Under Two Moons - Chapter 31
Chapter 31.
Morna jumped up and called to Kerr. I was surprised at how happy she was to see him, but then so was I.
He started for our table, hesitating when Peterson said something to him, then continued on. When Kerr arrived, he wasn't alone. A pretty Solwinish woman was at his side.
“Inga, these are some of my...friends...from Holm Manor,” he said. He'd started to grow a beard over the time he'd been at the factory. It suited him, made him look less like the vacuous, handsome man I'd known all my life.
We introduced him to our Stronghold friends and asked him and Inga to sit with us, making room for them. No one mentioned he was the Duke's son, just as no one had ever said that Carys was a princess. These people probably wouldn't have been impressed.
“The food here is really good,” Morna told him. “How was it at the factory?”
“It was OK,” Kerr said.
“What kind of machines did you bring?” Donal asked. “I can't wait to see them and what use there is for them.”
“Donal has been working with the people who try to find uses for the new machines,” Blane explained.
“Do you all have jobs here?” Kerr asked.
“Yes,” Morna said. “Carys is working with the cooks, of course, and Nissa is redesigning our coveralls.” She stood to show off hers. “How do you like it?”
“It's better than the ones we wear at the factory,” Inga said admiringly.
Morna nodded. “And Blane works with the defenders of the Stronghold.”
“What about you?” Inga asked.
Morna grinned. “I work with Col's wife in the animal nursery. You met Col at the factory, didn't you?”
“Yes,” Kerr said.
“Why don't the two of you get some food, and then we can talk some more,” Blane said.
“You must be starving after your long trip,” Morna added.
They went together to the food tables and filled their plates, then returned to our table.
“Who brought you here?” I asked once they'd each eaten something and agreed that the food was quite good.
“Oh, there were four of us. One of the scientists, who was on assignment to the factory from the Stronghold, led the rest of us.”
“Did you meet the Holgrens?” Morna asked. “Their dog Peet had so much fun with Raj!”
But they hadn't stopped at the farm, and they hadn't picked any of the fruits there.
“Oh, what about the trees? Do you see many that were burnt?” Morna asked.
“Yes, as a matter of fact we did,” Inga said. “Was the fire recent?”
“We saw them burn,” Blane said. “There was a thunderstorm and they were struck by lightning.”
Kerr suddenly looked toward the doorway. “There's Mikal,” he said. “He's the scientist who led us here.”
Mikal wasn't alone. He entered with Oskar, Toren, Madoc and Col. They took Oskar's usual table near the doorway and sat down.
“You said there was another person with you,” I stated.
“Yes. Dreas was injured as we came around the mountain,” Kerr said.
“We had to carry him the rest of the way in the wagon we used for the machines,” Inga said. “His ankle was twisted and his arm broken. He couldn't walk or ride.”
“They must have taken him to the infirmary,” Rani said.
“Yes, that's what they said when we arrived,” Kerr said. “It...it really wasn't an easy journey.”
I'd noticed when he first appeared that Kerr had changed. Some of his bravado had disappeared along with the arrogance that had made it so difficult for any of us to get along with him. The longer he talked, the more I was sure that he was a different person.
“So tell us about those machines,” Donal prompted again.
Kerr described them with the same kind of enthusiasm that Donal showed when he talked about his work. One was the imaging device he'd been working on when we left him at the factory. Another was a kind of lantern but didn't use oil or a candle or any of the usual sources for light.
“They seem very excited about that one,” Inga said.
“And the last one is quite different. I don't really understand what it does or what it's for,” Kerr said.
“It has something to do with the communication devices they use at the factory, except it works over longer distances,” Inga explained.
“I can't wait to see them all,” Donal said.
“I'm sure you'll see them soon enough,” Blane told him. “So, I guess you two will be assigned to the same dormitories here as we are.”
“Well, for as long as we're staying,” Kerr said. “We have work to do back at the factory.” He must have noticed the look that passed among the rest of us. “You don't want me to stay, do you?”
“It's not a matter of want, Kerr,” I said as gently as I could. “Now that you're here, they won't let you leave.”
“Well, that's not completely true,” Gudrin said. “You'll be allowed to go into Osterbruk occasionally.”
“You can't really mean we're going to be here forever!” Kerr said.
Inga bit her lower lip. “I thought they explained that to you when we agreed to be part of the party bringing the machines here,” she told him.
“You knew we wouldn't be able to return to the factory?” he asked her.
She nodded, but couldn't seem to speak.
“It's OK, though,” Morna said. “This place is much better than the factory!” I wondered when she'd changed her mind about wanting to leave. Were my fears well-founded after all?
“We're in a cave!” Kerr said. “Granted it's a big cave, but it's still underground. There's no sunlight, no growing things.”
“That's not exactly true, either,” I said, rather reluctantly. I hated to be championing the place, especially now that I had an unexpected ally wanting to leave. “There are places with huge chimney holes where the animals live and plants grow,” I said. “There's even a solarium.”
“There is?” Donal asked.
I nodded.
“And as Morna said earlier, we each have interesting and important work to do,” Blane said.
But Kerr was still frowning. I was glad of that in a way. I only hoped it didn't mean he'd be a problem after all.
“So you all want to stay here?” Kerr asked, looking from one of us to the other.
“Well...” Morna began.
I'd never said anything in the presence of my new friends, but I felt I had to now. “We want to go home, of course, but not just yet,” I said. “I can't speak for anyone else, but I do want to leave at some point.”
Now Rani and Gudrin looked at me with disappointment.
I turned to them. “You have family here, but our parents are still back in Holm Manor. They expect us to return to them,” I said to defend myself.
Carys finally joined us at that point and greeted Kerr with a smile, but then she sensed the tension around the table. “What's happened?”
“Nissa says she wants to leave,” Rani said.
“Oh, that,” she said, dismissing it. “I expect all of our party would like to go home someday, but we have too much to do here first. Who knows how things might change!”
I looked at her, wondering when she'd changed her mind, too, but I was glad that what she said diffused the situation somewhat. Still, I sensed the rift between me and Rani would take more to heal it.
Meanwhile, Inga asked Carys, “What is it like to work in the kitchen here? There are so many more people to feed than at the factory, I can't imagine how much you must have to prepare for each meal.”
“The cooks here have it under control,” Carys said.
“And they've allowed Carys to introduce some dishes they've never served,” Blane said proudly.
“I noticed there were Meecham cookies on the food tables,” Kerr said. “These are the cookies I mentioned to you,” he told Inga. He'd taken three of them, himself, and held one out for Inga to take a bite.
“Oh, these are good!” Inga said, wiping the crumbs from her lips. “Kerr's been talking about them and a few other things from home.”
“Do the two of you work together?” Carys asked, beginning to eat her own dinner. I don't think she wanted to get back into a discussion of what people missed from Holm Manor, and certainly not about the dishes she'd introduced to the kitchen at the Stronghold.
“Oh, yes,” Inga said with a smile. “We share a table in the laboratory. Or did. I wonder what we'll be doing here.”
“Steward Peterson will give you your assignments, along with your ghastly green coveralls,” Morna said. “If you want Nissa or Rani to alter yours, Inga, just ask.”
“Thanks for volunteering my time, Morna!” I said, but I wasn't really angry. I just had so many people asking me to do that. Well, one more couldn't hurt, I guess. “Although, if you want me to fix anything on the dress you're loaned for the party, it might have to wait,” I warned Morna.
“Oh,” she said sheepishly.
“Party? Is there to be a party?” Inga asked with a bright smile.
“Yes. This weekend,” Rani said.
“Some of us are lending Nissa, Morna and Carys dresses for it,” Katya added. “Do you have anything you can wear?”
“Well, I did bring most of my clothes with me,” she replied, looking apologetically at Blane.
“Because you knew you'd be staying. I understand,” he said, but not as angrily as before. He poured himself some of the juice that was always on the tables for us to drink with meals. “I suppose if I'm stuck here, I might as well get used to it.”
“You'll be fine,” Blane said. The two of them had never been friends although they were the same age and had grown up together, but they'd both been through experiences recently that made them appreciate each other more.
“So have they asked you to play at this party that's about to occur?” Kerr asked Blane.
“What does he mean?” Katya asked me.
“My brother is quite proficient with a gemshorn,” I said, making him blush.
“Well, you are!” Morna told him.
“Oh, then he should play!” Gudrin said. “That is if there's a gemshorn here somewhere.”
“I don't even know what one looks like,” Rani said.
Blane was forced to describe what the instrument looked like and how it sounded. “I doubt whether the music we play at the Manor is the type you want for your party,” he told Rani.
She shrugged. “Just like the food here, we've had all sorts of music in the past.”
“It should be lots of fun,” Inga said.
Morna jumped up and called to Kerr. I was surprised at how happy she was to see him, but then so was I.
He started for our table, hesitating when Peterson said something to him, then continued on. When Kerr arrived, he wasn't alone. A pretty Solwinish woman was at his side.
“Inga, these are some of my...friends...from Holm Manor,” he said. He'd started to grow a beard over the time he'd been at the factory. It suited him, made him look less like the vacuous, handsome man I'd known all my life.
We introduced him to our Stronghold friends and asked him and Inga to sit with us, making room for them. No one mentioned he was the Duke's son, just as no one had ever said that Carys was a princess. These people probably wouldn't have been impressed.
“The food here is really good,” Morna told him. “How was it at the factory?”
“It was OK,” Kerr said.
“What kind of machines did you bring?” Donal asked. “I can't wait to see them and what use there is for them.”
“Donal has been working with the people who try to find uses for the new machines,” Blane explained.
“Do you all have jobs here?” Kerr asked.
“Yes,” Morna said. “Carys is working with the cooks, of course, and Nissa is redesigning our coveralls.” She stood to show off hers. “How do you like it?”
“It's better than the ones we wear at the factory,” Inga said admiringly.
Morna nodded. “And Blane works with the defenders of the Stronghold.”
“What about you?” Inga asked.
Morna grinned. “I work with Col's wife in the animal nursery. You met Col at the factory, didn't you?”
“Yes,” Kerr said.
“Why don't the two of you get some food, and then we can talk some more,” Blane said.
“You must be starving after your long trip,” Morna added.
They went together to the food tables and filled their plates, then returned to our table.
“Who brought you here?” I asked once they'd each eaten something and agreed that the food was quite good.
“Oh, there were four of us. One of the scientists, who was on assignment to the factory from the Stronghold, led the rest of us.”
“Did you meet the Holgrens?” Morna asked. “Their dog Peet had so much fun with Raj!”
But they hadn't stopped at the farm, and they hadn't picked any of the fruits there.
“Oh, what about the trees? Do you see many that were burnt?” Morna asked.
“Yes, as a matter of fact we did,” Inga said. “Was the fire recent?”
“We saw them burn,” Blane said. “There was a thunderstorm and they were struck by lightning.”
Kerr suddenly looked toward the doorway. “There's Mikal,” he said. “He's the scientist who led us here.”
Mikal wasn't alone. He entered with Oskar, Toren, Madoc and Col. They took Oskar's usual table near the doorway and sat down.
“You said there was another person with you,” I stated.
“Yes. Dreas was injured as we came around the mountain,” Kerr said.
“We had to carry him the rest of the way in the wagon we used for the machines,” Inga said. “His ankle was twisted and his arm broken. He couldn't walk or ride.”
“They must have taken him to the infirmary,” Rani said.
“Yes, that's what they said when we arrived,” Kerr said. “It...it really wasn't an easy journey.”
I'd noticed when he first appeared that Kerr had changed. Some of his bravado had disappeared along with the arrogance that had made it so difficult for any of us to get along with him. The longer he talked, the more I was sure that he was a different person.
“So tell us about those machines,” Donal prompted again.
Kerr described them with the same kind of enthusiasm that Donal showed when he talked about his work. One was the imaging device he'd been working on when we left him at the factory. Another was a kind of lantern but didn't use oil or a candle or any of the usual sources for light.
“They seem very excited about that one,” Inga said.
“And the last one is quite different. I don't really understand what it does or what it's for,” Kerr said.
“It has something to do with the communication devices they use at the factory, except it works over longer distances,” Inga explained.
“I can't wait to see them all,” Donal said.
“I'm sure you'll see them soon enough,” Blane told him. “So, I guess you two will be assigned to the same dormitories here as we are.”
“Well, for as long as we're staying,” Kerr said. “We have work to do back at the factory.” He must have noticed the look that passed among the rest of us. “You don't want me to stay, do you?”
“It's not a matter of want, Kerr,” I said as gently as I could. “Now that you're here, they won't let you leave.”
“Well, that's not completely true,” Gudrin said. “You'll be allowed to go into Osterbruk occasionally.”
“You can't really mean we're going to be here forever!” Kerr said.
Inga bit her lower lip. “I thought they explained that to you when we agreed to be part of the party bringing the machines here,” she told him.
“You knew we wouldn't be able to return to the factory?” he asked her.
She nodded, but couldn't seem to speak.
“It's OK, though,” Morna said. “This place is much better than the factory!” I wondered when she'd changed her mind about wanting to leave. Were my fears well-founded after all?
“We're in a cave!” Kerr said. “Granted it's a big cave, but it's still underground. There's no sunlight, no growing things.”
“That's not exactly true, either,” I said, rather reluctantly. I hated to be championing the place, especially now that I had an unexpected ally wanting to leave. “There are places with huge chimney holes where the animals live and plants grow,” I said. “There's even a solarium.”
“There is?” Donal asked.
I nodded.
“And as Morna said earlier, we each have interesting and important work to do,” Blane said.
But Kerr was still frowning. I was glad of that in a way. I only hoped it didn't mean he'd be a problem after all.
“So you all want to stay here?” Kerr asked, looking from one of us to the other.
“Well...” Morna began.
I'd never said anything in the presence of my new friends, but I felt I had to now. “We want to go home, of course, but not just yet,” I said. “I can't speak for anyone else, but I do want to leave at some point.”
Now Rani and Gudrin looked at me with disappointment.
I turned to them. “You have family here, but our parents are still back in Holm Manor. They expect us to return to them,” I said to defend myself.
Carys finally joined us at that point and greeted Kerr with a smile, but then she sensed the tension around the table. “What's happened?”
“Nissa says she wants to leave,” Rani said.
“Oh, that,” she said, dismissing it. “I expect all of our party would like to go home someday, but we have too much to do here first. Who knows how things might change!”
I looked at her, wondering when she'd changed her mind, too, but I was glad that what she said diffused the situation somewhat. Still, I sensed the rift between me and Rani would take more to heal it.
Meanwhile, Inga asked Carys, “What is it like to work in the kitchen here? There are so many more people to feed than at the factory, I can't imagine how much you must have to prepare for each meal.”
“The cooks here have it under control,” Carys said.
“And they've allowed Carys to introduce some dishes they've never served,” Blane said proudly.
“I noticed there were Meecham cookies on the food tables,” Kerr said. “These are the cookies I mentioned to you,” he told Inga. He'd taken three of them, himself, and held one out for Inga to take a bite.
“Oh, these are good!” Inga said, wiping the crumbs from her lips. “Kerr's been talking about them and a few other things from home.”
“Do the two of you work together?” Carys asked, beginning to eat her own dinner. I don't think she wanted to get back into a discussion of what people missed from Holm Manor, and certainly not about the dishes she'd introduced to the kitchen at the Stronghold.
“Oh, yes,” Inga said with a smile. “We share a table in the laboratory. Or did. I wonder what we'll be doing here.”
“Steward Peterson will give you your assignments, along with your ghastly green coveralls,” Morna said. “If you want Nissa or Rani to alter yours, Inga, just ask.”
“Thanks for volunteering my time, Morna!” I said, but I wasn't really angry. I just had so many people asking me to do that. Well, one more couldn't hurt, I guess. “Although, if you want me to fix anything on the dress you're loaned for the party, it might have to wait,” I warned Morna.
“Oh,” she said sheepishly.
“Party? Is there to be a party?” Inga asked with a bright smile.
“Yes. This weekend,” Rani said.
“Some of us are lending Nissa, Morna and Carys dresses for it,” Katya added. “Do you have anything you can wear?”
“Well, I did bring most of my clothes with me,” she replied, looking apologetically at Blane.
“Because you knew you'd be staying. I understand,” he said, but not as angrily as before. He poured himself some of the juice that was always on the tables for us to drink with meals. “I suppose if I'm stuck here, I might as well get used to it.”
“You'll be fine,” Blane said. The two of them had never been friends although they were the same age and had grown up together, but they'd both been through experiences recently that made them appreciate each other more.
“So have they asked you to play at this party that's about to occur?” Kerr asked Blane.
“What does he mean?” Katya asked me.
“My brother is quite proficient with a gemshorn,” I said, making him blush.
“Well, you are!” Morna told him.
“Oh, then he should play!” Gudrin said. “That is if there's a gemshorn here somewhere.”
“I don't even know what one looks like,” Rani said.
Blane was forced to describe what the instrument looked like and how it sounded. “I doubt whether the music we play at the Manor is the type you want for your party,” he told Rani.
She shrugged. “Just like the food here, we've had all sorts of music in the past.”
“It should be lots of fun,” Inga said.