One huge bloody pile of links goes here….
Richard comes in a ways down
Previous Jhereg, Maia, Brennan file.
Narrator:
As the sun rises [day 6, dawn] the mesengers go out and collect the people Jhereg has requested. Gallilei is less and less thrilled as the others collect. It's a number more people than he is comfortable with.
Jhereg. Gallilei. Richard. Hesketh. Brennan and Maia. Blackbird. Luther. Schol. Sister Anne. Yasgar and another Royal named Mike. Two Gaurds, Henderson and Smitty. Glorianna and Elisabeth raise many eyebrows. Kel
Maia becomes increasingly uncomfortable as more and more people show up, and so conveniently finds some interesting flora to examine barely within earshot of the group. Brennan sighs deeply and settles down to 'listen for two'. It's a mode of operation he's become all too familiar with lately having to deal with Maia's appetite for knowledge but aversion to people. He focuses on Gallilei.
Gallilei: [for Jhereg]
Jhereg, I thought we discussed this.
Jhereg:
I've conferred with Glorianna, Elder, unless your foresight is better than hers I'd suggest that we abide by her advice. This group is of sufficient skills and talents to keep itself alive but not so huge as to be unwieldy.
The woman have assured me that they can chaperone themselves.
Gallilei: [unspoken]
Thank God for small favors.
Jhereg:
Each person here has talents that we can use, or is required for other reasons to be with us. We have to survive the trip there.
Luther has more experience in a world too large than all of us combined.
Luther: [unspoken]
This is going to be a lot of fun. I can't wait until the first time one of these big guys stumbles into a patch of catnip. Heh, heh.
Jhereg:
I could go around the group and make similar pronouncements in other areas.
Gallilei: [unspoken]
And, have you bothered to ask why the Tuath sent these two to call, or did that just slip your mind along with my instructions?
I suppose I should be glad that there are other alternatives if Jhereg doesn't work out.
Jhereg:
As to the army, James will hold them for the week we are gone. When we return, we will have instructions for them, even if it's only to go home.
Gallilei: [unspoken]
I'll just have to do the extra leg work myself. Annoying, given how little time we have.
[spoken]
As you wish, Lord.
Narrator:
As if on cue, Richard materializes quietly and takes a deep breath of the morning air.
[next file]