True Heart by Kathleen Duey Page A

shrugged again. “I don’t know. She never said so.”
    â€œShe never told me, either,” Heart said. “But maybe she would keep it secret.”
    They were both silent for a long moment.
    Heart looked back into the beautiful house. It would be wonderful to stay here, to practice reading with Tibbs, to stop traveling—to have a home.
    â€œThank Joseph for me,” she said aloud.

    Tibbs nodded. “I will.”
    â€œIt’s been three days,” Heart said, looking up at Tibbs.
    â€œYou’ll find the Gypsies,” he answered, understanding her instantly. Then he pointed. “Look.”
    Heart faced the valley.
    Avamir was grazing.
    Moonsilver was prancing easily down the slope.
    He reared, turning, then trotted upward again.
    The armor shone orange yellow in the light from the fiery river.
    The plumes swayed.
    Heart laughed. Moonsilver was lifting his hooves high, like a horse in a parade. He was showing off.
    He looked beautiful.
    The armor fit perfectly.
    It was as strong as real armor, but not as heavy.
    Joseph had cut curved pieces out of the metal that covered Moonsilver’s back and sides.
    Joseph said horses sometimes died of heat sickness in closed armor, so Moonsilver’s was made to be cooler too. The base of the thin silver spike thatenclosed his horn had four narrow slits in it.
    The top was open.
    Only an eyelash-thick crescent of his horn tip showed, but air could pass through. There were slits in the cheek plates, too.
    Tibbs was smiling. “He seems to like it.”
    Heart nodded and looked at the sky. It was almost time to leave.
    They were ready.
    Her carry-sack was full of bread, barley, and wrinkled autumn apples from Joseph’s root cellar.
    She had her flints. Joseph had given her half a candle.
    He had given her soft cotton rope, too. She had braided halters for the unicorns while he and Tibbs worked on the armor.
    Avamir and Moonsilver had allowed her to put them on.
    â€œI should go with you,” Tibbs said quietly.
    Heart met his eyes. “No, you shouldn’t. You have finally found your home.”
    Tibbs looked into her eyes for a long moment.“Thank you, Heart. You are a true friend.”
    Heart took a deep breath. “I only hope I can find mine.”
    Tibbs reached out and touched her cheek. “You will. If you see Ruth Oakes, tell her how happy I am. Tell Binney I have doubled my skill already, just helping Joseph on the armor.”
    Tibbs’s eyes were full of joy.
    â€œI will tell them,” Heart said.
    â€œTry not to worry,” Tibbs told her. “Binney and Zim probably talked the guardsmen around in circles and made friends of them by the time they got to Bidenfast.”
    Heart sighed. “Or maybe the new Lord Irmaedith heard rumors about a unicorn.”
    Tibbs frowned. “Maybe.”
    Heart scuffed at the ground. If the Gypsies were in trouble because of helping her …
    She pulled in a deep breath. The sunrise was shading the sky gold pink along the horizon now. “Where is Joseph?”
    â€œSnoring,” Tibbs said. “He lay down to rest andwent out like a candle.”
    Heart smiled. “Thank him—for all of us.”
    â€œI will,” Tibbs said. “Come back if you can.”
    â€œI’ll try,” Heart promised.
    Avamir whinnied, high and clear.
    Tibbs smiled. “M’Lady Unicorn summons you, I think.”
    Heart stepped out of the doorway into the chilly morning.
    â€œGood-bye,” Tibbs said.
    Heart smiled at him, then started down the steep, rocky path.

CHAPTER TWO
    H eart could feel waves of heat rising from the river of melted rock.
    It felt wonderful in the chill, like a hearth blaze.
    Kip barked twice, then settled into a trot at her heels.
    Halfway down, the unicorns broke into a gallop.
    They leaped the fiery current.
    Kip tore off after them, streaking toward the little bridge.
    Heart put her carry-sack over her shoulder and