Another tiny Rushton one shot. Set any time between the end of Obernewtyn and the moonfair at the end of The Farseekers. This is my fluffy little indulgence for the week ;)

Infinite thanks go to Katiefoolery for betaing this and I hope she approves of the changes.

Disclaimer; No matter how much time I spend in this universe (too much), Obernewtyn and it's characters remain the property of Isobelle Carmody

I hope you enjoy!


Nudge.

Rushton paid little attention to his surroundings as he hurried through the passages of Obernewtyn. These days he knew the halls as well as he did his own hand. Instead, his mind focused on how he hoped to get his current plan passed through guildmerge. It was always difficult to navigate the verbal minefield and the Farseeker Guildmistress especially seemed to take particular delight in blocking his legislation.

So determined was he upon his thoughts that he might have continued down the hall in ignorance, were it not for one misplaced nudge of a foot which set a tapestry shaking. Turning swiftly, Rushton pulled the tapestry aside to find two young beastspeakers hiding in the alcove beyond.

He frowned. It was the second time this week that their 'games' had come to his attention, and he was suspicious that he remained unaware of the bulk of their activities. Yet he was unsure what to do about them. They needed to stop, but still, the children were relatively harmless. He sighed, "I was under the impression that you two had been warned about playing in the tunnels."

"Yes, master," they mumbled, heads bowed.

Rushton smiled. They were lucky.

"I want you both out of my sight and on your way to doing something useful by the time I count to ten. If you manage it, I'm willing to forget this ever happe-"

Rushton found himself pushed roughly out of the way as the pair made their escape. He didn't bother counting.

Shaking his head, he placed a hand lovingly against the stone wall, taking a moment to memorise the location of the tunnel. He hadn't known this one was here.

The halls of Obernewtyn were as much a labyrinth as the hedged path to the farms, or the pipes that ran beneath. All of Obernewtyn was a maze and its master had made it his duty to memorise every twist and turn.

His moment up, Rushton carefully replaced the tapestry so that it hung neatly over the entrance once more. There was work to be done.

*********

That night at supper, he noticed the Farseeker Guildmistress playing absent-mindedly with her arm band.

"I don't suppose you'd care to enlighten me on what exactly those doors did to earn your wrath?"

She grinned mischievously. "They gave me a splinter once."

Rushton smiled back. Yes, all of Obernewtyn was a maze.


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