"Lady," he interrupted, "I -- would advise against going at that thing. Let the hired heroes deal with it."
"While it takes more women and children?" She shook her head. "I can't do that, Landric -- if it weren't against my conscience, I'm geas-bound. Anyway, the other thing I'd like to do is leave you a little help with the children -- something like a cross between Warrl and a sheepdog, if you've no objection. It won't be as bright, or as large and strong, but it will be able to keep an eye on the little ones, herd them out of mischief, and go for help if need be."
"How could I object? The gods know I need something like that. You shouldn't feel obligated, though--"
"Balance the Wheel your way, and I'll balance it in mine, all right?" The twinkle in Kethry's eyes took any sting there might have been out of her words.
He bowed his head a little. "Your will, then, mage-lady. If you've no need of me, I'm for bed."
"No need, Landric, and thank you."
When he'd left, Kethry went to the stack of clean dishes and selected a dark, nearly black pottery bowl.
"Water scrying?" Tarma asked, settling herself on one side of the table.
"Mh-hm," Kethry replied absently, filling it very carefully with clear, cold water, then bringing it to the table and dusting a fine powder of salt and herbs from a pouch at her belt over the surface. "For both of us -- you may see what I'd miss."
She held her hands just above the water's surface and chanted softly, her eyes closed in concentration. After a few moments, a mistlike glow encircled her hands. It brightened and took on a faint bluish cast -- then flowed down over her hands onto the water, hovering over it without quite touching it. When it had settled, Kethry took her hands away, and both of them peered into the bowl.
It was rather like looking at a reflection; they had to be careful about moving or breathing, for the picture was distorted or lost whenever the surface of the water was disturbed.
"Ugly rotter," was Tarma's first comment, as the beast came dear. "Where and when?"
"I'm past-scrying; all the encounters with the would-be heroes thus far."
"Hmm. Not having much luck, is he?"
That was an understatement, as the monster was making short work of a middle-aged man-at-arms.
"It looks like they feed it once a week," Kethry said, though how she was able to keep track of time passage in the bowl was beyond Tarma. "Oh, this is a mage -- let's see how he fares."
"Huh -- no better than a try with a sword."
Magics just bounced oft its hide; the mage ended up traveling the same road as the fighters.
"It's a good bet if s a magic creature," Kethry concluded. "Any mage worth his robe would armor his own toys against magic."
After watching all the trials -- and failures -- they both sat silently.
"Let's think on this a while -- we've got enough information for now."
"Agreed. Want to build Landric's little shepherd?"
"That I could do in my sleep. Let's see -- first I need a vehicle-"
Warrl got to his feet, and padded over to Tarma. :Let me hunt,: he said in her mind.
"Warrl just volunteered to find your 'vehicle.' "
"Bless you, Furface! I take it there's something within range?"
"He says 'maybe not as big as you were hoping, but smarter.'"
"I prefer brains over brawn for this task--"
Warrl whisked out the door, and was back before a half hour was up, herding an odd little beast before him that looked like a combination of fox and cat, with humanlike hands.