The Luck of Brin's Five by Cherry; Wilder Page B

warrior?”
    The voice of the passerby became urgent, telling some long tale; then as the coracle was rowed closer, we caught a few words.
    â€œ. . . no friend to the twirlers . . . the river or the rope . . .” There was a cackling laugh. We heard Mamor wish the rower a surly good day and felt the vibration as he began heaving on his capstan to turn the paddle wheel.
    We could guess the story Mamor had to tell. “Tiath Pentroy lies at Wellin wharf. He held assize there yesterday. The Town Five went along with him, threw in some local troublemakers—a thief, a bush weaver who killed a cook-shop servant in a brawl. Ten persons hanged, most of them twirlers that the Elder had chained on the deck of his barge.”
    â€œWhere did he capture them?” asked Brin.
    â€œOn the river itself . . . the twirlers made good speed to Fanne and Nedlor, so I gather, and danced in these hamlets.”
    I seemed to hear the thud of bare feet on packed earth and the jingle of shell bracelets . . . with a new message. Beeth Ulgan’s words had told of “a true spirit warrior, bringing peace and honor.”
    â€œThe Strangler caught up with them at Nedlor,” said Mamor, “as he bore downriver on that black palace moored up ahead. His vassals went to watch the twirlers dance. . . .”
    â€œHe seized them in Nedlor village?” asked Old Gwin.
    â€œNot he! The Great Elder is cunning as a honey-stealer. His dark craft lay off Nedlor, and when the vassals brought back word to him, he decided to put down the twirlers. Or so I read this fellow’s skein . . . his family have to do with a bean plot in Nedlor. The twirlers set sail in the bird-boat after their dance, and Tiath pounced. The villagers saw it by Esder light, just about the rising of the Great Sun. The grand barge grappled the bird boat, vassals dragged off the twirlers . . . some were drowned, some put in chains. I reckon that some escaped too . . . maybe the villagers got them to safety . . . this bean-grower knew more than he was telling.”
    â€œCunning is the word for the Great Elder,” said Harper Roy. “Twirlers have no fight in them once the dance is done.”
    â€œBut the old persons on the bird boat . . . who witnessed his crime and were carrying the twirlers . . .” Diver was puzzled. “Why did he let them go free?”
    â€œTsk! No crime, young Luck!” chuckled old Gwin. “When will you learn? Tiath Pentroy commits no crimes. He is first of all a judge, who may hold assize at request, in any place on these his lands. He works by the old threads. He had no quarrel with the bird carriers . . . they are bound by custom to carry passengers.”
    â€œHe arrested the twirlers. . . .” put in Mamor. “They were brought up at Wellin assize for ‘poisoning the river.’”
    â€œOld stuff . . .” sighed Gwin. She rocked her body to and fro, chanting under her breath for the departed twirlers.
    â€œA false charge!” said Diver.
    â€œOf course,” said Brin. “It’s an old slander against the twirlers. Town Fives and shepherds use it to move them on. They carry herbs for their ecstasy . . .”
    â€œThe bird carriers were so old and helpless,” I said, “that the Elder gave no thought to them or their poor honor.”
    â€œ U tsagara neri fogoban ,” said the Harper. “Can you make anything of that old skein row, Diver?”
    â€œI know fire and ‘goes on burning,’” said Diver.
    â€œOne fire-seed, one spark, goes on burning,” said Brin. “We are peaceful people, here in the north, but very stubborn. A seed of injustice, of dishonor, settles behind our eyes and may drive us to death in order to put it right. So it was with the bird carriers . . .”
    The boat scraped against a tree, and Mamor, who had propped the sweep, ran out to steer clear. We came out of the tent fearfully into the gray noon light.