Page 104 of Swordheart
One did not need to be a genius to know what that meant. Brindle stopped the ox.
They stood in absolute silence for several long moments. The ox got bored, dropped its head, and began to graze. Sarkis glanced at Halla, worried that she might be frightened, to discover her gazing at the rune with her lips parted and an incredulous smile on her face.
“This isamazing…” she breathed. “What do you think they eat?”
Well, he should have seen that coming.
The rune cocked his head and trilled. Zale spread their hands helplessly. “I do not speak your tongue,” they said to the rune. “I am sorry.”
The tallest rune turned and whistled. Sarkis heard the whistle taken up by the others, then by still others farther back in the woods, until it faded out of his hearing.
Calling for reinforcements?It seemed strange—there were alreadyfar more of the rune than there were of…well, me and Brindle, if we’re being honest about our fighting capacity.
The rune squatted down on his long legs and settled in to wait.
“What do we do now?” whispered Halla.
“I suggest we do absolutely nothing,” said Zale. “And wait to see what he has in mind for us.”
It did not take long. A hornless figure made her way up the steep hillside, accompanied by a large rune. Before she had crested the hill, it was obvious that she was human.
The woman pushed back her hood. She had long gray hair and faded blue eyes that stood out against her darkly tanned skin.
She looked from face to face, then spoke in a language that Sarkis didn’t know.
“Damn,” muttered Zale. “It’s what they speak in Charlock, but I don’t know it. Halla?”
“My brother taught me about five words. I can say hello, goodbye, and something very unkind about their goats.”
“… let’s skip that.” They cleared their throat and said, “Do you speak this tongue, lady?”
The woman frowned, concentrating. After a moment, she said, “Yes, but… small.”
Zale relaxed. “Oh thank the Rat. Can you tell your companions that we mean no harm?”
She shook her head, not a negative shake but a confused one. “Too fast. Again?”
Sarkis waited while Zale slowly worked through the words with their new translator. Finally, the old woman turned to the large rune and made a series of noises, like high-pitched trills in the back of her throat. The rune whistled in reply.
“He says… no fight… unless you bring fight.”
Zale nodded. “Do you knowhowwe came here?” They gestured to the hills around them.
She shook her head. “Here…” she gestured to the Hills as well, “want you come. But how…?” She spread her hands and gave an exaggerated shrug.
“Not even they know how it works,” muttered Sarkis. “Of course not.”
The rune gave a lengthy twittering speech. The woman nodded. “You,” she said, and pointed at Sarkis.
“I am Sarkis,” he said, putting his hand over his heart and bowing slightly.
“You…” She pointed to the sword on Halla’s back. “You are… with sword?” She frowned and shook her head, apparently not content with that. “Sword is… your house?”
“Yes,” said Sarkis. It was as accurate as any other description. “The sword is my house.”
The rune whistled. “He says… bad house.”
“Yes,” said Sarkis, sighing. “He’s right. It’s a very bad house.” Brindle snorted.
