Free Power of Three by Diana Wynne Jones Page B

more every time they argued. He confided it to Ayna in the end, since Adara was not prepared to listen to him.
    â€œI’m not surprised,” said Ayna. “What with Father and Orban arguing, and Kasta saying catty things to Mother and boring everyone about Ondo, and Miri and Fandi looking daggers at one another, life’s unbearable. And it’s supposed to be forever! If Father doesn’t agree to fight the Dorig, it will be forever. Gair, ask me if they’re ever going, please!”
    â€œAre the Otmounders going next month?” Gair asked.
    The faraway look on Ayna’s face was mixed with surprise and relief. “Yes. Thank the Sun!”
    â€œBack to Otmound?” said Gair eagerly.
    Ayna’s face became even more surprised. “No. Far, far away. Oh, what a relief!”
    Gair was as relieved as Ayna. It made it easier to bear with Ondo. For Ondo, as soon as he had recovered from his fright, became more odious than ever. He dared not harm Ceri, and scorned Ayna as a mere girl, so all his dislike was now aimed at Gair. He wanted to revenge himself on Gair for Ceri’s Thought, so he opened hostilities by reminding Gair that he had no Gifts. But that cut both ways. Ondo took up a new line. He came swaggering up with Scodo and Pad to where Gair was mixing mortar for Orban’s new house.
    â€œKiss my hand, Gair,” he said. “Come on.”
    â€œWhatever for?” said Gair.
    â€œI’d have thought even an idiot like you would understand that,” said Ondo, at which Scodo and Pad sniggered heartily. “Because I’m going to be High Chief, of course. You might as well kiss my hand now and admit it.”
    â€œWho says you’re going to be High Chief?” Gair said scornfully. “You couldn’t be High Caterpillar!”
    â€œDon’t you call names!” said Scodo. “And he is. So.”
    â€œEveryone says so,” said Pad. “Like Orban.”
    â€œOrban’s not High Chief,” said Gair.
    â€œHe will be,” said Ondo. “You should listen to what everyone’s saying. They want to make my father High Chief because Gest is such a coward and daren’t fight the Dorig.”
    â€œSo kiss his hand,” said Scodo.
    Since Gair had been wondering for the last three days if Gest was a coward, this was more than he could bear. He growled with rage, and he would have gone for all three—a very unequal combat, as Scodo and Pad were both older and taller than Ondo—had not Brad strolled up, meaningly swinging a spade. Ondo, Scodo and Pad at once strolled away, laughing.
    â€œCowards!” said Brad. “Look, Gair, if you don’t try and beat Ondo up, you’ll have this for the rest of your life. You get Ondo. I’ll see to the other two for you. All the Garholters are on your side.”
    Gair went back to his mortar, mixing it with stabs and punches, pretending it was Ondo. He knew Brad was right. Just let Ondo do one more thing—!
    An hour later, he looked up to see Ondo, Scodo and Pad playing knucklebones up on his windowsill. It was deliberate. Ondo knew as well as anyone that the windowsill was Gair’s. Gair stood up, so angry that everything in Garholt was blurred and faint except for those three figures on the sill. He did not see the way all the Garholters, old and young, were watching eagerly, ready for a general fight once Gair attacked Ondo.
    Adara did see, and she hurried to prevent it. “Gair, can you help me fold these blankets?” Gair looked at her, muddled and fuzzy-eyed with rage. “But you’d better wash your hands before you do,” Adara added. Without thinking, Gair went to the nearest bucket and put his hands in it. As soon as he touched the water, it dawned on him how she had tricked him.
    â€œYou made me wash my hands of him! It’s not fair!”
    â€œI know. I’m sorry,” said Adara. “But if you fight Ondo, we’ll