[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
that.
So this morning she was alone, and she breathed the air as if it were new and fresh. Wary about her
unexpected freedom, she cast a simple spell to be certain that Nightshade was not attempting some sort
of deception. But no trace of the witch revealed itself, so she called for Haltwhistle. The mud puppy
appeared immediately, materializing out of the gloom, eyes soulful, ears cocked slightly, tail wagging.
Good old Haltwhistle, she greeted him with a smile. Good morning to you.
Haltwhistle sat back on his haunches and thumped the ground with his tail.
Shall we do something, you and I? she asked her four-legged friend. Just the two of us?
She looked around the clearing as if expecting the answer to present itself. The familiar misty haze
cloaked everything. Trees and brush were shrouded in gloom, the sky was invisible, and the world was a
cocoon of silence. She was tired of being confined in so small a space; she wanted to see farther than the
edge of the mist. She remembered the world without, and she wanted to look upon it again on sunlight,
green grass, blue skies, lakes, forests, mountains, and living things. She had been thinking about her
parents lately, something she hadn t done for a while. She was wondering why they hadn t come to see
her or written her or sent word of some sort asking how she was. And what about her friends at Sterling
Silver? Why hadn t she at least heard from Questor Thews? They were best friends. What had happened
to everybody?
She had not asked this of Nightshade. She knew what the witch would say. They were being careful
because Rydall was searching for her. They were making sure she stayed safe. But the answer didn t
satisfy her the way it should have. It seemed inadequate somehow. There should have been a way for her
parents and friends to contact her, even here. Like it or not, Mistaya was becoming homesick.
Well, she declared impulsively. Enough standing about. Let s go for a walk.
She started out resolutely and without further consideration of her decision. She was about to take a big
chance, and she knew it. She intended to walk out to where she could see for more than fifty feet at a
time, where there was light and warmth, where there were living things. She intended to go outside the
Deep Fell, and that meant breaking Nightshade s rules.
Oddly enough, she didn t much care.
She conjured up a stalk of Bonnie Blue to chew on, anxious for something she hadn t seen for a while.
Travel was easy. Once she would not have been able to find her way out of the Deep Fell. Now she
employed her magic with barely a thought and was at the base of the slope leading up to the rim in no
time at all. She found a pathway and climbed toward the light. Haltwhistle plodded steadfastly along
behind her.
Moments later she emerged from the murky haze into a day filled with sunshine and summer smells. She
smiled as the light fell across her face and arms. She blinked away its brightness as she looked first left
into forested hills with their deep green shadows and then right across a valley of blue and yellow
wildflowers. Purple-shadowed mountains rose on the distant horizon, clouds scraping across their peaks.
Birds flew in the trees close by, and a woodland rabbit darted away through the long grasses of the
valley.
Well, which way shall we go? she asked Haltwhistle with a bright, determined smile.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Since the mud puppy didn t seem to have a preference, Mistaya made the choice for them. They struck
out east into the trees, winding their way through glens and clearings, seeking out small streams and quiet
ponds, watching for forest creatures, and smelling out nuts and berries. Mistaya meandered without
concern for where she was going, knowing her magic would allow her to find her way back again when
she was ready. She gave Rydall a passing thought, then dismissed him. Her wards were up, the magic
lines that kept her alert to anyone who might approach so that she would be warned well in advance of
discovery. She did not think Rydall would find her out here in any event. She did not think anyone would.
She was surprised when, in the middle of skipping stones across a small pond, she sensed somebody
just a short distance off. She stopped what she was doing and stood perfectly still, using her magic to
send out feelers. Nightshade had taught her a lot. She found the other without difficulty. One man, all
alone. She sensed no danger from him. She debated what to do, then decided it might be fun to speak
with someone. After all, she hadn t talked with anyone besides the witch in weeks. She would have a
look at him, and if he seemed safe, she would show herself.
With Haltwhistle in tow, she slipped through the trees, treading soundlessly, cloaking herself in her
magic. She found her quarry sitting cross-legged in a clearing before a tiny fire, chewing on the remains of
some small animal he had cooked. He was an odd-looking fellow, small-limbed, round-bodied, and hairy
all over. He had whiskers that stuck out from his face like the bristles of a brush and tiny pointed ears that
were ragged at the ends. His clothes were badly sewn, ill fitting, and frayed from wear. He wore a gold
ring in one ear with a dilapidated feather hanging off it. He was encrusted in dirt and grime from his bare
feet to his bare head.
She searched her memory in an effort to identify what sort of creature he was and decided finally that he
was a G home Gnome.
Safe enough to talk to, she believed, and she strolled bravely out into the clearing.
Good morning, she greeted him.
The fellow at the fire started so that he dropped the bone he was gnawing into the dirt. Jumping
junipers, don t do that! he exclaimed irritably. Give a person some warning, will you? Where did you
come from, anyway? He reached down hurriedly to pick up the bone, wiping it off with his fingers.
Sorry, she apologized. I didn t mean to scare you.
Didn t scare me! Didn t scare me one bit! No sir! He was instantly defensive. Startled me was all.
Thought I was alone out here. Had every reason to feel that way, too. No one comes to these woods,
you know. Say, who are you, anyway?
She hesitated. Misty, she said, no fonder of the name now than before but opting for caution over
pride. What s yours?
Poggwydd. That your pet, cute little fellow behind you? His eyes were suddenly sharp. What is he?
She came all the way over and stood looking down at him. Haltwhistle followed. What are you eating?
she asked in return.
Eating? Oh, uh, a rabbit, yes, a rabbit. Caught it myself.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
It has a rather long tail for a rabbit, doesn t it? She indicated the leavings of his meal piled next to him
in a bedraggled heap.
Poggwydd frowned petulantly. Well, I forget. Maybe it s not a rabbit. Maybe it s something else. What
difference does it make?
It looks like a cat.
It might be. So what?
Mistaya shrugged and sat down across from him. I just didn t want you to get any ideas about
Haltwhistle, that s all. She indicated the mud puppy, who was sniffing at the ground. You re a G home
Gnome, aren t you?
Proud to be so, he announced with uncharacteristic boldness for one of Landover s most despised
peoples.
Well, everyone knows G home Gnomes eat pets.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]