in the morning, Menolly, with a good night’s rest under your ear. That’s what my foster-mother always told us.’
‘I’m sure I will, Piemur, and thank you so much …’
Her words trailed off because he was dashing and out of earshot. She opened the door, calling tentatively for Dunca but there was no answer, nor any sign of the plump cotkeeper. Grateful for that unexpected mercy, Menolly began to climb the steep steps, one at a time, pulling herself along by the railing and taking as much pressure off her feet as she could. Halfway up, Beauty appeared, chirruping encouragement. Rocky and Diver joined her on the top step and added their comforting noises.
With a sense of utmost relief, Menolly closed the door behind her. She hobbled to the bed and sank down, fumbling with the ties of the sleeping furs, not really aware of the scratching on the closed shutters until Beauty let out an authoritative squawk. Fortunately, Menolly only had to stretch out her arm to open the shutters. Aunties One and Two fell in, catching themselves by wing just off the floor, scolding her soundly as they flew about the room. Lazy, Brownie and Uncle entered with more dignity and Mimic waddled to the window edge, yawning.
Menolly remembered to rub the salve on her feet, though they were so tender, tears jumped to her eyes. Briefly she wished that Mirrim was there, with her brisk chatter and gentle touch. Feet were indeed very awkward to tend yourself. She rubbed the other stuff into her hand scar, restraining the urge to scratch the itching tissue. She slipped out of her clothes and under the sleeping furs, only vaguely aware that the fire lizards were making themselves comfortable about her.
Nothing to fear from harpers
, huh? T’gellan’s comment mocked her. As she fell deeply asleep, she wondered if envy was akin to fear?
CHAPTER FIVE
My nightly craft is winged in white;
A dragon of night-dark sea
.
Swiftborn, dreambound and rudderless;
Her captain and crew are me
.
I sail a hundred sleeping tides
Where no seaman’s ever been
And only my white-winged craft and I
Know the marvels we have seen
.
THE NEXT DAY did not start propitiously for Menolly. Her sleep was broken by shrieks: Dunca’s, the girls, and the fire lizards. Dazed, Menolly at first tried to calm the fire lizards swooping about the room, but Dunca, standing in the doorway, would not be quiet; and her terror, whether assumed or real, only stimulated the fire lizards into such aerial acrobatics that Menolly ordered them all out the window.
This only changed the tone of Dunca’s screams because the woman was now pointing at Menolly’s nudity until she could snatch up the discarded shirt and cover herself.
‘And where were you all night?’ Dunca demanded in a sobbingly angry voice. ‘How did you get in? When did you get in?’
‘I was here all night. I got in by the front door. You weren’t in the cottage.’ Then, seeing the look of complete disbelief on Dunca’s plump face, Menolly added, ‘I came here directly after supper. Piemur helped me across the court.’
‘He was at rehearsal. Which was just after supper,’ said one of the girls crowding in at the door.
‘Yes, but he got there out of breath,’ Audiva said, frowning, ‘I remember Brudegan rounding him on it.’
‘You must always inform me when you come in,’ said Dunca, by no means pacified.
Menolly hesitated and then nodded her head in acquiescence; it was useless to argue with someone like Dunca, who had obviously made up her mind not to like Menolly and to pick every fault possible.
‘When you are washed and decently attired,’ and the tone of Dunca’s voice suggested that she doubted Menolly was capable of either, ‘you will join us. Come, girls. There is no reason for you to delay your own meal.’
As the girls filed obediently past the open doorway, most of the faces reflected Dunca’s disapproval. Except Audiva who winked solemnly and then grinned before she schooled her
‘I’m sure I will, Piemur, and thank you so much …’
Her words trailed off because he was dashing and out of earshot. She opened the door, calling tentatively for Dunca but there was no answer, nor any sign of the plump cotkeeper. Grateful for that unexpected mercy, Menolly began to climb the steep steps, one at a time, pulling herself along by the railing and taking as much pressure off her feet as she could. Halfway up, Beauty appeared, chirruping encouragement. Rocky and Diver joined her on the top step and added their comforting noises.
With a sense of utmost relief, Menolly closed the door behind her. She hobbled to the bed and sank down, fumbling with the ties of the sleeping furs, not really aware of the scratching on the closed shutters until Beauty let out an authoritative squawk. Fortunately, Menolly only had to stretch out her arm to open the shutters. Aunties One and Two fell in, catching themselves by wing just off the floor, scolding her soundly as they flew about the room. Lazy, Brownie and Uncle entered with more dignity and Mimic waddled to the window edge, yawning.
Menolly remembered to rub the salve on her feet, though they were so tender, tears jumped to her eyes. Briefly she wished that Mirrim was there, with her brisk chatter and gentle touch. Feet were indeed very awkward to tend yourself. She rubbed the other stuff into her hand scar, restraining the urge to scratch the itching tissue. She slipped out of her clothes and under the sleeping furs, only vaguely aware that the fire lizards were making themselves comfortable about her.
Nothing to fear from harpers
, huh? T’gellan’s comment mocked her. As she fell deeply asleep, she wondered if envy was akin to fear?
CHAPTER FIVE
My nightly craft is winged in white;
A dragon of night-dark sea
.
Swiftborn, dreambound and rudderless;
Her captain and crew are me
.
I sail a hundred sleeping tides
Where no seaman’s ever been
And only my white-winged craft and I
Know the marvels we have seen
.
THE NEXT DAY did not start propitiously for Menolly. Her sleep was broken by shrieks: Dunca’s, the girls, and the fire lizards. Dazed, Menolly at first tried to calm the fire lizards swooping about the room, but Dunca, standing in the doorway, would not be quiet; and her terror, whether assumed or real, only stimulated the fire lizards into such aerial acrobatics that Menolly ordered them all out the window.
This only changed the tone of Dunca’s screams because the woman was now pointing at Menolly’s nudity until she could snatch up the discarded shirt and cover herself.
‘And where were you all night?’ Dunca demanded in a sobbingly angry voice. ‘How did you get in? When did you get in?’
‘I was here all night. I got in by the front door. You weren’t in the cottage.’ Then, seeing the look of complete disbelief on Dunca’s plump face, Menolly added, ‘I came here directly after supper. Piemur helped me across the court.’
‘He was at rehearsal. Which was just after supper,’ said one of the girls crowding in at the door.
‘Yes, but he got there out of breath,’ Audiva said, frowning, ‘I remember Brudegan rounding him on it.’
‘You must always inform me when you come in,’ said Dunca, by no means pacified.
Menolly hesitated and then nodded her head in acquiescence; it was useless to argue with someone like Dunca, who had obviously made up her mind not to like Menolly and to pick every fault possible.
‘When you are washed and decently attired,’ and the tone of Dunca’s voice suggested that she doubted Menolly was capable of either, ‘you will join us. Come, girls. There is no reason for you to delay your own meal.’
As the girls filed obediently past the open doorway, most of the faces reflected Dunca’s disapproval. Except Audiva who winked solemnly and then grinned before she schooled her
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