Tamora Pierce - Circle Opens - 3 - Cold Fire

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.
html Cold Fire The Circle Opens 03 Tamora Pierce
Chapter 1
In the city ofKugisko, in amorn!
iamara "ancanor, t#el$e and sometimes too helpful in %a&a Kisu'o(s opinion, gripped %a&a(s left hand and el'o#) They stood on one edge of a 'road circle of ice #here the "ancanors docked their household 'oats in the summer) o#, in the month of *no# +oon, eight #eeks 'efore the solstice holiday called ,ongnight, it #as a place to skate, #ith 'enches and heaped 'anks of sno# at the sides to protect those less a'le to stop than e-perts like ia) For all her fourteen years, %a&a #as as much a 'eginner at this as any three.year.old) *he #ouldn(t ha$e agreed to these lessons, #anting to protect her dignity, 'ut after three #eeks of #atching the amornese /ip up and do#n the city(s fro/en canals, she had reali/ed it #as time to learn ho# to skate, dignity or no)
01re you ready20 asked ia) The cold air made dark roses 'loom on her creamy 'ro#n cheeks and lent e-tra sparkle to her 'ro#n eyes)
%a&a took a deep 'reath) 0 ot really,0 she said #ith resignation) 0,et(s go)0
0One,0 counted ia, 0t#o, three)0
On three ia and %a&a thrust #ith their left legs against ice smoothed each night 'y con$ict cre#s #ho performed that ser$ice for the entire city) %a&a glided for#ard, knees #o''ling, ankles #o''ling, 'elly #o''ling)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
03ight, push40 cried ia, gripping %a&a(s arm) T#o right skates thrust against the ice) ,eft and right, left and right, they maneu$ered across the length of the 'oat 'asin) %a&a fought to stay upright) *he kne# her 'ody #as set #rong! #hile she didn(t skate, years of training in staff com'at told her that she #as not at all centered) It #as like trying to 'alance on a pair of knife 'lades) 5ho thought of this mad form of tra$el in the first place2 1nd #hy had no one locked them up 'efore they passed their dangerous ideas on to others2
*he didn(t #ant to think of the picture she made, though she(d 'et it #as hilarious) Fi$e feet, eight inches tall, she to#ered o$er ia 'y four inches) 5here ia #as slender, %a&a #as 'ig.shouldered and 'locky, muscled from years of #ork as a metalsmith) *he #as a much darker 'ro#n than ia and the other "ancanor children, #hose mother #as light 'ro#n and #hose father #as #hite) %a&a(s face and mouth #ere 'road) 6er large 'ro#n eyes.#hen she #as not trying to learn to skate.#ere steady) *he #ore her springy 'lack hair in a multitude of long, thin 'raids) Today she had pulled them into a horse.tail tied #ith an orange scarf7 she #ore no fur.lined hat as ia did, 'ecause she had her o#n #ay to keep her head #arm) 6er clothes #ere in the style #orn 'y amornese men! a long.skirted coat of hea$y #ool o$er a slightly shorter indoor coat, a full.slee$ed and high.collared shirt, 'aggy trousers, and calf.high 'oots to #hich the skates #ere strapped)
0*ee, this isn(t so 'ad,0 ia said as they reached the entrance of the 'oat 'asin) 0*oon it #ill 'e as easy as 'reathing) o# turn ) ) )0 *he s#ept %a&a around until they faced the stair to the rear courtyard, across the small 'asin) 03eady, left, push,0 ia coa-ed) %a&a o'eyed)
,eft, right, left, right, they slo#ly made their #ay across the ice) *er$ants coming and going from the house and out'uildings #atched and hid grins) ,ike ia, they had spent their li$es here on the southeastern edge of the *yth) For those #ho could not afford horses and sleighs in #inter, ice skates #ere necessary) They #ere a 8uick #ay around a city spra#led o$er $arious islands in #aters that #ere fro/en solid from mid."lood +oon to late *eed +oon)
"y the time ia turned %a&a again, the older girl #as starting to get the idea) The trick #as to rock as she stroked, using alternate legs to push) If she 'rought her legs together, sooner or later she #ould stop mo$ing) *kates, #hen not in motion, had an ugly tendency to make the #earer fall o$er)
ia guided her 'ack to the end of the 'oat 'asin, #here it passed under a street 'ridge to enter the canal 'eyond) 5ithout stopping, she mo$ed %a&a onto a course that circled the ice instead of hal$ing it) Three times they #ent around, %a&a feeling stronger and more confident #ith each turn) It #as not so different from 'eing a'oard a ship, in a cold #ay) *he en&oyed it so much that she didn(t reali/e that ia had let go of her) *he skated t#o yards alone 'efore she noticed) Then she made the mistake of looking for her partner) 6er knees and ankles #o''led) *he frantically tried to recapture the rhythm, managing three strokes of the skates 'efore her feet hit the 'asin(s edge) %a&a #ent face.first into heaped sno#)
*he sank a foot 'efore ia pulled her out) ,aughing, the girl apologi/ed) 0I thought you #ere doing so #ell that you(d &ust keep.0
%a&a straightened, 'o''ling) ia had gone a'ruptly silent) 1 moment later %a&a reali/ed the ser$ants had also stopped mo$ing) 9$eryone stared at the place #here she had fallen)
%a&a sighed) 6er amornese hosts had told her that she had ad&usted #onderfully to their northern #inter) *he had not mentioned that her mage talents included the a'ility to control her 'ody #armth 'y dra#ing heat from other sources) 1s a result, her $ery #arm 'ody had melted her precise shape into the sno#, do#n to each finger on her glo$es) The sno# that had iced her face #hen she fell #as melting do#n the front of her coat)
0Can Frostpine do that20 asked ia, putting her o#n glo$ed hand into the hand.shape %a&a had 'urned into the sno#) %a&a(s teacher, a great mage dedicated to the ser$ice of the Fire gods, #as the reason they #ere spending the #inter in "ancanor 6ouse) ia(s parents #ere old friends from the time 'efore Frostpine took his $o#s)
0 o,0 %a&a replied) 09$en if you ha$e the same magic as someone else, it sho#s in different #ays)0 It #ould re8uire too much e-planation, or she #ould ha$e added that she #ouldn(t ha$e this a'ility if she had not spent months #ith her magic intert#ined #ith that of three other young mages) Though %a&a and her foster.si'lings had finally straightened their po#ers out, they still carried traces of #hat the others could do) %a&a(s a'ility to dra# #armth and see magic came to her courtesy of a #eather.mage)
05ell,0 ia said, determinedly cheerful) 0,et(s try again)0
The lesson #ent for#ard) %a&a caught the rhythm and managed t#o circuits of the 'asin 'efore they decided to stop) "ack into the house they #ent, shedding their #inter gear and skates in the long, enclosed area called the slush room) 1fter#ard they follo#ed the halls that made the out'uildings part of the house to reach the kitchen)
%a&a accepted a mug of hot cider from one of the maids) *he sat near one of the small hearths, #here her &e#eler(s tools and a task that she could handle a#aited her) o ser$ant #ould ask a great mage like Frostpine to mend their 'its of &e#elry) %a&a #as fair game7 they thought she #as a student, #illing and skilled) The #hispers that she too might 'e a great mage had not come as far north as amorn)
%a&a en&oyed the #ork) *he liked to sit here doing small repairs, 'reathing the scents of spices and cooking meat, and listening to ser$ants and $endors chatter in amornese) "efore she had mastered the strange tongue, her tra$els #ith Frostpine in the empire of amorn had 'een lonely) It #as #onderful to kno# #hat people actually said)
*he touched the necklace the cook, 1nyussa, had gi$en her) %a&a(s left hand 'ore a kind of 'rass half.mitt that co$ered the palm and the 'ack7 strips passed 'et#een her fingers to connect them) 1s fle-i'le as her 'ody, the 'rass shone 'right against her dark skin) The magic in the li$ing metal told %a&a that the necklace #as gilt on sil$er.e-pensi$e for a ser$ant, e$en one so #ell paid as +ata/i "ancanor(s head cook, 'ut +ata/i herself #ould turn up her nose at it)
%a&a laid the gilt metal rope straight on the ta'le) *he didn(t touch her pliers) :ilt #as tricky stuff on #hich to apply any force! 'adly #orked, it #ould flake off to e-pose the metal underneath)
*he needed to #arm it a 'it) Turning, %a&a reached to#ard the hearth and called a seed of fire to her) It s#er$ed around the t#o cooks #ho #orked there! 1nyussa #as #atching ia(s identical t#in ;orality, or ;ory, stir a green sauce) ;ory sa# the fire seed go 'y and ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html grinned at %a&a, then shifted ner$ously from foot to foot as 1nyussa inspected her #ork)
0 o# look.you rushed) It(s gone lumpy,0 the #oman said, lifting a fe# green clumps in a spoon) 0That(s the ruin of any sauce) If you don(t stir enough, or let your attention #ander, or add flour too fast, it lumps, and it(s ruined)0 1nyussa turned to chide a footman #ho had dropped a 'asket of kindling)
%a&a #as a'out to tell the glum ;ory it #as &ust a green sauce for fish, not a disaster, #hen a sil$er tendril of magic leaped from ;ory into the sauce.pot) The girl stirred it in #ith a trem'ling hand) %a&a stared) *he and Frostpine had li$ed here for t#o months) o one had mentioned that any of the "ancanor children, the t#ins or their younger 'rother and sister, had po#er)
1nyussa returned to ;ory) %a&a #atched the cook) 6ad the #oman seen ;ory(s small magic2
1nyussa dipped her spoon again) 0I tell young girls, you cannot rush.0 *he fell silent as she raised her spoon and turned it to spill the sauce 'ack into the pot) 1 long, smooth, green ri''on flo#ed neatly do#n, #ithout a lump in sight) 0"ut I #as sure) ) ) 0
1s %a&a repaired the necklace and mended cracks in the gilt, 1nyussa dre# out smooth spoonful after smooth spoonful) *he tasted the sauce and poured it into a dish! no lumps) 5hen a 'aker(s apprentice came to argue #ith 1nyussa o$er a 'ill, %a&a slid o$er the 'ench to sit close to ;ory) The girl regarded the 'o#l #ith a pu//led fro#n)
0<ou kno#,0 %a&a said 8uietly, 0if you can find a #ay to fi- that spell to a po#der or li8uid, you could sell it) Cooks e$ery#here #ill sing your praises)0
;ory 'linked at her) *he had ia(s large 'ro#n eyes and slender nose, set in a face the color of 'ro#n honey, a shade lighter than her southern mother(s) *he #as li$ely, smile.mouthed, and a handful.her t#in, ia, #as the 8uiet one) 6er chief 'eauty =and ia(s> #as the masses of gold.'ro#n crinkled hair that fell to her #aist) 05hat spell20 she asked %a&a) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
%a&a smiled) 05hat spell2 <ou unlumped your sauce) I can see magic.it(s no good telling me you didn(t spell that pot)0 *he inspected ;ory(s face, and fro#ned) The t#ins #eren(t hard to read) 0<ou didn(t kno#20
0I don(t ha$e magic,0 ;ory insisted) 0Papa and +ama had magic.sniffers at me and ia #hen #e #ere t#o, and again #hen #e #ere fi$e) ot a #hiff)0 *he grinned at %a&a) 0+ay'e it #as a spark) Things glitter in here all the time)0
%a&a got to her feet and draped her coat o$er her arm) 1nyone #ho sa# magic #ould glimpse it all around this kitchen) There #ere runes to keep out rats and mice, spells in the hearthstones to keep a fe# em'ers ali$e until someone re'uilt the fires, and a spice cup'oard magically 'uilt to keep its e-pensi$e, imported contents fresh)
0<ou #ould kno#,0 %a&a said) 0If you do figure out #hat you did, you should #rite it do#n)0
0Oh, 1nyussa &ust scraped from the 'ottom or something,0 ;ory said airily) 0*he #ants e$erything perfect.0
0Fire40 someone yelled outside) 0Fire in the alley4 Fire 'rigade, turn out40 ;ory fled, %a&a assumed to #arn her mother and the housekeeper) The kitchen help streamed outside)
%a&a put her coat do#n and follo#ed them, #ondering #hat 0fire 'rigade0 meant) *he #as surprised that 1nyussa had allo#ed e$eryone to run off to ga#k.the #oman #as fair, 'ut strict) 5hen she reached the courtyard %a&a disco$ered her mistake in thinking the ser$ants had come to #atch) 1 line of kitchen helpers stretched 'et#een the #ell and the alley off the rear courtyard7 they passed 'uckets of #ater out the rear gate) 1nother line of people led from the large pile of sand kept for use on icy paths) They passed 'uckets of sand the same #ay)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html %a&a follo#ed the full 'uckets into the alley) The efficient assem'ly stretched do#n its length to the near'y 'la/e, an a'andoned sta'le 'ehind +oykep 6ouse) %a&a $ie#ed it #ith an intelligent eye, since fire #as mi-ed into her po#er) The sta'le #as gone, that #as certain) The closest 'uildings might 'e in danger, 'ut it seemed this strange local efficiency co$ered that as #ell) +en stood on e$ery roof that might 'e at risk, soaking shingles #ith #ater, keeping an eye out for &umping flames or #ads of 'urning de'ris)
%a&a #as impressed t#ice o$er) *ince her arri$al in amorn, she(d found it hard to feel safe in cities that #ere almost entirely #ood) 6ere only the no'ility and the empire 'uilt in stone) 1pparently she did not #orry alone) *omeone #as teaching Kugiskans organi/ed #ays to 'attle fires)
06o# did this happen20 she asked 1nyussa, #ho stood 'eside her) 0+ost places, they ha$e sloppy lines and hardly anyone e$er thinks of the neigh'ors( roofs 'ut the neigh'ors)0
05e got lucky,0 1nyussa replied) *he #as a fortyish #hite #oman #ith 'ro#n eyes, sharp cheek'ones, and a full, passionate mouth) ?nlike many northern #omen, she left her hair 'ro#n rather than dye it fashiona'ly 'londe, and #ore it pinned in a coil) 0"ennat ,adradun, the man #ho trained us to fight fires, studied #ith the fire.mage, Pa#el :odsforge)0
%a&a #histled) 9$eryone #ho dealt #ith such things kne# of the great :odsforge, #hose home #as tucked among mountain springs and geysers in the north#est corner of the amornese empire) 0,adradun is a mage20 *he recogni/ed his name! the ,adraduns li$ed near'y)
0 ot 3a$$ot "ennat,0 1nyussa replied, using the amornese term for 0+aster)0 0"ut he said there #as plenty for e$en a non.mage to learn, and he learned it) 5hen he came home, he talked the city council into allo#ing him to train districts in :odsforge(s firefighting methods) Then he talked some of the island councils into granting funds and people to train) It paid off) It(s 'een t#o years since a house 'urned to the ground here on Kadasep) 6e.0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html *uddenly people in the sta'leyard #ere shouting) 1'o$e the adult $oices rose the thin screams of children) %a&a left 1nyussa and raced to#ard the sta'le, reali/ing someone must 'e caught inside) *he gathered her po#er in case she had to do something in a hurry)
In the sta'leyard, people stood as close as they dared to the entrance of the 'urning 'uilding, full 'uckets in hand) Their eyes #ere #ide in soot.streaked faces, glued to that dark opening ringed in flame)
*omeone #ent in, %a&a thought) They(re #aiting for him to come out) *he #as reaching #ith her magic, prepared to hold 'ack the fire, #hen a 'ulky, a#k#ard, gray shape came out of the smoke.filled entrance at a dead run) "ehind the shape o$erta-ed roof'eams groaned and collapsed) The sta'le roof ca$ed in, sending gouts of flame 'lasting out the door#ay to clutch and release the gray shape) %a&a sa# a clump of 'urning stra# shoot up through the hole in the roof, s#irling in the column of hot air released 'y the fire) The 'risk *no# +oon #inds sei/ed it and dragged it higher, to#ard the main house)
%a&a raised her right hand and snapped her fingers, calling #ith her po#er) The clump of fire came to her, collapsing until it #as a tidy glo'e that rested on her palm) 6olding it 'efore her face, she asked, 05hat am I going to do #ith you20
*he looked at the gray shape) Firefighters pulled the #ater.soaked 'lanket a#ay to re$eal a large, sodden #hite man #ith t#o 'oys no older than eight or ten) 6e carried one o$er a shoulder, one under an arm)
%a&a(s throat #ent tight #ith emotion) There #as no glimmer of magic to this fello# #ho had nearly 'een 'uried in the sta'le) 5ith only a #et 'lanket for protection he had plunged into flames to sa$e those 'oys) 6e(d come close to dying! one 'reath more and that 'urning roof #ould ha$e dropped on his head)
This #as a true hero, a non.mage #ho sa$ed li$es 'ecause he had to, not 'ecause he could protect himself #ith magic) 6e #as a tall man in his early thirties, coatless7 his #ool shirt #as co$ered in soot marks and scorches) 6is russet #ool trousers #ere also fire.marked) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 6e appeared to ha$e forgotten his #riggling 'urdens as he stared at %a&a and her fire seed #ith deep 'lue eyes)
The firefighters tugged on the 'oys) 3ecalled to himself, the tall man released them and grimaced) 6e shook his left hand! it #as crimson and 'listered #ith a serious 'urn) The 'oys #ere coughing, the result of their e-posure to smoke) Their rescuer eyed them #ith a fro#n as a firefighter #rapped linen around his 'urned hand) 05hich of you set it20 he demanded)
1 #oman in a maid(s cap and #hite apron #as offering the 'oys a ladle of #ater to drink) *he dropped the ladle at the 'lue.eyed man(s #ords) 0*et20 she cried)
06is fault, +ama,0 one croaked, pointing to the other) 06e spilt the lamp)0
0<ou said #e could play up there40 cried his companion, 'efore a series of coughs left him #hee/ing)
The maid gra''ed each lad 'y an ear and to#ed them into the main house) %a&a shook her head o$er the folly of the young and glanced at the 'urning sta'le) The firefighters had gi$en up) They simply kept 'ack and #atched for more flying de'ris) They also edged a#ay from %a&a, their eyes on the #hite.hot fire glo'e in her hand)
0If you don(t #ant people to 'e ner$ous #ith you, don(t do things that make them ner$ous,0 Frostpine had ad$ised after they(d 'een on the road a #eek) 0Or do things they #on(t notice) <ou($e 'een spoiled, li$ing at 5inding Circle) There e$eryone(s used to magic) Outside, making things act differently than normal turns people &umpy)0
%a&a didn(t like to make people &umpy) *he co$ered her fire'all #ith one hand)
06o# did you manage that20 The 'oys( rescuer #alked o$er to %a&a, cradling his #rapped ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html left hand) 0<ou called it) @iynain0. amornese for 0a male mage0.0:odsforge had that trick, e-cept in ri''ons, not 'alls)0 6e thrust his right hand at %a&a) 0"ennat ,adradun,0 he said) 9$en co$ered #ith soot and scorch.marks he #as a comforta'le.looking man, #ith the soft, 'ig 'ody of a #ell.'roken.in armchair) 6is 'road cheeks #ere each punctuated #ith a mole, one high, one lo#) 6is nose #as fleshy and pointed7 his flya#ay curls #ere reddish 'ro#n and losing ground on top of his head) *omeone came up #ith a dry 'lanket to #rap around him! his clothes #ere soaked 'y the 'lanket he(d #orn into the sta'le)
%a&a had to unco$er her fire'all to shake his hand) 0%a&a Kisu'o,0 she replied) 0<ou #ere 'ra$e to go in there)0
0 o, I &ust didn(t think,0 "ennat replied a'sently) 0If I had, I(d ha$e kno#n 'etter) The roof #as a'out to go)0 6e turned her offered hand palm up and closed his fingers around it) 0 ot e$en hot,0 he remarked) 01 little #arm, that(s all)0 6e let %a&a go) 0<ou(re one of the smith. mages, am I right2 The pair staying #ith Kol and +ata/i20
%a&a nodded) 0The "ancanors( cook says you teach Kugisko to fight fires)0
"ennat smiled, his thin mouth tucked into ironic corners) 0I teach parts of Kugisko, 'it 'y 'it, kicking and screaming,0 he replied as he inspected the fire'all) 6e held his hand o$er it and snatched it 'ack) 05ell, that(s hot, at least) @iynain :odsforge #ore spelled glo$es so he #ouldn(t get 'urned #hen he #orked #ith flame) 5hy doesn(t the fire 'other you20
0It(s magic,0 she told him 8uietly) 0One of the first things #e learn)0
6e shook his head) 0+y #hole year #ith :odsforge, only t#o of our mages learned to hold fire, and they couldn(t manage something that hot) 5hat are you going to do #ith it20
%a&a shrugged and tossed it 'ack to the sta'le) It $anished in the flames) 0%id the 'lanket really help in there20 she #anted to kno#) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
The man #andered o$er to a 'arrel set 'eside the far #all and sat on it) %a&a follo#ed him) 0The trick(s in guessing ho# long you ha$e 'efore the fire sucks the damp out,0 he e-plained) 0I hoped it #as #et enough that I could reach the loft, gra' our fireflies, and get out) It helped kno#ing #here they #ere.#e sa# them, in the #indo# o$er the door) If I(d had to search, I might 'e a little charred no#)0 ,ooking at the 'urning sta'le, he shook his head) 0I told the +oykeps si- months ago they ought to pull this thing do#n) It #as an accident #aiting to happen)0
0This #hole city(s an accident #aiting to happen,0 %a&a said #ith feeling) 01ll these #ooden houses.it(s mad.'rained, that(s #hat)0
"ennat looked at her and smiled) 0That(s right.you(re from the south) *ome'ody told me you #ere) 5ood(s cheap in this part of the country.#e($e got more forests than #e kno# #hat to do #ith) 1nd families mo$ing into the city, they #ant something that reminds them of home)0
05ood,0 %a&a said, shaking her head in disgust)
0<ou get used to it,0 "ennat said) 0There(s real craftsmanship in the car$ings on the roofs and doors and porches) 1nd the 'uilders use different kinds of log, to contrast colors and te-tures in the #ood)0
06ere I thought they &ust 'uilt these places any old #ay,0 %a&a admitted) 0It ne$er occurred to me they used different #oods on purpose)0 *he reali/ed she #as 'eing rude) 0I(m sorry) It(s not my place to critici/e your home)0
"ennat chuckled, then 'egan to cough) One of the #omen firefighters came to offer him a flask) "ennat took it and drank, coughing 'et#een sips) 1t last the coughs stilled) 6e returned the flask) 0Thanks,0 he told the #oman after he #iped his mouth on his slee$e) ,ooking at %a&a he asked, 0*o do you fight fires20
%a&a smiled crookedly) *he #asn(t sure that he #ould term sucking a forest fire through her 'ody to douse it in a glacier as firefighting) 0+ostly I &ust handle it in the forge,0 she replied) 0I kno# a trick or t#o.there(s al#ays the risk of little fires starting in forges or inns.'ut I almost ne$er use them)0
0I(d like to hear a'out them sometime,0 "ennat told her) 01nyone #ho 'alls up fire and holds it pro'a'ly kno#s more a'out ho# it #orks than I do)0 6e lurched to his feet, cleared his throat, and sighed) 0I(d 'etter check the outposts, make sure no other #ads of de'ris #ent flying)0 6e offered %a&a his hand) 0Thanks for the help)0
%a&a shook hands) 1s she #alked 'ack to "ancanor 6ouse, she eyed the firefighters) They kept #atch o$er the sta'le as it 'urned lo#, 'ut they #ere rela-ed and &oking) The #orst #as o$er) The sta'le #as gone, 'ut t#o 'oys #ere still ali$e, and nothing else had caught fire, 'ecause "ennat ,adradun had trained these people #ell) That #as far more impressi$e in this firetrap city than her a'ility to handle flames)
5hen the staff returned to the "ancanor kitchens, %a&a returned 1nyussa(s repaired necklace) Then she collected her coat and clim'ed the ser$ants( stairs to her room)
6er e-citement o$er the fire and "ennat s rescue of the children $anished, lea$ing ashes in its #ake) 6omesickness s#ept o$er %a&a as she #alked into her amornese room #ith its ornately car$ed mantel, its high 'ed heaped #ith feather.stuffed comforters, its hea$ily shuttered #indo#s, and the riot of colors in its thick carpet and drapes)
1ll these things reminded her that she #as not at home in 9melan, at 5inding Circle temple #ith its stucco 'uildings, simple furniture, and many gardens) *he #as far from the Pe''led *ea, and she couldn(t e-pect to meet her three foster.si'lings or their teachers around the ne-t corner) There #as plenty to see and do as she tra$eled, plenty of occasions for e-citement, acti$ity, e$en fun) "ut e$ery time strong emotions faded, she longed for her foster.family) o one else #ould talk to her of fashions, constellations, diseases, skin creams, staff fighting, or the art of miniature trees) *he e$en missed their dog ,ittle "ear, 'ig, galumphing, drooling animal that he #as) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
9$en if she #ent 'ack no#, the others #eren(t there) *andry li$ed #ith her great.uncle, %uke @edris of 9melan, in *ummersea) *he had gi$en her room a#ay, she(d #ritten %a&a, to a terrified no$ice thread.mage) The last time %a&a had heard from "riar, their lone foster.'rother, he and his teacher 3osethorn #ere on their #ay east) They might not return for t#o years) Tris and her teacher iko had gone so far south that %a&a fully e-pected them to return from the north)
It #as Frostpine(s idea to tra$el as #ell, to sho# %a&a the #ays of other smiths) *he kne# it #as in part to take her mind off the a'sence of "riar and Tris) It #as also true that she had learned a great deal in smithies that ranged from tiny crossroad places #here the specialty #as horseshoes, to elegant goldsmiths( forges #here she learned to put designs composed of tiny gold 'alls on metal) 6ere in Kugisko she studied #ith Teraud @oska&o, #ho Frostpine called the greatest ironsmith he kne#) It seemed unfair that she had to go so far to learn so much) 1t least they had settled for no# in a comforta'le place) They #ere not #ander.mages here) They #ere honored guests of the head of Kugisko(s :oldsmiths( :uild, #hich controlled the city(s 'anks)
*he #ished she could ha$e this learning and her 9melan family) 1 'reak from her foster. si'lings had 'een a fine thing at first) 1fter mingling their po#ers, they had kept a magical 'ond that allo#ed them to kno# #hat the others thought and felt) 5hen they(d left 9melan %a&a had thought she could go months, perhaps a year, #ithout kno#ing three other people inside and out, as they kne# her) *he had lasted t#o #hole #eeks, she thought ruefully)
One thought 'rightened her mood! she(d had a nice talk #ith "ennat ,adradun) 1 sensi'le talk, a'out useful things) *miling at this simple pleasure, %a&a hung up her indoor coat) "ennat had mentioned something that t#eaked her imagination! glo$es spelled so the #earer might handle fire) Could she make glo$es that someone #ith no magic might use2 If such glo$es could 'e made, #hat a'out an entire suit2 5ith a fireproof suit, someone like "ennat #ouldn(t ha$e to rely on the scant protection of a #ater.soaked 'lanket)
*he thought until she reali/ed that she daydreamed #ith no purpose) *he set the ideas for glo$es and suit to heat in the 'ack of her mind and turned to her current pro&ect! matching &e#elry sets for each of the "ancanor #omen, e$en eight.year.old Peigi) For Kol and his fi$e.year.old son 9idart she had already created matching gold neck rings and #rist cuffs, &e#elry fa$ored 'y amornese men) They #ere her ,ongnight presents, her thanks to this ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html openhearted family)
%a&a la'ored o$er her gifts, shaping the #omen(s &e#elry to 'e as fine and ornate as lace) The cost of the gold #as nothing) The strange, uni8ue pieces she made #ith the e-cess li$ing metal she took off her hand daily.if she let it go unchecked, she #ould 'e coated in it 'y no#.had made %a&a #ealthy)
*he #as shaping a sign of health #hen someone rapped on her door) 0It(s open,0 she called, t#itching a near'y piece of cloth o$er her #ork to hide it)
;ory danced in, follo#ed 'y her t#in) ia sat 'eside %a&a, #hile ;ory #andered the room, chattering) 01nyussa says cook.mages study from 'ooks) They put spells on sauces and dra# sym'ols on pots and pans) They shape magic signs in 'read, and strengthen her's and spices to use in spells) They can make people fall in lo$e #ith a cup of tea, e-cept they(d get caught and arrested for magicking people #ithout permission) *he said Olennika Potcracker, #ho used to 'e the empress(s personal cook, #as so po#erful that if someone put poison in the empress(s food2 It all turned green)0
%a&a crossed her arms and #aited for ;ory to get to her point) It #as a tactic %a&a had learned o$er the last t#o months)
01nd 1nyussa says cook.mages are found 'y magic.sniffers and they all get a license from the +ages( *ociety here or a medallion from ,ights'ridge ?ni$ersity or 5inding Circle that says they(re proper mages and ha$e read all the right 'ooks, &ust like Olennika Potcracker)0 ;ory plumped herself do#n on a footstool) 0*o I couldn(t 'e a mage like that) The magic.sniffers said #e #eren(t mages) T#ice) It(s in Papa(s family, 'ut not in us)0
%a&a touched the medallion she #ore under her clothes) Frostpine had made one for each of the four at %iscipline Cottage eighteen months 'efore, and gi$en them out at a supper attended 'y them and their teachers) The front of each pendant had the student(s name and that of her or his chief teacher inscri'ed on the outer edges) 1 sym'ol for that student(s magic #as at the center7 %a&a(s #as a hammer o$er flames) On the other side of the medallion #as the spiral sym'ol for 5inding Circle, #here they had studied)
The medallions #ere spelled so that usually the #earers forgot them unless someone asked them to pro$e they #ere accredited mages) 5inding Circle(s mage council had granted the medallions the four had earned only after Frostpine promised to ensure they didn(t 'rag a'out a credential that most mages studied for years to get) 6e didn(t tell the council that the four #eren(t likely to 'rag.the council #ould not ha$e 'elie$ed it) *andry #ore her medallion like her no'ility! it #as so much a part of her that she rarely thought a'out it) "riar might once ha$e used it to 'oast, 'ut no longer) Tris #anted the #orld to forget ho# po#erful her magic #as) For %a&a the forgetting spell #as useless) ot only did her o#n po#er tell her #hat she #ore, 'ut the disguising spells on the medallions #ere Frostpine(s, #hose magic she kne# as #ell as her o#n)
For no#, she sa# no point in telling ;ory that as an accredited mage, she kne# more a'out magic than 1nyussa) Instead %a&a told the girl, 0There(s another kind of mage, not as common as the ones #ho train #ith the +ages( *ociety or at ,ights'ridge) 5e see a lot of them at 5inding Circle) They use magic that(s already in things, rather than adding magic to something) It(s called am'ient magic) <ou can make it stronger, or 'igger, or more accurate, #ith 'ook studies, 'ut you still dra# on magic that(s already there) 9$erything has some magic in it)0 *he looked at ia) 0I suppose you like cooking too2 Though I hardly e$er see you in the kitchens)0
ia shook her head)
;ory replied, 0*he #on(t go near a hearth) *he(s afraid of fire)0
ia glared at ;ory) 0<ou #ould 'e, too, if you had any sense,0 she informed her t#in)
The house clock chimed the hour)
;ory and ia looked at each other) 0+usic lessons40 they yelped, and tum'led out the door)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html %a&a unco$ered her necklace and #ent 'ack to #ork)
1fter a couple of hours( la'or, %a&a reali/ed she #as stiff) 1 #alk might clear the co'#e's from her skull) %o#n the ser$ants( stair she #ent, 'ypassing the kitchen and its enticing smells, follo#ing the corridors that connected the 'uildings until she reached the slush room) Properly clothed, she #andered out into the #aning afternoon and the alley) The rear gate to +oykep 6ouse #as still open, the trampled and sooty ground around it fro/en into ruts and holes) %a&a looked in) 1 tall, rumpled figure in a hea$y sheepskin coat #andered through the remains of the sta'le, kicking apart any large clumps of charred matter) "ennat ,adradun #as checking for hidden 'la/es that might find something to 'urn if the #ind picked up)
9ntering the courtyard, %a&a thre# her po#er out ahead of her, feeling for heat) 0There(s nothing #arm left,0 she told him) 0I &ust checked)0
The 'ig man smiled) 01nother useful skill, @iymese %a&a,0 he said, using the amornese #ord for a female mage) 6e #alked carefully across the 'urned.out mess until he reached her) Places #here the firefighters had used #ater #ere fro/en, making the footing treacherous) 1s he spread his arms for 'alance, %a&a sa# a neatly #rapped 'andage on his left hand)
0<ou got scorched,0 she said, pointing to it)
6e made a face) 0 ot too 'adly) There #as a piece of #ood in the #ay #hen I #ent to get those 'oys) I knocked it aside, 'ut the 'lanket slipped and I hit it #ith my 'are hand) The healer says #hen I take this off, day after tomorro#, I #on(t e$en ha$e a scar)0 Changing the su'&ect, he remarked, 0I(m surprised you(re not studying #ith :odsforge) I don(t kno# if you($e heard of him.0 6e slipped on the edge of the 'uilding)
%a&a instantly steadied him) 0I ha$e,0 she said, releasing him as he got his footing) 0I(m a ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html smith, really.fire for its o#n sake doesn(t much interest me) 1ll I kno# a'out fire comes from my magic) I kno# you studied #ith him)0
"ennat shook his head) 05e think #e(re such a #orldly city, 'ut really, #e(re &ust a collection of $illages) :ossip flo#s 8uicker than air here) %id they tell you a'out my 'irthmarks20
%a&a grinned up at him) 0I don(t kno# ho# they missed that,0 she replied) *he had already disco$ered that most Kadasep Island residents kne# her name and Frostpine(s, #hy they had come to Kugisko, and #here they li$ed) 0If you don(t mind my asking, #hy study #ith a fire.mage if you($e no magic yourself20
0"ecause he kne# ho# fires 'urn #ith different materials, and ho# to fight them,0 the man replied) 0Things e$en someone like me could learn) Things like #hen you(re in a 'urning 'uilding, touch a closed door first) If it(s hot, you #on(t like #hat happens if you open it)0
%a&a raised her eye'ro#s in a silent 8uestion)
6e ans#ered! 0Opening the door, you gi$e the fire inside a 'urst of air) It 'lasts out and cooks the person in the door#ay)0
%a&a #histled softly) 0I(ll remem'er that) 1nd it makes sense) 5e use a 'ello#s in the forge to pump air into the fire to make it 'urn hotter) 5hat else did you learn20
06o# to kno# if a fire #as deli'erately set,0 he e-plained) 01nd #ind patterns, the use of sand in #inter) ) ) 0 6e stared at the ruins, hands stuffed in his coat pockets) 0One time there #as a 'arn that had to 'e destroyed, so he set fire to it) Then he thre# a shield o$er us, so #e could stand in the middle of the 'arn and #atch ho# the fire 'urned, along the floor, up the #alls, into the loft) It #as like a carpet of fire 'lossoms rippling o$er our heads)0 6e glanced at %a&a) 0I(m sorry) People tell me that I &ust rattle on)0
0 o, no, I(m interested40 %a&a protested) 0The only time I e$er sa# anything like that #as during this forest fire) 9$en then, #hat I sa# didn(t ripple or anything) I pulled it through me) 1ll I sa# #as streaks)0 *he reali/ed #hat she must sound like, and hung her head) 0I(m not 'oasting) It really did happen)0
0Oh, I 'elie$e you,0 said "ennat, his eyes 'la/ing #ith e-citement) 05hat I #ould gi$e to see that40
%a&a grinned at him) 01t the time I #ished I hadn(t, 'ut it #asn(t like I had a choice) I #ould ha$e died if my foster.'rother and .sisters and Frostpine hadn(t helped #ith their magic) 1nd I didn(t e-actly come a#ay unscathed)0 *he ru''ed her thum' against the metal under her left glo$e) <es, it #as useful) <es, she no# made li$ing metal creations that rich people 'ought at high prices) *he had also seen re$ulsion on the faces of those #ho touched her hand and found #arm metal, or those #ho sa# her peeling the e-cess from her flesh) *he(d also suffered infections #hen the metal caught on something and pulled a#ay part of her skin) *he shook off those memories) 0%id you learn a'out forest fires from :odsforge20 she asked her companion)
09nough that I prefer city fires,0 "ennat said #ith a grimace) 0Or at least, I prefer city fires if I ha$e trained people to fight them) :odsforge had us out in the #oods digging fire'reaks one time, and the fire &umped the 'reak) 5ithout him to protect us) ) ) 0 6e shrugged) 06e said that once a really 'ig forest fire gets going, it can(t 'e stopped until it rains or it consumes all the forest it can get)0
They #ere mo$ing out through the +oykep gate, into the alley) 0It(s true,0 %a&a said) 01t least, iko. iklaren :oldeye, he #as one of our teachers.he said that a'out lots of things, storms, forest fires, tidal #a$es) They reach a point of strength, and e$en the most po#erful mages can(t stop them) The 'est you can do is shift them)0
6e(d come to a halt, and #as staring at her) 0<ou studied #ith iklaren :oldeye20
It #as %a&a(s turn to shrug) 06e(s the one #ho sa# my magic, and taught us to control #hat ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #e had) +ostly he #as my sister Tris(s teacher, though)0 *he made a face) 0They #ere #ell suited.al#ays #ith their noses in 'ooks)0
"ennat laughed and offered his hand) 0I en&oyed talking #ith you, %a&a Kisu'o) I hope #e can do it again)0
%a&a took his hand) 0Thank you, 3a$$ot ,adradun) It(s nice to talk to someone #ho doesn(t &ust think a fire(s for use or putting out)0
0Call me "en,0 he told her) 01nd I kno# #hat you mean) To most people fire(s a means to an end, or it(s a monster) They don(t reali/e it has moods &ust like the *yth, or the skies)0
0 o, they don(t,0 agreed %a&a)
They stood in the fro/en alley for a moment, smiling at each other, sharing that understanding of fire and its shapes) Then "en sighed) 0I really should go home,0 he said) 0+other #ill ha$e fits #hen she sees my clothes) 5hat can you do20 6e #andered do#n the alley to#ard ,adradun 6ouse, hands thrust once more in his coat pockets)
%a&a #atched him go) *he had thought that once children #ere gro#n, they didn(t ha$e to #orry a'out a parent(s #rath) +ay'e it #as different #hen the gro#n child came to li$e under a parent(s roof once again)
The #ind thre# a fistful of sleet into her face) *he turned and hurried 'ack to "ancanor 6ouse)
Chapter A
On her return to "ancanor 6ouse, %a&a #ent to Frostpine(s room and knocked on the door) In$ited in, she found her teacher 'eside his fire, seated so close to it that the sno#.damp hem of his red #ool ha'it steamed gently) 6e #as a tall 'lack man in his late forties, lean and ropy #ith muscle, full.lipped and eagle.nosed) 6is 'ald cro#n gleamed in the firelight) %a&a often thought that it #as sheer defiance of his 'aldness that made Frostpine gro# long, #ild, 'ushy hair on the sides of his head! today he had pulled it 'ack and tied it #ith a thong) The discipline he(d forced onto this hair emphasi/ed his e8ually #ild and 'ushy 'eard)
Frostpine had gold coins in each hand #hen she came in) 6e #alked them through his long fingers, turning them o$er as they tra$eled) 0Close the door, you(re letting in a draft,0 he ordered, tossing a coin to %a&a) 0I &ust got 'ack from riding and I(m cold)0
0<ou(ll set yourself on fire if you mo$e any closer to the hearth,0 she informed him as she took the chair 'eside his)
0Then I(ll die #arm,0 Frostpine said, glum.faced) 05hat do you think of that20 6e pointed to the coin %a&a held)
05hat must I think20 she asked, holding it in her palm) 0It(s an argi')0 *he named the standard coin of the empire) 01 gold argi', #ith that a#ful portrait of the empress on the front)0
0It(s a fake,0 he said)
%a&a #as indignant) 01nd #ouldn(t I tell.0 she 'egan to say)
Frostpine leaned o$er and traced a sign on the coin she held) %a&a immediately kne# she held a 'rass counterfeit) 0<ou ne$er taught me ho# to do that,0 she accused him) 06o# could I not kno# it #as false20 ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
0"ecause you #eren(t thinking a'out the possi'ility of a counterfeit, and 'ecause it(s the 'est such spell I($e e$er seen,0 he said) 0Thank 6akkoi of the Fire and the Forge that the chief of the magistrate(s mages guessed something #as #rong and asked me to take a closer look) It took me t#o hours to sort through the illusions on it)0
%a&a #histled, impressed) 0Faking gold so e$en I couldn(t tell it #asn(t real2 That(s serious)0
0The go$ernor #ants me to #ork on this along #ith 6eluda.6eluda *alt, the magistrate(s mage #ho called me in)0 Frostpine sighed) 05e ha$e to see not only #ho(s doing this, 'ut ho# many fakes are in circulation) 1nd #e ha$e to do it 8uietly)0
0I should think so40 %a&a #as 'orn a Trader, a people #hose many clans 'ought, transported, and sold goods o$er a large part of the #orld) Trader 'a'ies got #ooden teething toys car$ed like the main coins for the countries #here their families traded) For ten years %a&a(s life had 'een a'out trade and money) *he kne# #hat happened #hen people found that the coins on #hich they depended #ere false) Currency #ould plummet) o one #ould 'uy or sell anything in gold, perhaps not e$en in copper or sil$er, until it #as pro$ed that no more fakes remained) *uch a crisis could result in a go$ernment(s fall, or e$en in #ar, as #ell as instant po$erty for entire populations) 05hat a'out the sil$er argi'20 %a&a asked)
0*afe,0 Frostpine said) 05hoe$er did this concentrated on gold.this method #ould ne$er #ork on sil$er) 5e may ha$e caught the counterfeit early enough to make a difference) I #ent through half of #hat(s in the go$ernor(s treasury, and only found ten fakes so far) 5e need to catch #ho(s doing it, of course) 1nd any friends he may ha$e) <ou might not see much of me for a #hile)0
0<ou(re sure you can catch him20 %a&a asked)
Frostpine smiled) 0I handle enough of his fakes and I(ll sniff him out like a hound)0 ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
0<ou said that #hen someone #as filching your tools 'ack home,0 she said ruthlessly) 0It took you all #inter to find him)0
Frostpine(s dark eyes flashed) 0I didn(t kno# I #as looking for a child,0 he said tartly) 0I suspected dark plots 'y.oh, you ha$e no respect for me)0
%a&a grinned) 0I ha$e plenty of respect for you) Truly) I s#ear it)0
Frostpine slouched in his chair) 0Time #as #hen students didn(t mock their teachers) They did as they #ere told and said, (<es sir,( and ( o, sir)(0
0That no'leman in Olart #ho #anted you as his teacher.he #as respectful,0 %a&a said innocently) 06e (sir.ed( you across the realm and 'ack) <ou called him a, a (cake.mouthed ninny dressed as a peahen)( 1nd you told him memori/ing runes and chants did not make him a smith.mage) 5e had to sleep in someone(s 'arn that night)0
0Is it my fault he disliked criticism20 Frostpine #anted to kno#) 6e put another log on the fire)
1s he returned to his chair %a&a said, 01'out students and teachers) ) ) I think ;ory has cook magic)0
Frostpine raised hea$y 'ro#s) 0<ou think20
%a&a shrugged) 0I #as in the kitchen #hile she #as making a sauce) 1nyussa said it #as lumpy) 5hen she got distracted, ;ory did some0.%a&a t#iddled her fingers to indicate magic.0on it, and the ne-t time 1nyussa checked, no lumps) I sa# the magic pass from ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html ;ory into the pot) 1nd she sees the spells in that kitchen, though she &ust thinks it(s flashes of light at the corner of her eyes)0
0*he(s an am'ient mage20 Frostpine asked)
06as to 'e,0 %a&a replied) 0*he and ia told me they #ere tested 'y magic.sniffers t#ice, and they didn(t find a thing)0
05ell, if one t#in has magic, 'oth do)0 Frostpine stretched his 'ooted feet to#ard the fire) 0That(s al#ays the case #ith t#ins) The po#er takes different paths.it seems to 'e shaped 'y their personalities and #hat happens in their li$es) 6a$e you a sense for #hat ia(s magic might 'e20
%a&a shook her head) 0I ha$e no idea)0
Frostpine smoothed his 'eard) 0Then you need a testing de$ice) *omething to help you find out the kind and the strength of magic a person might ha$e,0 he said) 0There are all $arieties.mirrors, glo'es, crystals) I kne# a paint.mage #ho spelled a clear oil so that #hen the one she tested put his hand to can$as, a picture of his po#er, or her po#er, gre# out of it) "eautiful #ork,0 he remarked, and sighed) 0I #as consumed #ith en$y)0
0*o let Kol and +ata/i &ust take ia to a magic.sniffer and tell him to look harder,0 %a&a replied) 0I ha$e pro&ects of my o#n to do)0 ,i$ing metal glo$es for a hero, one #ho didn(t ha$e magic to shield him, she thought 'ut didn(t say)
Frostpine inspected his nails) 0I suppose #e could get a magic.finder and e-plain things)0 6is $oice #as suspiciously mild) 0Things like the "ancanors heard ia has po#er, 'ut the disco$ering.mage couldn(t tell them #hat it is)0
%a&a glared at him) 0<ou(re needling me,0 she accused) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
05hat(ll 'e #orse is #hen the magic.finder #orks out the magic ia has and sends her 'ack to you for instruction)0 Frostpine seemed to need to ensure that each of his fingernails #as clean) 0I dou't it #ould help her confidence in you to kno# you needed someone else to e-plain #hat to teach her)0
%a&a sat 'olt upright) 0I(m not teaching any'ody) 1nd I(m not letting a strange mage tell me anything)0
0That much is my fault,0 Frostpine said, putting yet another log on the fire) 6e held out his hand and raised it an inch in the air) Flames spread o$er the fresh #ood in a leap, making it 'urn 8uickly) 0I didn(t think #e(d ha$e to deal #ith this for years, 'ut the gods like to make a man feel unprepared, so the #ise#omen say)0
%a&a drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair) 0*top dancing around it,0 she said) 0I hate it #hen you take a year to #alk a mile)0
01s the disco$erer of their magic, you ha$e to teach them,0 Frostpine e-plained) 0I did mention the rules, #hen you got the medallion) Part of the price you pay for it0.he pointed to the spot on her chest #here it lay under her clothes.0is that #hen you find a ne# mage, you ser$e in a teacher(s place until a proper one of the same kind of po#er is found) *andry #rote you, didn(t she2 To say she had a student20
%a&a nodded slo#ly) 0I thought she #as 'eing silly, telling me she had to make spells up for this Paeon, or ho#e$er he calls himself, 'ecause there aren(t any other lone dance. mages) 1nd I(m as 'ad off as she is.I don(t kno# anything a'out cooking for ;ory, or #hate$er ia has) I can(t do it40
0%on(t panic,0 Frostpine said firmly) 0Cook.mages, at least, are as common as salt) +agic. sniffers #ho can see and identify am'ient magic aren(t common, 'ut the +ages( *ociety keeps a list of those #ho can do it) Chances are, once you kno# #hat kind of magic ia has, you(ll 'e a'le to find a teacher #ith her magic as easily as you(ll 'e a'le to find a cook. ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html mage for ;ory) In the meantime, start teaching them to meditate) If ;ory (s magic is popping out #ithout her kno#ledge, ia(s can(t 'e far 'ehind) They need to learn to control it sooner rather than later)0
The hall clock chimed) It #as time to change clothes for supper) %a&a le$ered herself out of her chair) 0I ha$e to do all this20 she asked, pleading #ith him) 03un all o$er the city for magic.sniffers and teachers and all20
0*ince you don(t #ant to make a testing de$ice of your o#n to tell you #hat ia has, I suppose you do,0 Frostpine replied) 01nd you must tell Kol and +ata/i) They(ll 'e pleased)0
05ould you 'e20 %a&a asked, sho$ing her hands into her 'reeches pockets)
0 o# there(s an odd 8uestion,0 Frostpine said) 6e had returned to #alking the false coins o$er and under his fingers) 01ren(t you happy you(re a mage20
0*ometimes,0 %a&a said as she #ent to the door) In her mind(s eye she sa# herself, adrift in a #ash of ship #reckage, straining to reach a floating 'o- filled #ith life.gi$ing supplies) 01nd then remem'er that I learned a'out my po#er after my entire family dro#ned and I got declared an outcast) I #onder sometimes if magic really is a good thing)0
Frostpine looked up at her #ith a smile) 05ell, it #as a good thing for me that you came along,0 he said) 0That should count for something)0
%a&a #ent 'ack to her room, feeling decidedly grumpy) For one thing, changing clothes for the e$ening meal #as the kind of folly practiced 'y people #ho had too many clothes they didn(t ha$e to #ash) *ince it #as the custom in #ealthy houses %a&a changed her garments, 'ut it chafed her spirit)
+ore than nice clothes, though, Frostpine(s information irked her) It #as 'ad enough that she must teach.she #as 'usy, after all) ;ust going to a mage she didn(t kno# to find out #hat e-actly she must teach #as someho# #orse) *he felt as if she had 'een challenged to do something, and had failed)
The magical testing methods Frostpine had mentioned in$ol$ed seeing) *he had studied something of the kind a couple of years ago) Tris(s teacher, iko, #hose specialty #as seeing.magic of all kinds and #ho taught the four general magic, decided they ought to kno# ho# to scry, or to see things that took place in the past, the present, and sometimes the future) Those mages #ith any talent for it easily sa# the present in their scrying de$ices) *ome e$en glimpsed the past) Occasionally they sa# 'its of the future, 'ut 'ecause the future changed from moment to moment as the present did, those 'its #ere rarely useful)
*o iko had gi$en the four of them a choice of crystals, mirrors, e$en 'o#ls, #hich sho#ed images #hen filled #ith #ater or oil) 6e then tried to teach them different #ays to call $isions to their chosen de$ices) Tris #as the only one #ho could do it e$ery time, 'ut she had trou'le seeing anything that interested her) *crying #as such a #ill.o(.the.#isp magic that "riar and *andry had gi$en up in disgust) The 'est luck that %a&a e$er had #ith it #as #hen she looked for things in a small 'o#l of her li$ing metal! that #as ho# she had disco$ered that a kitchen 'oy #as taking Frostpine(s tools) It #asn(t relia'le! one 'ump of the 'o#l and the image #as gone, ne$er to 'e recaptured) In the end she had discarded the metal she(d used in the 'o#l) It continued to flicker #ith images long after she ga$e up scrying, and she couldn(t use the metal for anything else)
%a&a stopped changing into supper clothes half#ay and sat at her #orkta'le, pulling a slate and a piece of chalk to#ard her) 5hat if she created a li$ing metal mirror2 That #ould 'e more sta'le than a 'o#l7 she could use it o$er and o$er) *he could take #hat iko had taught them and shape the mirror to reflect a precise image of someone(s magic) *he scri''led hurried notes) If she remem'ered e$erything properly, she had all she #ould need in this room)
9-cited.she #ould sho# Frostpine4.she opened the trunk at the foot of her 'ed) It #as co$ered in leather and secured #ith leather straps, #ith the em'lem of %a&a(s o#n 6ouse Kisu'o 'urned into e$ery side) This #as a suraku, a sur$i$al 'o- that seafarers packed #ith food and #ater against the possi'ility of ship#reck) The contents of this one had kept %a&a ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html ali$e until iko had found her) It #as her chief treasure and all that remained of her dro#ned family, so it #as only natural that she turn it into her mage(s kit) Inside the copper.lined 'o- she kept magical tools, her's, oils, and metal samples in small 'ottles and &ars, corked, sealed, and tucked into padded trays) %a&a selected tiny $ials of mercury and of saffron oil, a slender hollo# glass tu'e, a sil$er disk as #ide as her hand #as long, and an engra$ing tool) These she placed on her #orkta'le)
e-t she opened the 'ig &ar that took up half of the suraku(s, interior) Its contents gleamed the 'right sil$ery gold of 'rass) *he had started filling it #ith e-cess pieces of the metal that continued to gro# on her left hand) ,ater, as she found uses for it, she added 'rass scraps and drops of her o#n 'lood to the &ar(s contents! #ithin a day the scraps #ould soften and 'lend, gi$ing her a good.si/ed container of li$ing metal #hene$er she needed it) ,i$ing metal creations had made her rich at fourteen! it #as good she(d found a #ay to create more #ithout ha$ing to #ait for it to gro# out of her flesh) o# she took a 'o#l and dipped it full, then set it on the ta'le)
"eside the door #as her Trader(s staff) The #ood #as fi$e feet of solid e'ony, capped in 'rass on the top end and iron on the 'utt) On the cap she had engra$ed or inlaid signs in #ire, telling her story to anyone #ho read Trader sym'ols) 6ere #as her sur$i$al of the sinking of her family(s ship7 her time as an outcast7 her rescue of a Trader cara$an during a forest fire7 the end of her outcast status7 and her present life as a mage #ith #hom Traders could 'uy and sell in honor)
It #as also $ery useful for defending herself, as Traders had done for centuries, and for creating circles of protection) 9-tending her po#er through the e'ony, %a&a dre# a circle around her #orkta'le, lea$ing herself plenty of room) Once done, she leaned her staff against her chair and closed her eyes, sliding into the core of her po#er) *he raised a 'arrier until she #as enclosed in a sil$ery 'u''le that #ould allo# no scrap of her po#er to leak out) In her second year as a mage, she had learned the hard #ay that an incomplete circle resulted in the most interesting kinds of damage #here$er her po#er met someone else(s magic)
6er protecti$e glo'e completed, she opened her eyes and smiled) *he liked to 'e en$eloped 'y her magic) 1s a $ery young girl she(d had a fa$orite 'lanket that made her feel #arm and safe) 6er protections seemed much like the 'lanket, though she had ne$er told anyone that)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html o# she #as ready) %a&a sat do#n and reached for her sil$er disk)
,ea$ing her room #ith her completed mirror in hand, %a&a heard her 'elly complain) Passing the hall clock do#nstairs, she sa# #hy! it #as t#o hours after supper) The family and Frostpine #ould 'e in the 'ook room)
5hen she #alked in, e$eryone turned to stare at her) Of the four "ancanor children only the t#ins #ere present, ia tatting lace, ;ory reading a 'ook on the hearth) Frostpine, Kol'orn "ancanor, and his #ife +ata/idah, or +ata/i, #ere all there, Frostpine as close to the fire as he could manage) Kol and +ata/i #ere in their fa$orite chairs near a ta'le #here a tea ser$ice already sat)
0%a&a, #e missed you at supper,0 +ata/i said, ringing the 'ell for a maid) 0<ou must 'e star$ing)0 *he #as a 'eauty #ho ne$er seemed a#are of her looks, a 8uality she had passed on to the t#ins) 6er skin, the color of coffee #ell lightened #ith cream, #as perfect7 her eyes large and dark o$er a slim nose, and reddened lips, the lo#er slightly fuller than the upper) *he #ore her handfuls of dark, crinkly hair pinned up in coils, accented 'y the topa/ drops that hung in her ears) *he #as dressed in amornese fashion in a long, slee$eless tunic dress of cinnamon.colored #ool #ith em'roidered lilies around the hem and tiny gold 'uttons that #ent from collar'one to shoe) ?nder it +ata/i #ore a cream.colored undergo#n #ith full slee$es and a 'and collar, trimmed #ith gold ri''on) %a&a fi-ed the details of her outfit in her mind! *andry al#ays liked to hear a'out the latest fashions, and the entire city looked to +ata/i for colors and styles)
5hen a maid ans#ered the 'ell, +ata/i asked her to 'ring a tray for %a&a) The maid 'o''ed a curtsey and left as ia offered tea to %a&a) 5ith an inner sigh, %a&a accepted) 9$en after three months in amorn, t#o in this house, she still #as not used to the idea of tea ser$ed in a glass cup #ith a #rought sil$er 'ase)
0+ore tea, Frostpine20 +ata/i in8uired) 6e passed his glass to her and got a full one in return) From a dish on the ta'le at his side he took a lump of sugar, set it in front of his teeth, and drank his tea 'y straining it through the sugar) %a&a #atched him do it #ith a shudder) 6e liked to practice the customs of the country they #ere in, and the amornese ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html drank their tea either that #ay or 'y straining it through a mouthful of cherry preser$es) %a&a didn(t care if it #as rude not to follo# the custom! she hadn(t eaten the 'aked sheep(s head in Karang, either)
;ory 'ounced up to a sitting position) 05ere you doing something magical, %a&a2 Frostpine said you #ere doing something magical) 6e said he could tell)0
%a&a sat do#n hard in a cushioned chair, clutching her tea glass to keep it from splashing) *uddenly her knees had gone #atery) 6er #ork had taken more out of her than she(d e-pected.missing supper hadn(t helped) 0<es, I #as,0 she told ;ory) 01nd of course Frostpine could tell) 6e(s my teacher)0 6olding her glass #ith 'oth hands to steady it, she drank her tea) "y the time she finished, the maid arri$ed #ith a large supper tray) 1s she caught a #hiff of its contents, her stomach ga$e a gro#l that e$eryone could hear)
0%a&a can tell you #hat she did after she eats,0 Kol "ancanor told ;ory as the maid put dishes and utensils on a small ta'le 'eside %a&a(s chair) %a&a #asn(t a'out to argue) *he started #ith the soup, spooning it up eagerly)
0I hear you had a fire in the alley today,0 Frostpine remarked)
01 small affair) 5e($e gro#n $ery casual a'out these things, thanks to "en ,adradun) 6e(s drilled all Kadasep Island in #hat to do,0 said Kol) 6e #as a tall, 'road.shouldered, easygoing man #ith a lean face and $ery sharp 'lue eyes) 6e #ore his 'ro#n.'londe hair com'ed straight 'ack) 6e dressed #ell 'ecause +ata/i, a former seamstress, sa# to it, 'ut there #as little trim on his plain 'ro#n #ool coat and 'reeches or on his #hite, full.slee$ed shirt) 6is 'oots #ere polished to a glossy finish, to the credit of the 'oot'oy, not 'ecause Kol took an interest) 6e told Frostpine, 0Three years ago, four, may'e fi$e houses #ould ha$e caught from that one mishap) o# our people #alk around clapping one another on the 'ack and saying (That #asn(t so 'ad)(0
0*o this fello#, "en.20 asked Frostpine)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0"ennat ,adradun,0 Kol supplied)
0,adradun did the island a fa$or,0 remarked Frostpine)
Kol nodded) 0Other islands, too) O$er the last t#o years he(s 'een training firefighters and getting the island councils to clean up o'$ious fire ha/ards)0
0It #as a #onderful thing, to dra# out of such de$astation,0 +ata/i said, sipping her tea) %a&a had 'een relie$ed to see that the mistress of "ancanor 6ouse drank tea like a normal person, #ithout s#eet stuff smeared all o$er her teeth) 0Only think, he lost his home, his #ife, and his children) They feared for his sanity) 6e #as a'solutely shattered) 1nd then off he goes to :odsforge.0
Frostpine raised his hea$y 'ro#s) 0The fire.mage20
Kol nodded) 0"en studied #ith him for t#o years) Then he came 'ack to ,adradun 6ouse like a man on fire, if you(ll e-cuse the e-pression) 6e talked, #heedled, 'ullied, all to get funds and firefighters to train) 6e(s changing ho# #e approach fires) Other amornese cities send people here to study his methods)0 6e shook his head) 01#e.inspiring) 6eroic, e$en #ithout the people he(s sa$ed #ith his o#n t#o hands) If he sees smoke, he(s there as fast as he can mo$e)0
%a&a listened as she ate) For the thousandth time she #ondered #hat these three #ere like #hen they had first 'ecome friends) Kol and Frostpine had roomed together for three years in the capital of "ihan, studying the goldsmith(s craft) They had met the 'eautiful seamstress at the same time, and Kol had courted and married her after her affair #ith Frostpine ended) Only on their arri$al in amorn did +ata/i learn that the copper.counting student she had married #as the heir to one of the #ealthiest merchant families in amorn) Through that and the years that follo#ed they had stayed in touch #ith Frostpine, and con$inced him and his student to stay #ith them o$er their #inter in the north)
%a&a looked at the plates and 'o#l 'efore her) *he had cleaned them all) 5hen she sat ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 'ack #ith a sigh, all eyes turned to her)
0 o# #ill you say #hat you #ere doing20 ;ory demanded)
0;orality, manners,0 #arned +ata/i)
;ory rolled her eyes) 0Please say #hat you #ere doing20
Kol fro#ned at her) 0I 'elie$e your mother meant that you should gi$e %a&a a moment to take a 'reath)0
%a&a looked at Frostpine) 0<ou could start,0 she offered)
Frostpine shook his head) 0 o half#ays,0 he informed her) 0Talking to the family is part of the responsi'ility)0
%a&a sco#led at Frostpine, #ho dipped up a spoonful of &am) "efore she actually sa# him drink tea through it, she turned to Kol and +ata/i) 0;ory used magic today)0 *ince she couldn(t think of a delicate #ay to deli$er the tidings, %a&a chose to &ust say it) 0 ot a charm or a chant, something she(d 'uy from a street seller or a shop) This #as her o#n, coming from her) *he took the lumps out of a green sauce she #as making) 1nd Frostpine says if one t#in has magic, so has the other)0
0"ut I told you,0 ;ory 'egan)
05e($e had magic.sniffers at 'oth of them, t#ice,0 +ata/i protested) *he refilled %a&a(s empty tea glass)
0Thank you,0 %a&a told her) 0;ory(s #hat #e call an.0
01m'ient mage,0 said Kol #ith a nod) 0Taking the magic that(s already in things and turning them to her o#n use)0 6e grinned at %a&a) 0<ou don(t li$e #ith a mage for three years #ithout learning a thing or t#o)0
01m'ient magic isn(t al#ays easy to see,0 %a&a e-plained to +ata/i) 0<ou ha$e to look for it in a particular #ay) *ince I can(t tell #hat ia(s got, I made a mirror to use as a scrying de$ice) That(s #hy I missed supper)0
09-cuse me,0 ia asked as %a&a took a s#allo# from her fresh glass of tea, 0'ut.scrying20
0*eeing,0 Frostpine told her) 0+irrors, crystal 'alls, 'o#ls of #ater.it depends on the mage, 'ut all of them #ork for most people)0
06ere(s the mirror I made to test for magic)0 %a&a fished it out of her 'elt pouch and held it up for them to see) The disk #as edged in li$ing metal and co$ered #ith it on the 'ack7 runes for seeing and magic #ere carefully etched into the rim) The mercury she(d used to #ake the sil$er to its magical potential #as co$ered o$er #ith her po#er and made solid, making it safe for those #ho #ere not metal.mages to touch it)
Frostpine e-tended a hand) %a&a put her mirror in it) 5hen he looked at the surface, #hite light 'la/ed out, startling e$eryone) 0@ery good,0 Frostpine said #ith appro$al) 01 nice, neat, thorough &o')0
0+ay I20 asked +ata/i, holding out her hand for the mirror)
%a&a nodded and Frostpine handed the mirror o$er) 1s +ata/i looked at it, %a&a #ent ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 'ehind her to #atch o$er her shoulder) 1ll the mirror re$ealed #as +ata/i(s o#n lo$ely features) 5hen she returned the mirror, %a&a offered it to Kol, #ho shook his head)
0 ia,0 %a&a said, 'eckoning) ;ory #ould 'e so 'usy talking a'out her po#er that ia might lea$e unnoticed) *he #as good at that) %a&a had yet to decide if ;ory did such things deli'erately to help her shyer t#in get a#ay, or if ia #as the only one to see that ;ory(s speeches left her time to escape) 5hiche$er it #as, ia #ould not slip out this time)
3eluctantly, %a&a(s skating teacher came for#ard) ?nlike ;ory that e$ening she #ore a single 'raid that harnessed most of the #a$y masses of her hair) *he didn(t share her t#in(s affection for glittering 'racelets and 'eaded hair ornaments, though she #ore a copper #ristlet that had o'$iously come from the south, and tiny pearl earrings) ;ory liked 'right colors and plenty of intricate em'roidery on her 'louses and hemlines7 ia kept her clothes plain)
0+ust I20 she asked %a&a, looking at the mirror as if it #ould 'ite)
0+agic has to 'e used, and trained, the minute it starts to appear,0 %a&a told her gently) 0Other#ise you #on(t 'e a'le to control it later) 3emem'er I told you a'out my foster. sister Tris, the #eather.mage20 "oth t#ins nodded) %a&a continued, 06er magic #asn(t recogni/ed for years, and it kept 'reaking a#ay from her) *he actually made it hail indoors once) I kno# I sa# ;ory use magic, #hate$er 1nyussa said)0 *he glanced at ;ory, #ho grinned) 0That means you ha$e it, and if you don(t get it under control, it could turn on you)0
ia shook her head, 'ut she took the mirror, and looked into it) Faint light, sparkling like opals, raced around the mirror(s rim, making the runes shimmer) 5atching o$er ia(s shoulder, %a&a sa# flickering images of ta'les, a pile of #ooden 'uttons, hands #ielding a plane to smooth #ood flat, inlaid 'o-es, a pot of stain, and ia(s face 'ehind it all, her dark eyes #ide in shock)
Frostpine gripped %a&a(s shoulder #armly for a moment and let go) 0Carpentry, iamara,0 he said) 0<our po#er mo$es through shaped #ood) 1ren(t you glad there(s a reason you like #hittling so much20 ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ia(s face had a look of mingled confusion and pleasure) 0<es,0 she #hispered, then thrust the mirror into %a&a(s hands and clung to her mother) Kol and +ata/i e-changed looks)
0+y turn,0 ;ory said, 'ouncing up and do#n)
Opal fire darted around the rim, &ust as it had for ia) ,ooking o$er ;ory s shoulder, %a&a sa# #hat she e-pected to see! pots on hearth.fires, spices 'eing measured, 'usy hands #orking dough, all reflected #ith ;ory(s face in the mirror)
0Cooking and carpentry,0 remarked Kol) 05ell) %on(t look so glum, ia) This could make you girls more sought.after marriage choices)0
0It(ll make ;ory more sought.after,0 said ia) 0Families #ant cook.mages for their sons) 5hat house #ill #ant a 'ride co$ered in sa#dust20
01 #ise one,0 +ata/i said, kissing ia(s head) 0I can think of three ship.'uilding clans #ho #ill gi$e their eye.teeth for a 'ride #ho can sense #oodrot)0
0*hip.'uilders20 ia asked, her face 'rightening a little)
0*hip.'uilders,0 Kol said firmly) 0Including old %omanus +oykep) I don(t 'elie$e he(s arranged matches for his youngest son(s 'oys)0
ia 'lushed and hid her face against her mother(s shoulder) %a&a #asn(t surprised that the "ancanors #ere already looking around for good matches for their t#ins! northern girls #ere married at fifteen or si-teen, and negotiations 'et#een #ealthy families took years to complete) *he #as surprised to find ia liked one of the ro#dy teenaged 'oys #ho li$ed ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html do#n the alley.she #ould ha$e e-pected ia to hide the moment a 'oy so much as addressed her)
,ooking at %a&a, Kol asked, 05hat comes ne-t20
0I(ll need to find #hat mages are here in the t#ins( specialties) 9ach t#in #ill do 'est #ith a teacher #ho has the same magic that she does,0 replied %a&a) 01nd Frostpine says I(d 'est start sho#ing them ho# to meditate, so they can get to kno# their magic and control it)0
0Oh, splendid,0 moaned ;ory) ((+ore lessons)0 %a&a ignored her)
0I(ll need a regular time for meditation e$ery day,0 she told the t#ins( parents)
+ata/i thought for a moment, tapping her cheek #ith a graceful finger) 0I(ll change the dancing master to the hour after midday,0 she said at last) 0<ou can ha$e his time in the late afternoon to meditate.#ill that suit20 %a&a nodded)
0These mages,0 Kol asked, a #icked glint in his eye, 0#hat kinds of fees #ill they charge2 5ill I get a t#o.for.one discount, since they(re t#ins20
0Papa,0 cried the girls, rolling their eyes in e-asperation)
0;ust like a 'anker, al#ays thinking a'out money,0 said Frostpine #ith a grin) 0;ust keep in mind ho# much 'igger a 'ride.price you(ll get for mage.#i$es) The lessons are an in$estment)0 6e drained his tea glass and continued more seriously) 01s for fees, if a potential teacher got a credential from ,ights'ridge or 5inding Circle, he #on(t charge a fee) Teaching is #hat graduates of those schools do to repay their masters for their o#n training) <ou #ant graduates) They ha$e 'roader learning than someone #ho only has a +ages( *ociety license)0
+ata/i nodded) 0I(ll dra# up a list,0 she said) 0Those I don(t kno#, 1nyussa or the housekeeper #ill)0 *he looked at her daughters) 05ell, you t#o are al#ays full of surprises) Off to 'ed #ith you)0
The t#ins kissed their parents and raced to#ard the stairs) ;ory #ondered aloud if she really could make and sell a charm to take the lumps from sauces and gra$ies, as %a&a had &okingly suggested earlier) %a&a shook her head, thinking, +erchants( daughters to the 'one)
Kol, +ata/i, Frostpine, and %a&a sat once more) %a&a ran her finger around the mirror(s rim) *he #as trying to decide if it could 'e used for other things than magic.seeing #hen +ata/i said, 0This isn(t from my side of the family)0 %a&a looked up to see +ata/i shake her head, her smile half.amused, half.rueful)
0 o, it(s mine,0 Kol said tiredly as he poured himself a fresh glass of tea) 0That(s #hy #e called in magic.sniffers t#ice,0 he e-plained to Frostpine and %a&a) 05e ha$e cousins at ,ights'ridge no#, and one #ho graduated from there) There(s an uncle in %ancruan #ho(s a cook.mage) +y great.grandfather #as a carpentry.mage) *o they come 'y it honestly)0 6e and +ata/i e-changed a trou'led glance)
0+ost parents #ould 'e happy, #ith such an opportunity for their girls,0 Frostpine remarked softly)
Kol said, 0It complicates things)0
0T#o families #ho e-pressed an interest in the girls #ill turn mages do#n flat,0 added +ata/i) 0+any people think that mage.#i$es are far too independent and unpredicta'le) <es, #e(ll replace ia(s candidates #ith ship.'uilder clans, 'ut #e(ll ha$e to start talks all o$er again) amornese marriages take years to arrange)0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 05e ha$e time,0 Kol said) 05e(re not remotely ready to let them go) 1nd I kno# that ia has an eye on that +oykep 'oy) 5e(ll need to see ho# she feels in a couple of years 'efore #e finali/e anything) The +oykeps #ill reduce #hat they #ant as her do#ry since she does ha$e carpentry magic)0
01ll of this is nothing you ha$e to #orry a'out, though,0 +ata/i told %a&a #ith a smile) 0I feel like #e(re imposing on you, asking you to choose their teachers, 'ut I(d feel 'etter lea$ing that to a mage)0
%a&a co$ered a ya#n) *he #as e-hausted) 0I ha$e a responsi'ility to them,0 she told +ata/i) 0To them, I suppose, and to my o#n teachers) If you could make up a list of possi'le instructors20
05e(ll ha$e it for you 'y 'reakfast,0 Kol promised)
0If you(ll e-cuse me, then)0 %a&a got to her feet and tucked the mirror into her 'elt purse)
0:ood night, %a&a)0 Frostpine reached out and gripped her #rist) Through their shared magic he told her silently, <ou did good #ork here tonight, #ith the girls and #ith Kol and +ata/i)
*he smiled at him shyly) 1 compliment of that kind from him #as #orth cherishing) 0:ood night,0 she said, and kissed his 'ald cro#n)
Chapter 3
The ne-t day #as 5atersday! people traditionally spent it in #orship and rela-ation) %a&a kne# she #ould find no teachers doing 'usiness that day) *he #ouldn(t 'e teaching, either, ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #ith the "ancanors $isiting first the temple #here they #orshipped, then family mem'ers scattered all o$er the city) %a&a reminded Kol that the t#ins had to 'egin to meditate, only to see him shake his head) 0It(s +other(s si-tieth 'irthday,0 he e-plained #ith regret) 0If #e aren(t there all afternoon and #ell into the night, she #ill 'e 8uite unhappy)0
%a&a #inced) Once she(d o$erheard one of Kol(s mother(s scolds) *he didn(t #ant to #itness the results of another, or su'&ect anyone else to it) The older #omen of amorn #ere famous for their po#er o$er their families, and for their tempers)
5ith the "ancanors gone the 'ig house #as 8uiet) 1ll 'ut a $ery fe# of the ser$ants left to #orship, $isit their o#n kin, and run personal errands) Frostpine #as a'sent, chasing his counterfeiter) %a&a tried skating on her o#n, no# that she could fall as much as she liked #ithout anyone to see her, 'ut gre# discouraged after her fifth landing on her 'ack) *tripping off her skates, she #ent to her room and spent the rest of the day #orking on her ,ongnight gifts)
1t 'reakfast the ne-t day, *unsday, +ata/i ga$e %a&a the promised list of Kugiskan mages $ersed in carpentry or cookery magic) 0I($e also assigned you a sleigh and dri$er for all this,0 she told %a&a) 0<ou($e only 'een here for t#o months, and some of these places are out of the #ay) %o you kno# our footman *erg2 6e(ll 'e #aiting outside.&ust send #ord to the housekeeper #hen you(re ready to go)0
%a&a thanked +ata/i #ith a rueful inner sigh) It #ould 'e so much easier if she could skate) Or perhaps it #ouldn(t, she thought as she looked the list o$er) *he hadn(t the least idea of #here most of these streets #ere)
5hen she #alked out of the house, Trader staff in hand, her medallion gleaming against her sheepskin coat, a young man in the yello#.trimmed 'ro#n li$ery of "ancanor 6ouse &umped do#n from the dri$er(s seat of the small sleigh in the front courtyard) 0@iymese %a&a, good morning40 he said) *erg #as in his late teens, an efficient young man #ith a long, cheerful face and light 'ro#n hair that hung to his shoulders) %espite the flakes of sno# that drifted slo#ly from the sky, he #ore his sturdy, 8uilted #ool coat open) It re$ealed a 'and.collared tunic shirt that fastened near the right shoulder, fa$ored #ear for eastern amornese) This garment #as a cheery red like his full trousers) 6e #ore co#hide 'oots lined #ith fur, and carried leather glo$es, also fur.lined, thrust into his 'elt) 03a$$i0. amornese for 0+istress0.0+ata/idah has asked me to take my orders from you)0 6e had ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html the Kugisko accent that %a&a liked so much, one that made each #ord sound like a particularly tasty piece of cheese) 05here do #e go20 he asked)
%a&a consulted her list) 0 yree *treet,0 she told him as she clim'ed into the sleigh)
*erg took the dri$er(s seat) 6e clucked to his horses, snapped the #hip #ell o$er their heads, and guided them out the open main gate onto "lyth *treet #ith the ease of long practice)
5alking into the large, prosperous, 'usy #ood#orking esta'lishment that 'elonged to Camoc Oak'orn, #ood.mage, %a&a felt ridiculous, a child in adult clothes pretending to 'e a mage) 6o# #as she supposed to con$ince this man that she #as any &udge of #ho had magic and #ho did not2 6er palm #as s#eaty #here she gripped the e'ony of her staff7 her mouth #as paper dry)
*tanding inside the door, she eyed her surroundings) This #as no single.mage operation, or e$en the a$erage carpenter(s #orkshop! this #as a ma&or 'usiness, employing do/ens of men and #omen) They smoothed #ood #ith planes, made and repaired 'arrels, #agons, sleds, sledges, and e$en small 'oats for the canals in summer) From the near'y stair#ell %a&a heard the sounds of hammers and sa#s! more carpentry #as done on the upper stories)
*he #as gathering her courage to ask one of the 'usy #orkers #here she might find the master #hen someone called, 0<ou4 +age40
*he looked to#ard the source of the $oice) 1 tall, ra#.'oned #hite man #ith curly hair turning from red to gray ad$anced on her) 6is 'ushy eye'ro#s formed ca$es in #hich pale. 'lue eyes fi-ed on her) 6e #ore a full.slee$ed shirt under his leather apron, and 'aggy trousers co$ered #ith #ood dust and sha$ings)
0 o'ody(s e$er come through this door so grained #ith magic as you,0 he informed %a&a ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html in a rough $oice) 6e stopped in front of her and leaned do#n to s8uint at the medallion on her coat front) 05ell, that makes sense, at least) Forgi$e me, 'ut.0 6e touched %a&a(s medallion #ith a finger tipped in the sil$ery light that #as magic in the #orking)
%a&a, also used to this, closed her eyes &ust in time as her medallion flared hot #hite) 1ll around her she heard the e-clamations of the others in the shop) +aster Camoc had used his o#n po#er to make sure %a&a(s medallion #as genuine, #ith the usual results)
0It(s real,0 the mage said gruffly) 0<ou(re $ery young for it, you kno#)0
%a&a opened her eyes and looked up into his) 0I do kno#,0 she said 8uietly) 5as he going to 'e one of the mages #ho resented her 'ecause she had achie$ed a status most student mages gained only in their t#enties2
6e #as not) 6e e-tended his 'ony hand) 0Camoc Oak'orn, #ood. and carpentry.mage)0
%a&a ga$e the ans#er courtesy demanded as she shook hands) 0%a&a Kisu'o, smith.mage) +ight I ha$e a moment, @iynain Oak'orn2 I promise I #on(t keep you from your #ork long)0
0O$er here,0 he said, and led her to a 8uiet corner of the shop) *eeing that the other people in the room #ere staring, he 'arked, 0Isn(t there #ork to 'e done20
9$eryone immediately turned 'ack to their tasks) Camoc leaned against the #all in the corner) 06o# may I 'e of ser$ice, %a&a Kisu'o20
%a&a took a 'reath) 01t the present time my teacher, %edicate Frostpine of 5inding Circle temple, and I are guests in "ancanor 6ouse) I recently disco$ered that Kol'orn and +ata/i "ancanor(s t#in daughters ha$e am'ient magic) iamara(s is #ith carpentry) I am talking to the 'est #ood.mages in the city, to see if they are taking on students) If they are agreea'le, ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html I #ould 'ring ia another day to choose #ho she #ould study #ith)0
Camoc ru''ed his chin) 05ell, you can see I($e students and apprentices 'oth, mage and non.mage) 1nother #on(t disrupt things) 5ill the chit #ork20
%a&a fro#ned, not sure #hat he meant) 0 ia(s lo$ed #ood all her life, as I understand it) *he #ants to learn)0
Camoc sighed) 0*he #ants to learn no#,0 he said) 0If an older mage might gi$e you some ad$ice) ) ) 20
0Of course, sir,0 %a&a replied, confused)
0Kol'orn "ancanor(s oldest daughter, one of them) ,i$ed in lu-ury all her life, has tutors that come and go #ith the fashions.young %a&a, I($e seen do/ens of these children of the rich) They putter and learn &ust enough to amuse themsel$es, 'ut they ha$en(t the taste for real #ork, not like you and I kno# it)0 6e nodded at her staff) 0 o#, if she #ere Trader get, I #ouldn(t e$en 8uestion it, not that Traders let their mage.children study #ith outsiders) "ut Traders understand the $alue of time and teaching) I(ll take her on if she likes, 'ut I guarantee she(ll learn a trick or t#o and then #eary of it)0
%a&a stiffened) 0I don(t 'elie$e that of either of the girls,0 she told Camoc)
6e smiled at her in that understanding, patroni/ing #ay some adults had, a smile that said the younger person #as entitled to her ideas, ho#e$er silly) 05ell, I(ll 'e honest #ith you.if she did study here, chances are she(d study at first under one of my &ourneymen) This is a 'ig shop.I($e people #orking on the second and third floors as #ell as this one) 5e do e$erything from miniature #ork to #hat you see do#n here) 1ll of my &ourneymen #ho are mages kno# the 'asics, and most of them ha$e taught) *o she #ouldn(t 'e learning from me, though I(d keep an eye on things) That(s ho# the 'igger shops do it)0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html %a&a nodded) The smith #ho #as teaching her the fine points of cast and #rought iron, though he #as no mage, #orked in much the same #ay, placing ne# apprentices #ith &ourneymen for their 'asic instruction) 0The final decision #ould 'e ia(s, in any case,0 she replied)
0"ring her around, if you like,0 he said, pushing himself a#ay from the #all) 0If she(s so inclined, I(ll take her on) <ou can find me here any day 'ut 5atersday, unless I(m called out 'y someone #ho can afford my time) %o you attend any of the +ages( *ociety gatherings20 he asked)
0 ot yet,0 %a&a replied) 0Frostpine(s mentioned it once or t#ice)0
05e only meet in the #inter.too much to do the rest of the year) <ou and your teacher should stop 'y sometime) 5e(re al#ays interested in the #ork that(s 'eing done in the south)0 6e offered %a&a his hand in fare#ell, and returned her grip #ith his o#n firm one) 0+ay I see your list of possi'le teachers20 he asked)
%a&a dre# it out of her coat pocket and handed it to him)
6e read it o$er, humming softly) 0Forget 1shstaff,0 he counseled %a&a) 0*ince that third heart attack she(s 'arely #orking magic enough to #hittle #ith) *he #on(t 'e taking any more students on in this life) 1nd I(d ad$ise against "eech'ranch) 6e(s a little too li'eral #ith the s#itch #hen he(s 'een drinking, and lately he drinks constantly)0 6e passed the list 'ack to %a&a)
*he took it, confused) First he talked do#n to her and spoke ill of a girl he didn(t kno#, then he #as helpful) Or may'e he #as &ust a gruff person, one #ith a good heart #ho didn(t kno# #hen his #ords stung) 0Thank you, +aster Camoc) I appreciate kno#ing that)0
0First student20 he asked, #alking her to the door)
%a&a nodded)
01nd you feel like you(re in o$er your head)0
%a&a smiled up at him as he opened the door for her) 0<es, actually, I do)0
Camoc ga$e her a #intery smile of his o#n) 05e all do) "elie$e me or not, you gro# accustomed) :ood day)0
%a&a thanked him again and #alked out into the icy air) *erg, chatting #ith a girl #ho carried a tray of hot 'uns, immediately came to help %a&a into the sleigh) *he settled 'ack, still a little da/ed 'y Camoc(s 'risk 'ut, in the end, kind treatment) The 8uestion #as, of course, #ould he 'e as kind to ia, gi$en his pre&udice against the rich2
5ell, ia might not e$en like the man as a teacher)
0@iymese %a&a20 asked *erg from the dri$er(s seat) 05here shall #e go ne-t20
%a&a checked the list and called out their destination) 9ach meeting follo#ed the pattern of this first one, more or less, in shops that sported ten and t#enty students, mages and non. mages, and in houses and shops #here mages had one or t#o students, or in a fe# cases, none) *ome #ere #illing to take on ne# students7 others #eren(t) 1ll tested %a&a(s medallion 'efore they #ould 'elie$e she #as a mage)
?nlike %a&a, *erg kne# the city #ell) ot only #as he e-pert at dodging horses and other sleighs, 'ut he also kne# small side streets that cut #eary minutes from their tra$els o$er Kadasep, 1irgi, "a/niu/, Odaga, and First Fortress Island) 6e also seemed to kno# most of the young #omen #ho #orked in the houses and shops along the #ay) The sky #as turning ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html indigo as they turned 'ack to#ard "ancanor 6ouse on Kadasep Island) ights came early this far north, so late in the year, and %a&a had to 'e there in time for the girls( first meditation lesson) The city(s lamplighters #ere already out, going from lamp to lamp along the main streets and 'ridges) In another #eek, *erg told %a&a as they dro$e across "a/niu/ Island, the city #ould hold the ceremony #hen the great.lights, giant oil lamps 'acked 'y polished metal reflectors, #ere set aflame for the first time that #inter) They #ould 'e needed as the city entered a night that #ould last until the month of Carp +oon)
0Is that one of them20 %a&a asked *erg, pointing to an orange 'loom up ahead) They #ere dri$ing #est on @el$et *treet, on their #ay to the 'ridge o$er Prospect Canal)
*erg muttered #hat %a&a suspected #as a curse) 0It(s a fire, @iymese %a&a) This is *hopgirl %istrict.'oarding.houses for girls and #omen mostly) 5e(ll pass it)0
6e #as right a'out the fire, though not their a'ility to pass) The fire #as &ust off @el$et *treet, #hich #as 'locked #ith sleighs and those on foot #ho(d come to #atch) *erg halted the sleigh) %a&a, concerned, got out and #alked through the cro#d, using shoulders and el'o#s to make room) 5hen she came into the open, she found herself &ust to one side of a line of #ell.trained firefighters #ho passed 'uckets of #ater to the fire and 'ack from the nearest #ell)
1head she sa# "en ,adradun emerge from the house, a sodden 'lanket o$er his head and around the #oman he carried in his arms) 6e handed her to #aiting friends, then turned to direct the 'ucket 'rigade to douse a flaming chunk of shingles that had dropped into the street) 1s he stripped off his 'lanket, he 'ello#ed orders for those assigned to keep #atch o$er the cro#d, directing them to 'ack up and force the cro#d farther 'ack from the 'uilding) People came to him for orders and left him at a 'risk trot, no sign of fear in their faces, only determination and tension)
They get that feeling from him, %a&a reali/ed, a#ed 'y "en(s command of the situation) 6e(s not frightened, so they aren(t)
One #oman near %a&a, her hair falling into her eyes, nearly dropped a #ater 'ucket) *erg, #ho had follo#ed %a&a, took her place in the line as %a&a helped the #oman to pin her ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html coils of hair out of her face)
01ll our things,0 the #oman told %a&a, trying not to #eep) 0I hope e$eryone got out) If I hadn(t 'een sick I #ould still 'e at the shop.0
1 shriek split the air, yanking all eyes to the third floor of the narro# 'uilding) 1 girl, framed in an open #indo#, #a$ed frantic hands) %a&a sa# the pro'lem instantly.most of the first floor #as on fire) "en had escaped &ust 'efore the 'la/e co$ered the front door) 6e and his fire 'rigade #ould kno# the house #as finished) o# they spent all their efforts to protect the near'y 'uildings) 1 handful of #omen and possessions on the icy street testified that the firefighters had carried a great deal out of this place 'efore they(d gi$en up)
0<orgiry sa$e us, that(s :ru/ha40 cried %a&a(s companion, clinging to her arm) 0*he(s 'lind.she can(t get out alone40
%a&a looked at "en) 6e stared up at the third floor of the house, his lips mo$ing.in prayer or in calculation, %a&a #asn(t sure) 6e(s going to try it, %a&a reali/ed) 6e(s going to go in there after her) *he stripped off her coat #ith trem'ling hands, remo$ed her medallion, and stuffed it into one of her pockets 'efore she folded the coat and handed it to the #oman 'eside her)
05ould you hold this, please20 she asked) The #oman took it #ithout looking a#ay from the girl in the open #indo#) 6er o#n lips mo$ed as she prayed)
"en #a$ed some firefighters up) They ran in #ith a can$as sheet, trying to get as close to the house as they could, under that #indo#, so they might catch the girl if she &umped) %a&a kne# they #ould ne$er get near enough) "en #ould go if she didn(t hurry)
*he yanked off her 'oots, stockings, and 'elt, putting them on top of her coat in the #oman(s arms) That #as enough! the clothes she still #ore #ere made 'y *andry to resist flames) Kno#ing #hat she #as a'out to do, %a&a s#allo#ed, her mouth suddenly dry) *he had passed through fire once, four years ago) It had not 'een fun) Com'ined #ith po#erful ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html magic, it had stripped her naked, 'urned her old Trader staff, left her #ith strange metal on one hand, and filled her #ith a kind of pain so #onderful she hoped ne$er to feel that #ay again) Pain should 'e one thing, she kne#, e-hilaration another) 1t least, she thought they #ere supposed to 'e different, most of the time)
*he strode up to "en and gra''ed his arm) 6e looked at her, a'out to pull out of her grip, then fro#ned) 0%a&a20
*peaking to this man as she #ould speak to one of her 5inding Circle teachers, %a&a said, 0I think I can get her)0
6is reaction made her heart pound) 6e gra''ed a 'ucket of #ater from one person, a 'lanket from another, and soaked the 'lanket thoroughly) "riskly he rolled it into a small 'undle) 01re you ready20 he asked)
%a&a nodded, mute #ith admiration) o going on a'out her youth, no refusal! he accepted her on her o#n terms) 6o# many adults did that2
"en thrust the rolled.up 'lanket into her hands and led her through the lines of firefighters) 6e stopped fi$e yards from the 'la/ing door and looked do#n at her) 0I imagine you can 'e killed like anyone else if the roof or floors collapse)0 %a&a nodded7 he continued 'riskly) 0%on(t 'e a fool) If your hear 'eams groan, get out of there) ?nderstand20
%a&a nodded and ran through the front door, #hich hung off its hinges) The firefighters had hacked it to pieces to get inside)
1 8uick look around told her that the hall floors and the stairs #ere still intact, a minor miracle) Instead the fire 'usily go''led the contents of the rooms on either side and reached for those side rooms on the upper floors) *omeone, or se$eral someones, had spelled the halls and stairs #ith charms against fire, so people could still escape #hen the house 'urned) Those charms shone pale sil$er in %a&a(s magical $ision as they fought to hold their ground against the eager flames) *oon the fire #ould get so 'ig that it #ould o$er#helm ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html these spells as a$alanches did sno#'alls)
The fire pu//led %a&a as she ran to the stairs and 'egan to clim') 5hy hadn(t the 'la/e consumed this entire ground floor, not &ust the rooms on either side2 The spells #ere no match for it) 6ad it come up from the cellar2 If so, it should ha$e #orked its #ay for#ard or 'ack from its starting point, s#eeping along to 'urn e$erything in its path) ?pstairs, she sa# the rooms on either side #ere 'urning, 'ut again the hall floor #as 'arely touched) It #as as if the fire had 'egun on each side of the house, #hich made it no accident)
5hen she reached the third story, she heard the girl called :ru/ha coughing in the front room) %a&a ran through her open door) 0:ru/ha, come on4 5e(re getting out of here40
The 'lind girl #hirled a#ay from the #indo#, hands 'efore her, 8uesting) 05ho is it2 5ho are you20 *he coughed helplessly)
0 ot important,0 %a&a said, and hacked a puff of smoke from her o#n throat) 1s a 'y. product of fire, smoke #asn(t as dangerous to her as it #as to others, 'ut it #as an annoyance that #ould clog her lungs until she got rid of it) 0Co$er as much of you as you can #ith this)0 *he handed the girl the #et 'lanket)
0+y 'irds40 :ru/ha cried)
%a&a sa# the cage in the corner) 0,ea$e them40 she snapped)
The girl opened her mouth, then shut it, and s#allo#ed hard) Tears ran do#n her sooty cheeks, lea$ing pale tracks)
If she had argued, %a&a might ha$e a'andoned the 'irds) Instead :ru/ha(s mute acceptance t#isted %a&a(s heart) 1s :ru/ha draped the #et #ool o$er her head, %a&a sei/ed the cage 'y its #ire handle and laid her hand flat on top) 6er po#er coursed through thin #ire 'ars, ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #rapping cage and terrified occupants in her magic, holding air inside, fire outside) :ripping the cage in one hand, %a&a took :ru/ha(s 'lanket in the other) 0Can you stay right 'ehind me20 %a&a shouted at the area #here the girl(s ear must 'e)
The sodden #ool cocoon nodded) :ru/ha stuck a hand out7 %a&a pulled :ru/ha(s free arm around her o#n #aist)
Carefully she led the #ay do#n the hall) The 'la/e had reached this floor7 it mum'led cheerfully in the rooms around the stair#ell) %a&a thrust it 'ack first, then the flames that 'egan to test the stair itself) In a tunnel of fire they descended to the ground floor)
%a&a stretched her po#er through the kitchen and 'eyond, seeking a 'etter escape route) There #as none! the fire had reached the storeroom at the 'ack of the house) *he felt it feed on e-ploding &ars of oil) The rear half of the 'uilding #as in flames) It #as the front door or nothing)
*he #rapped :ru/ha(s hands around her #aist, feeling the sodden 'lanket soak the 'ack of her shirt and trousers) %a&a set the 'irds( cage at her feet, then 'eckoned to streamers of rippling flame) The fire came eagerly, curling around her arms, sniffing at her clothes) %a&a gripped its strands firmly 'efore it found the less.protected girl at her 'ack)
The ceiling a'o$e them groaned)
*#iftly %a&a #o$e fiery strands, shaping the 'la/e as a tu'e made of flame net) 5hen she thrust the tu'e #ide and high 'et#een her and the door, it pushed a#ay the flames in #alls and ceiling to open a path) Only a handful of fiery tendrils reached through holes in the net to threaten the t#o girls) %a&a picked up the cage in her left hand and #alked for#ard) *he used her right hand to #ea$e escaping 'its of flame into the net o$er her head, to make it stronger and tighter)
The ceiling collapsed) The roof of her tunnel sagged) Clumps of plaster dropped through t#o #ide spaces in her net, 'ut the rest of it held the #eight of the upper floor) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
The front door #as still an opening filled #ith a sheet of fire) That part fought her, strengthened 'y the #ind outside, 'ut %a&a #as in no mood to 'e nice) *he #as #illing to let this fire continue 'ecause someone had in$ited it here, 'ut it could not 'e allo#ed to delay her)
*he gripped cords of fire in the door and 'egan to #ea$e again, pulling flame.threads tight, yanking them ruthlessly into a fiery s8uare) Once done, she thrust it ahead of her like a shield) It 'ulged out through the door#ay, 'u''lelike)
%a&a felt the 'la/e surge) ?nder her, the floor sagged)
*he turned, 'ent, then thrust up from her knees, draping :ru/ha o$er her shoulder) 5ith the other girl(s head and feet &ust inches from the flames, %a&a strode outside #ith her and the 'irdcage) 1s they crossed the threshold, the floor #here they had stood dropped into the cellar #ith a roar)
Outside %a&a helped :ru/ha to stand and released her fire #ea$ings in the house) The flames returned to their meal)
"en #a$ed some #omen for#ard) They #ept as they took the #et 'lanket off :ru/ha and #rapped her in a dry one, patting her head, face, and arms as if they couldn(t 'elie$e she #as real) 1s they did they 'acked a#ay from %a&a, taking the 'lind girl #ith them) %a&a sighed and held out the 'irds( cage, reclaiming the sil$ery protecti$e shield she had put on it) The finches 'egan to chatter in tiny $oices as a #oman carefully took the cage)
%a&a looked do#n) 6er shirt and 'reeches, o$ercome 'y more fire than they #ere spelled against, #ere crum'ling on her 'ody) Firefighters and those in the cro#d 'acked a#ay, &ust as :ru/ha(s friends had)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0@ery admira'le,0 "en snapped at the onlookers, striding to#ard the #oman #ho still held %a&a(s 'elongings) 6e snatched them from her hands7 the #oman then fled into the cro#d) "en turned to %a&a and offered the girl her 'oots and stockings) %a&a pulled on the 'oots, shaking her head at the stockings! they #ere too much trou'le to put on no#) 6er clothes fell a#ay in flakes as she straightened) "y the time "en shook out her coat and #rapped it around her, she #ore only a 'reast'and and loincloth) The harsh #et air raised goose'umps all o$er her and made her teeth chatter) *he dragged more #armth into herself from the house until her teeth stopped clacking)
0I(d see you home myself, 'ut I(m not done here)0 "en glanced at the 'urning house, then scanned the cro#d) 0Is there a hired sleigh a'out.0
%a&a pointed #ordlessly at *erg, #ho had left his place in the line of firefighters to come for her)
"en looked at him) 0*erg, isn(t it2 <ou(re in one of the Kadasep 'rigades)0
The footman nodded, gingerly offering his arm to %a&a)
0:et her home,0 "en said) 0If you($e any hot, s#eet tea, gi$e her some) Forgi$e me for rushing off)0 6e strode o$er to a neigh'oring house, shouting to those on the roof and pointing to a cluster of shingles that had started to 'urn)
%a&a looked at *erg and at the offered arm! it shook) 6e gulped and tried a 8ui$ering mockery of the smile he(d gi$en so readily that morning) 0There are side streets #e can follo# to 9$erall "ridge,0 he told her)
%a&a #a$ed the arm aside and follo#ed him 'ack to the sleigh) 9$eryone mo$ed a#ay7 #hispers preceded them) They(ll get o$er it, she told herself as *erg helped her into the sleigh) They al#ays do) 9$entually) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
,ater, #hen all the ga#kers had scattered to their homes, he returned to inspect the remains of the 'oarding.house) 6e checked them thoroughly, 'reaking open large clumps in case em'ers still 'urned at their hearts, 'ut the true fire had gone) 6is 'ones ached, #arning of sno# on the #ay) If any hidden fire pockets remained, they #ould soon 'e dead, co$ered #ith sno# and ice)
*ythuthan, 'ut she had 'een glorious to #atch4 1s much as it 'urned him to see her go #here he could not, it had 'een #onderful to see her in action) To #atch the fire 'end and reshape itself to her liking) *he had gone up the steps and through the flame.#reathed door as she might #alk into her o#n house) Flames slid from her clothes, her hair, her skin) In that moment alone she #as a 'eauty and a terror, this stocky, 'ro#n.skinned girl #ith her calm, thoughtful eyes and her fistfuls of thin 'raids)
6e and the #atchers had #aited as the 'lind girl screamed.ho# #as he supposed to kno# she #as home2.for someone to help her) Then the 'lind girl turned from her #indo#, and #as gone) The cro#d had moaned) 6ad the #ench heard %a&a2 Or had the fire caught her2
The second floor #as #ell and truly 'urning 'y then) Flames spurted through the third floor #indo#s at the sides of the house) 6e(d done such a fine &o' of shaping this fire, starting on 'oth sides of the 'asement) It had raced first up the side #alls, as he(d #anted) 6e(d left an escape path clear in case anyone remained inside, 'ecause he did try to co$er all possi'ilities) 6e(d honestly thought he #as 'eing o$ercareful, that no one #as there #hen he(d lit the #icks in their lamps of oil) 6e(d heard nothing as he(d pro#led the cellar and the ground floor) If he(d heard anyone, he #ould ha$e left the place alone) o'ody #as supposed to die, particularly not some 'lind shopgirl, 'ut the firefighters had to 'e tested) They had to pro$e themsel$es, not on some tame fire, in a 'uilding that #as scheduled for destruction, 'ut on a real fire #ith li$es and property to #orry them)
*ome#here inside the house as it 'urned, after %a&a had gone in, he(d heard the crash of #ood and plaster) Ceilings had started to drop)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Then, a miracle) The flames around the front door 'ulged out, a#ay from the house, like a sail in a strong #ind) *uddenly the 'u''le they formed popped, tearing the sheet of fire into long streamers) 1t the center of the streamers stood %a&a Kisu'o, a 'lanket.muffled 'ody o$er one shoulder, a cage in her hand)
1 cage2
%a&a #alked out of the 'uilding) The 'ody #as the 'lind girl, still $ery much ali$e) 1nd %a&a carried a cage full of finches, of all things)
The sight of the 'irds made his heart t#ist) 6e hadn(t #anted to kill any animals, especially none so harmless as finches)
%a&a put the girl on her feet) "ehind her the streamers of fire turned 'ack into the door#ay, released to finish their meal of #ood and cloth, oils and glass)
The idiots in the cro#d shrank a#ay from %a&a) They ought to flinch from a goddess like her) They #eren(t fit to kiss her 'are feet as she stood there in the icy mud, offering the 'irdcage to anyone #ho #ould take it)
5hy #as she here, in Kugisko, no#2 6ad she come for him, to make him her ser$ant, or her priest2
6e #ould ha$e to see) 6e #ould ha$e to find out if she #as #orth his ser$ice) *he might not e$en 'e a goddess, &ust another self.satisfied mage) 1nd #asn(t it funny, at his age, to fall in a kind of lo$e #ith a teenaged girl 'arefoot in the mud, her clothes 'lackened and crum'ling, her dark skin gleaming #ith s#eat2 5hate$er she #as, he #ould lo$e her until they died)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Chapter B
+uffled giggles and #hispers #oke %a&a in the morning, #hen she #ould ha$e liked more sleep) *he sat up in 'ed! ia and ;ory, half#ay across her floor, &umped 'ack a step) They #ere dressed to go outdoors)
05hat do you think you(re doing20 %a&a asked in her most for'idding tone) 0<ou(re only supposed to come in #hen I(m here)0 *he al#ays put #ork materials a#ay after an early mishap in #hich the youngest "ancanor, inspecting her things, had turned his hand 'right yello#, 'ut there #as al#ays a chance the children could find trou'le #ith items she couldn(t put a#ay)
0"ut you are here,0 ia replied)
0I #as asleep) That(s not here, here)0 9$en to a tired %a&a that didn(t sound rational) 05hat do you #ant20
0There(s the teacher thing today, yes20 asked ;ory reasona'ly) 01nd meditation after you get 'ack, e$en if it(s still light) <ou(ll ne$er learn ho# to skate this #ay)0
%a&a looked at them #ith horror) 0*kate2 o#2 "efore 'reakfast20
0It(s a good time,0 ia assured her) 05e(ll ha$e the 'asin to oursel$es) 1nd you ha$e to practice till you(re used to it)0
%a&a glo#ered, though she kne# they #ere right) 05ho(s teaching #ho here20 she demanded) 5hen she sa# the t#ins #ere a'out to reply, she hastily put up a hand) 0 e$er mind) I(ll meet you in the slush room) 0They stared at her, unmo$ing7 %a&a sighed) 0I ha$e to clean my teeth and dress, don(t I20 ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
They #alked to the door) ia #as opening it #hen ;ory s8ueaked and dug into a pocket) 0This came for you last night,0 she said, depositing a sealed note on %a&a(s #ork.ta'le) 0From ,adradun 6ouse)0 *he follo#ed ia out)
%a&a flung off her 'lankets and got up) *he #ould deal #ith the note later, #hen she remem'ered ho# to think) 0First thing in the morning.no, it(s not e$en morning,0 she grum'led) The #ater in her pitcher #as cold) *he set her palms on the pitcher(s sides, calling #armth until the ice on the #ater melted and she could clean her teeth and rinse her mouth #ithout shrieking from cold)
5hen they left the house, %a&a shook her head #ith dismay) It #as da#n on the rooftops of the city, 'ut on the le$el of the 'oat 'asin and the canals it #as still shado#y) 0I can(t see #hat I(m doing,0 she complained) ia ran into a shed for torches)
0*ometime #e(ll take you night skating,0 ;ory promised as she and %a&a sat on a 'ench to don their skates) 0On ,ongnight e$eryone carries a torch or a lantern and skates around the city, and people ha$e stalls #here they sell tea and hot cider and #inter cakes) 9$eryone skates till da#n.that(s ho# the sun finds its #ay 'ack to us in the dark) 1nd there(s singing, and 'aked apples, and hot pies)0
ia returned #ith lit torches, set them in sockets around the 'asin, then put on her o#n skates) *he and ;ory stood and glided to the center of the ice)
0Come on,0 ia urged the seated %a&a) 0,et(s see ho# much you remem'er)0
%a&a grimaced and tried to stand) 6er feet #ent out from under her7 she resumed her seat on the 'ench, hard)
0%ig in #ith the end of one skate,0 ;ory ad$ised) 0Or you keep mo$ing)0 ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
%a&a accepted this ad$ice and managed to stand) *he then yanked the toe of her skate from the ice and shot across the 'asin, arms #indmilling) ia and ;ory slid out of her path) T#o. thirds of the #ay across %a&a(s feet kept going, 'ut the rest of her did not) *he landed on her 'ack, staring at the pearly da#n sky)
;ory and ia, stifling giggles, hauled her up)
"ruised and ready for more sleep, %a&a sat do#n to 'reakfast in the 'usy kitchen, #here no one #ould try to con$erse #ith her) *he #as nearly done #hen she remem'ered the note from ,adradun 6ouse! she(d thrust it into her pocket on lea$ing her room) Opening it, she checked the signature! "ennat ,adradun) *he remem'ered his help the night 'efore, his cool direction of the fire 'rigade, and smiled) 6e must ha$e 'een e-hausted, yet he(d made time to send this)
%a&a picked her #ay carefully through his hand#riting) "en(s letters slanted this #ay and that7 the lines staggered across the page like drunken men) The loops of his y(s looked like cla#s) 5eren(t tutors supposed to ensure that the sons of rich families had decent penmanship2 "riar(s hand#riting #as clearer after only si- months of study) Of course, "riar(s teacher had threatened him #ith death if he misla'eled her 'ottles) Perhaps "en needed a teacher like %edicate 3osethorn)
%ear @iymese %a&a,
I #ould like to talk to you a'out the fire last night, if you #ould 'e so kind) I #ill not take much of your time) I #ill 'e at ,adradun 6ouse tomorro# until noon if you #ould $isit me there, or I #ill call on you #hen you say it is con$enient)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html +y thanks, "en ,adradun
%a&a folded the note) +ay'e she #ould mention her idea for li$ing metal glo$es to him) 1nd she #ould like to see the home of a true hero) 6o# many of those #as she likely to meet2
Kugisko(s no'les 'uilt their Pearl Coast homes in stone7 so did the imperial go$ernor) In the city, all 'ut a $ery fe# 'uilt their large houses out of #ood! it #as a point of pride, a #illful separation from the no'ility) "ancanor 6ouse and ,adradun 6ouse #ere 'oth samples of amornese #ood#ork) The houses sported enclosed porches that ran around the sides to the rear, ornately car$ed roofpieces, #indo#, and door frames) "oth #ere three stories tall, their #orkshops, chicken coops, and sta'les enclosed and connected to the rear of the main structure so that no one had to go outside during the 'itter #inter storms)
,adradun 6ouse #as larger than "ancanor 6ouse, its #indo#s curtained #ith 'rightly em'roidered drapes displayed through e-pensi$e glass #indo#s) *teps, #indo# frames, and shutters #ere $i$idly painted to distract people from amorn(s long gray #inters) *oon after %a&a(s arri$al, the t#ins had gi$en her a tour of the neigh'orhood, e-plaining that roof and #indo# car$ings sho#ed the family(s occupation) 1t ,adradun 6ouse %a&a sa# 'ears, otters, lyn-, hares, and 'ea$ers in the car$ings, a proclamation of the family(s fur 'usiness)
1 maidser$ant let %a&a in and led her to "en(s study) The #oman dressed in the 'and. collared, tunic.length 'louse and long skirts of the amornese, 'ut unlike most, she sported no colorful em'roideries) 1s %a&a follo#ed her they passed t#o other ser$ants, a man and a #oman, #hose clothes #ere &ust as dra') amornese fashion #as to dress ser$ants in matching clothes, or li$eries, 'ut +ata/i had gi$en her people a choice of three 'right colors for their indoor clothes, and let them decorate #ith em'roidery as they #ished) %a&a #ondered if the ,adradun ser$ants #ere depressed 'y such dull garments)
The maid admitted her to a room containing a #ooden ta'le heaped #ith 'ooks and papers) "ooks #ere stuffed into shel$es on the #alls7 more 'ooks filled a cup'oard 'eside the #indo#) The curtains #ere 'lue, as #as the small rug on the floor) The room #as cold, ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #ith no fire 'urning in the sto$e) The maid left %a&a there)
%a&a settled herself in a chair to #ait) There #ere dra#ings on the #alls, 'ut little else in the #ay of decoration) On her arri$al in amorn she(d found the clutter of designs, car$ings, and $i$idly dyed and em'roidered cloth annoying) o# she #as in a house that had stripped most of that a#ay, and she missed it)
*he #as shaking her head at her folly #hen the maid returned #ith a tea tray) The girl set the tray on a corner of the ta'le nearest %a&a and filled a tea glass 'efore she scuttled out again)
%a&a sipped her tea) It #as #atery! the third or fourth 're#ing from these lea$es, not the first) %id they think she #as a ser$ant2 If she #ere here as a Trader, to do 'usiness, she #ould ha$e left) Pe''led *ea hospitality dictated food, tea, and a comforta'le setting, articles as important as the 'usiness discussed) Tea like this #as a slap in the face)
0%a&a, hello, hello)0 "en ,adradun #alked in, making the room feel cramped) 6e seemed taller indoors than he had out) 0<ou(re good to come, and so 8uickly) I thought you might 'e e-hausted.#e can really talk another time) ) ) )0
0 o, I(m fine,0 %a&a said) 0Truly, I am, 3a$$ot ,adradun)0
0"en, remem'er) 3a$$ot ,adradun is #ho I am to the people at my 'usiness) I prefer to think a'out 'usiness as little as possi'le)0 6e poured himself tea, put a sugar lump in his teeth, and tried to s#allo#) 6e made a face and #ent to the door) ,eaning out, he called, 0I #ant my tea, <ulanny)0 6e turned 'ack to %a&a, running a 'ig hand o$er the unruly curls on top of his head) 0*he didn(t reali/e that you(re an important guest) They get in trou'le if they 're# fresh tea for someone #ho isn(t merchant class) ) ) ) 5here are you from e-actly2 I don(t think anyone mentioned it)0
0I li$ed four years at 5inding Circle temple in 9melan, #here Frostpine(s a %edicate,0 said %a&a, looking up at him) *he #ished he #ould sit) 0"efore that, I #as a Trader on the ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Pe''led *ea)0
To her relief.her neck #as getting sore.he crouched to start a fire in his sto$e) 01s I understand it, if you(re a Trader, you(re one for life)0
0People can lea$e,0 %a&a said) 0*ome do, usually for lo$e) I #as made trangshi.outcast. #hen my family(s ship sank and I #as the only one #ho li$ed)0
01nd no# you(re a smith.mage)0 6e added #ood until a healthy 'la/e #as going)
%a&a nodded, then reali/ed he couldn(t see it) 0*o they tell me,0 she replied) 0I keep thinking I ha$en(t learned nearly enough)0
6e asked her other things, a'out her tra$els, a'out the metals she had studied) Once the maid 'rought fresh tea, "en poured for %a&a and himself) *ettling into his chair, he cradled his steaming glass in his hands) 6is left hand #as un'andaged no#, #ith ne#ly healed skin 'right pink on its 'ack) 06o# do you do it20 he #anted to kno#) 0I told you :odsforge couldn(t handle fire, though he could shape it) 6e made creatures for the local children on holidays) They lo$ed his fire 'utterflies and dragons) "ut he could ne$er ha$e #alked into a 'urning 'uilding like you did and come out unscathed)0
0I don(t kno# ho# I can do it and others can(t,0 %a&a replied) 0Though Frostpine can, too)0
01nd you can see, e$en inside the flames20 "en asked)
%a&a nodded) 0;ust as clear as you see me)0
"en set his glass do#n, turning the metal 'ase in his fingers) 6e took a deep 'reath, like a ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html man a'out to di$e into the sea, then asked) 0%id you see anything odd inside the 'oardinghouse2 1nything unusual20
%a&a thought, Of course) 6e(s pro'a'ly seen hundreds of fires) 6e(d notice this one #as not typical) 0I think the fire #as set,0 she told him)
6e fro#ned) 0I #as afraid of that,0 he commented softly) 0I(d hoped I #as #rong)0 6e coughed and sipped his tea) 05hy do you think it #as set20
%a&a stared at the hearth.fire, picturing the 'urning house in her mind) 0On the ground floor, e$erything to the right of the hall and e$erything to the left #as 'urning) The hall and stairs #ere spelled against fire, 'ut the spells #eren(t that good)0 *he drank her tea, registering the stronger taste) 01ccident fires run out#ard from one place) "y the time this one reached those spells, it should ha$e 'een 'ig enough to roll o$er them)0 "en nodded) *he continued, 0That hall should ha$e 'een on fire, too) I think it #as started, may'e in the cellar, along each side of the house) That(s #hy the hall and stairs #eren(t 'urning.the fire hadn(t reached them yet)0
"en sighed) 0I think you(re right) I noticed each side #as going up first, along the length of the 'uilding) It &ust looked #rong)0
06a$e there 'een other suspicious fires lately20 %a&a asked)
"en smiled crookedly) 0 o) 5e lost a #arehouse a couple of months ago, 'ut that #asn(t suspicious) 1nd there #eren(t any 'ig fires all summer, #hich is our #orst season)0 6e shook his head) 0I($e heard some 'roth.'rains claim #e($e made the city so safe that the fire.spirits ha$e left us)0
%a&a made a face) 0People aren(t all that cle$er, mostly, are they20
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0*omeone(s cle$er,0 "en reminded her) 0*omeone arranged that fire like artists arrange paints)0
06a$e you any idea #ho20 %a&a #anted to kno#) 05hat kind of monster #ould 'urn a girl to death20
"en actually flinched) 0Please don(t say that,0 he asked) 05e came too close there) If you hadn(t arri$ed.0
0<ou #ould ha$e found a #ay,0 %a&a interrupted) 0I kno# you #ould ha$e)0
0I(m honored, 'ut you o$erestimate me,0 "en told her) 0%id you see anyone.odd.#atching the fire20
It #as %a&a(s turn to smile crookedly) 0I ha$en(t 'een here long enough to kno# #hat(s normal and #hat isn(t,0 she admitted) 0*o, should I take this to the magistrates2 Tell them the fire #as set20
0I(ll go,0 "en replied) 0They may call at "ancanor 6ouse to ask you for details, though I dou't it) +agistrate(s mages tend to rely on their spells more than the #ords and ideas of mere human 'eings)0 6e sighed) 0I(ll nose around and ask some 8uestions of my o#n) ,uckily I kno# "a/niu/ Island #ell) +y.my family and I li$ed there)0
%a&a looked do#n) *he #anted to say something proper, something that #ouldn(t stir up painful feelings for this man she admired) In the end she could only think of the commonplace! 0I am sorry for your loss) I heard ho# you came to study all this in the first place)0
"en picked up a small o$al painting on the #orkta'le, and held it out for %a&a to e-amine) 0Kofrinna.my #ife,0 he e-plained as %a&a accepted it) It sho#ed a 'landly pretty young ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #oman #ith dark eyes and a timid smile) 0 ot a day goes 'y that I don(t miss her and our children)0 6e looked a#ay)
0I(m sorry,0 %a&a said, putting the portrait on his desk) 0I didn(t mean to.0
01ctually I(m glad you mentioned her,0 he said) 0 o one talks to me a'out her or the little ones) I.0
The door opened #ithout a preceding knock) %a&a turned to see the ne#comer, a hard. faced #oman a'out fi$e feet, fi$e inches tall) *he #ore a plain undergo#n of cream. colored #ool #ithout a speck of em'roidery) 6er o$ergo#n #as 'ro#n #ool #ith 'lack 'raid trim around the hem, collar, and slee$e openings, secured do#n the front 'y plain 'lack 'uttons) 6er head $eil #as cream.colored linen, the round hat pinned on top of her $eil as 'ro#n and unremarka'le as her dress) They co$ered hair that had 'een dyed 'londe in the amornese style so often it looked like stra#) 6ers #as a hard, tight face, #ith lines that 'racketed a 'road, unsmiling mouth and short nose) Tiny pupils that ne$er e-panded #ere at the center of her pale gray.green eyes)
The eager, intense "en %a&a had 'een talking to #as gone) In his place #as a large, a#k#ard man #hose 'ody #as as stiff as his $oice #hen he said, 0+other) 1llo# me to introduce @iymese %a&a Kisu'o) %a&a, this is my mother, 3a$$i +orrachane ,adradun)0
+orrachane looked at %a&a and sniffed, as if she didn(t 'elie$e %a&a had a proper claim to a mage(s title) 0:ood morning, @iymese) I #ould like to speak to my son)0 *he turned to go, then hesitated and looked at %a&a again) 0<ou are the one #ho stays #ith the "ancanors20
%a&a, #ho did not like the #ay that +orrachane had sniffed at her, ga$e only a tiny 'o# of agreement)
+orrachane(s lips mo$ed! the corners turned up7 the #rinkles on either side of her mouth deepened) It took %a&a a moment to reali/e that +orrachane #as smiling) It took another ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html moment to #onder at the kind of person +orrachane #as, that a smile looked so alien on her face) 0<ou are staying #ith my young friends iamara and ;orality, then) Pray gi$e them my greetings)0
%a&a ga$e another 'o# in reply) It spoke #ell of the #oman that she liked %a&a(s friends, 'ut not #ell enough to make %a&a forget the change her arri$al had #orked on "en)
05ould you 'e so good as to tell them I found that 'ook of lace patterns I told them a'out20 asked "en(s mother) 0They had asked to see it)0
0<es, of course,0 %a&a replied)
+orrachane(s smile, such as it #as, e$aporated) 0"ennat,0 she commanded and #alked out)
"en looked at %a&a, patches of red em'arrassment marking his 'road cheeks) 0Please e-cuse me,0 he said and follo#ed his mother, pulling the door shut 'ehind him) It slid open an inch, enough that %a&a could hear their con$ersation)
"en said 8uietly, 0+other, that #as rude)0
05hy are you here20 +orrachane demanded) *he didn(t seem to care if anyone heard) 0<ou($e frittered nearly three days a#ay on this nonsense) o dou't our clerks are ro''ing us 'lind #hile you chat #ith this southern #ench)0
0+other, %a&a is a mage and deser$es respect40 "en still kept his $oice lo#)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0Only 'y dint of 'edding #ith that (teacher( of hers, I(m sure) Those #ith magic ha$e no morals) I #ould ne$er e-pose my daughters to such people as Kol and +ata/i ha$e done) 1nd you shouldn(t 'e lolling a'out #ith her)0
%a&a felt like a knot of em'arrassment tied around a 'all of fury) 1s a Trader she #as used to the hate of non.Trader ka8s) In those days, like e$ery Trader, she told herself that this #as the &ealousy of the inferior) *he didn(t think that a'out non.Traders any more, though for +orrachane ,adradun she #ould make an e-ception)
*he #ent to the #indo# to put distance 'et#een herself and the door as +orrachane continued to scold "en) 6alf the city thinks he(s the most #onderful thing since #indo# glass, %a&a thought) 1nd this dried.up codfish of a #oman treats him like an idiot) 6o# can she not see ho# good he is2
*he noticed something in the corner, tucked 'et#een the #indo# and a 'ookcase) It #as a si-.foot.tall section of shel$es, nearly in$isi'le to the rest of the room) 9ach shelf held an assortment of o'&ects, all scented faintly #ith smoke) 6ere #as a metal soldier, top half perfect, the 'ottom half melted smooth) *he touched it #ith her 'rass.glo$ed hand and sa# a room #ith toys scattered e$ery#here, the carpet and hangings in flames) 5omen in nightdresses ran out #ith screaming children in their arms) %a&a &erked her hand a#ay)
6ere #as a half.'urned 'ook7 there a molten piece of glass) There #ere nearly fifty things, all marked 'y fire) The one that made the hair stand on %a&a(s arms #as the skeleton of a hand, each 'one threaded on #ire to keep its original position, a molten glo' of gold around the #edding ring finger) *he did not touch the gold)
0+ementoes,0 "en said) %a&a spun.she hadn(t heard him return) 09$ery fire #here I manage to make a difference, keep it from 'eing a complete disaster, I like a reminder,0 he continued) 0In case I get to thinking I(m not #orth much)0
%a&a looked at him) 6e #as still red #ith humiliation)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0I apologi/e for my mother,0 he added hesitantly 0*he(s.$ery strong.minded) *he made us rich after my father lost our fortune) 1ny#ay, she sometimes forgets #hat she says or does isn(t) ) ) polite) 9$ery 'usiness deal is a crisis for her)0
6e looked #orn do#n) 6e half.killed himself on that fire last night, making sure e$eryone did as they should, e$en #orrying a'out me, %a&a thought angrily) 6e should 'e in 'ed, resting, and she orders him out to look at account 'ooks and shipping 'ills)
%a&a couldn(t gi$e him any rest, 'ut she could help him a$oid more 'urns like the one that scarred his left hand) *he had meant to think a'out the pro&ect some more 'efore she spoke, 'ut she #anted to cheer him up no#) 05ould you like a pair of glo$es.#ell, gauntlets, ending a'out here0.she tapped her el'o#.0to shield your hands from flames20
6is eyes #idened7 he ru''ed his left hand) 01re you &oking2 <ou can do that20
0I #ork #ith a kind of li$ing metal)0 *he ru''ed her o#n left hand7 his eyes #ent to it) 0I did an artificial leg #ith it once.#ell, me, Frostpine, and my foster.'rother and .sisters) I($e 'een #orking #ith it since.the li$ing metal, not artificial legs) I mean, may'e I could do a leg no#) I ha$en(t tried)0
"en(s mouth t#itched7 there #as humor in his eyes) 0For the first time since #e($e met, you sound like a fourteen.year.old,0 he pointed out) 0I can(t make head nor tail of #hat you(re saying)0
%a&a smiled and #ent 'ack to her chair) *he sipped her tea! it #as cold) 0 e$er mind the leg) The important thing is, I can make glo$es for you)0 *he didn(t #ant to mention the suit yet) That #as more complicated than glo$es, and #ould re8uire a great deal of planning, if it could 'e done at all) 06a$e you paper or a slate20 she asked) 0I need to kno# ho# long your arms are.a tracing #ill do)0
%a&a left ,adradun 6ouse #ith the paper in a roll under her arm as *erg 'rought the sleigh around from the ,adradun sta'le) 1fter tucking the paper under the front seat #here it ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #ould 'e safe, %a&a glanced up at the house) +orrachane(s un#elcoming face #atched her from a #indo#) The #oman grimaced and turned a#ay)
0Ka8,0 %a&a muttered in Trader.talk)
05here do #e go no#, @iymese20 asked *erg)
%a&a sho$ed +orrachane from her mind and consulted her list of possi'le mage.teachers) 0,ittle *ugar *treet,0 she directed)
Once she had spoken to the last mages on her list, %a&a and *erg returned to "ancanor 6ouse &ust 'efore the hour #hen %a&a #as to teach meditation) %a&a didn(t #ant to lea$e that for another day) The last of *andry(s letters to arri$e 'efore #inter closed the roads south had descri'ed the mess her student made 'ecause she hadn(t pressed him to learn to control his po#er) %a&a thought no one at "ancanor 6ouse #ould appreciate 'eing left to hang in midair, or #orse)
*he found ia in Kol(s study, inspecting her father(s set of e'ony and cherry chessmen one 'y one) 0I don(t kno# #hat carpenter(s magic e$en is,0 she told %a&a) 0I kno# this is #ell polished, and the clothes on the pieces are shaped to make the grain of the #ood look like cloth, 'ut that isn(t magic)0
1fter thinking a'out her o#n studies and those of her friends, %a&a said, 01 lot of magic is &ust e$eryday practical) o matter #hat po#er you ha$e, ho# it gets used centers on the same things, mostly) People al#ays like magic to protect them from fire, from thie$es) +agic gets used for medicine and 'usiness)0 *he leaned against Kol(s desk, looking at ia) The girl #as alert and intent) *he #ants this, %a&a thought) 9$en if it(s not #hat people e-pect of #ealthy girls, she #ants it)
%a&a fiddled #ith her Trader(s staff, her constant companion) Odd, that she(d al#ays ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html thought of the 'rass cap and #hat it said a'out her, ne$er a'out the e'ony that ran 'et#een the metal.co$ered ends) 05hat kind of #ood is this20 she asked ia, though she kne# the ans#er)
09'ony,0 ia replied instantly) 09-pensi$e and hard) ?sed for furniture, inlays.it(s imported from the south)0
05hen Traders gi$e their children their first staff, they tell us e'ony(s magical use is for protection) 5ell, #hat do carpenters make for protection20 %a&a asked) 0<ou can spell e'ony inlays on a 'a'y(s cradle, to keep it from harm) <ou could place spells against fire in e'ony thresholds in one of your father(s 'anks) It #ould ha$e to 'e $ery po#erful, 'ecause some things, like a really 'ig fire.0 *he stopped, thinking of the 'oardinghouse fire and the spells that 'attled the flames) *he 'linked, shook off the memory, and continued, 0*ome things ha$e more po#er than you) *till, you can keep the 'ank from catching fire 'ecause someone knocked o$er a candle)0
ia(s eyes #ere #ide) 03eally20
0In time,0 %a&a said) 0It depends on the strength of your po#er and on your education) <ou need practice, and a teacher, and control.#hich means meditation) ,et(s start on that) %o you kno# #here ;ory is20
ia closed her eyes for a moment) Then she opened them) 0"ook room,0 she said, leading the #ay)
05hy did you do that20 %a&a asked, curious) 05hy close your eyes20
0Oh, it(s 'ecause #e(re t#ins,0 ia said) 0It(s not magical, though) 5e kno# some other t#ins, and they do it, too) ?sually ;ory and I kno# #here the other one is) If something 'ig happens, #e can tell) 5hen ;ory 'roke her arm falling off the sta'le roof, I kne# it, e$en though I #as at market #ith +ama)0
;ory #as in the 'ook room, as ia had said, poring o$er recipes) 05hy #ould anyone #ant to peel a thousand #alnuts20 she demanded as %a&a and ia came in) 0%o they mean the shell, or the 'ro#n skin o$er the nut meat2 5here could you e$en get a thousand #alnuts20
0I don(t kno# and I(m not interested,0 replied %a&a) 0Come on) <ou #on(t learn to meditate reading #alnut recipes)0
0Oh, that,0 ;ory said, closing her 'ook) 05hat is meditation, any#ay2 Is it 'oring20
0Come do it and find out,0 %a&a told her firmly) 05here can #e 'e undistur'ed20
The t#ins looked at each other and shrugged simultaneously) 0The schoolroom, I suppose,0 ;ory said) 0 o'ody(s there at this hour)0
%a&a follo#ed them up to the schoolroom, on the third floor #ith the t#ins( 'edrooms and the nursery #here Peigi and 9idart slept) The floor #as silent! the younger "ancanors #ere no dou't out some#here #ith their nursemaids)
Inside the schoolroom, the t#ins #atched as %a&a used her staff to dra# a protecti$e circle 'ig enough for the three of them) ,ea$ing a foot of it open, she 'eckoned for them to come through and sit)
0I(ll get my dress dirty,0 they chorused, looking at the floor #ith disdain) They looked at each other and grinned! they often echoed each other)
%a&a leaned on her staff and #aited) The t#ins pointed out the sil$ery magic of the flat circle to one another) That ans#ered something for %a&a! she kne# ;ory had glimpsed the kitchen spells, and no# she also kne# that ia could see magic) It #asn(t a common gift, ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html though it made life easier for those #ho had it)
5hen the no$elty of the circle #ore off, ;ory sighed) 0%o #e ha$e to do this2 It(s late) I($e 'een at lessons fore$er.can(t I ha$e time to myself2 I(ll get splinters on the floor) 1nd I(m hungry)0
%a&a #aited) *he didn(t e-pect ia to 'e a pro'lem, 'ut ;ory #ould 'e, gi$en a chance) *he had to learn no# that she couldn(t get around %a&a as she did others) Their situation #as only temporary, 'ut if %a&a had to teach at all, she #ould teach as if it mattered)
ia sat first, her skirts tucked neatly around her) ;ory continued to stare at %a&a) Finally ia tugged ;ory(s orange skirt) 0*top it,0 she told her t#in) 0I don(t think she(s interested)0
Once ;ory settled, %a&a said, 0I(m not)0 *he closed the circle, then sat on the floor and raised her protections until they #ere enclosed inside a perfect magical 'u''le)
e-t she told the girls, 0+editation teaches you to control your po#er) To control it, you ha$e to find it, so that(s #here #e(ll start) First step) Take a long, deep 'reath) Count to se$en as you do it) Then) ) ) 0 *he continued instructions on proper 'reathing, #ords she could repeat in her sleep) 1s she spoke she #atched their faces) 5hat #as going on 'ehind those similar, yet different, eyes2 0,et(s try it) *it up straight)0 The girls( 'acks #ere straighter than %a&a(s, the result of hours #ith eti8uette teachers) 0"reathe as I count) "reathe in)0 *he counted as automatically as she(d descri'ed the 'reathing, letting them get familiar #ith this easiest part of the e-ercise) 1fter a'out ten minutes she let her $oice gro# 8uieter, until she finally counted only in her o#n mind) The t#ins kept pace e$en #ithout hearing her)
0@ery good,0 %a&a told them softly) 01s you 'reathe, empty your mind of thoughts) Forget e$erything) This might take time, 'ut try) 1s I count, let your thoughts flo# a#ay as if you empty them from a pitcher) 3eady2 One ) ) )0
*he kne# once she told them to empty their minds, they #ould think of anything and ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html e$erything) 9ach time they lost track of the count, %a&a corrected them and started o$er) *he had restarted fi$e times #hen ;ory complained, 0This is 'oring)0
0Cuiet) ,isten inside your mind,0 %a&a said firmly) 0One) T#o) Three) ) ) 0
0I can(t help it) I keep thinking a'out things)0 It #as ;ory again) 0There(s a crick in my neck)0
0*hake it out and start o$er) "e 8uiet inside, 3a$$ikki ;orality,0 %a&a ordered, using the amornese #ord for 0+iss,0 kno#ing she sounded as dry as the t#ins( other teachers) The girls responded instincti$ely to the schoolteacher $oice, straightening 'acks and shoulders, composing their faces)
%a&a counted through another three rounds of in, hold, out, hold, 'efore ;ory scram'led to her feet) 0I ha$e a cramp40 she told %a&a, massaging her calf) 0This is a silly #ay to sit40
0;ory, #ould you please hush20 demanded ia) 0I almost had it40
0+ouse turds,0 ;ory retorted) 0<ou didn(t almost ha$e anything)0
0*it in a #ay you(re comforta'le,0 %a&a ordered) 0I(m not letting you out of the circle until you really try, and not &ust for a moment or t#o)0
0Then #hy don(t I &ust.0 Turning, ;ory #alked straight at the protecti$e 'arrier) *he struck the cur$ed dome headfirst) 6er hair stood on end, clinging to the magical 'u''le, and ;ory(s knees 'uckled) *he dropped to the floor, pulling her long hair free)
0*it comforta'ly,0 %a&a said as ;ory tried to pat her hair do#n) 0<ou make this harder ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #hen you fuss)0
;ory sat #ith her knees 'ent to one side) *he soon de$eloped cramps in the arms she used to support herself, and s#itched to the other side) That arm #ent to sleep) e-t she stretched out on the ground) "y then the looks ia ga$e her had gone from impatient to murderous) %a&a #as e$en starting to feel cross)
5hen the clock struck do#nstairs, they all sighed #ith relief) %a&a reached o$er to ru' out a handspan of her circle) 1s the 'arriers collapsed, she dre# her po#er 'ack into herself) 0Come 'ack here tomorro#, and #e(ll do it again)0
;ory groaned)
It occurred to %a&a that ;ory #ould fight her until %a&a made it clear that she #as in charge) o# she #alked o$er to stand 'et#een ;ory and the door, leaning on her staff as she stared into ;ory(s eyes) 0+ay'e you could go all your life #ith magic &ust making a little trou'le for you 'ecause you ne$er got the discipline,0 she said, her $oice so 8uiet that the t#ins had to lean closer to hear) 0+ay'e,0 %a&a told them) 01nd may'e your magic #ill 'reak loose and cause a disaster) It happens) 5ill you 'eha$e, or do I speak #ith your parents20
;ory pouted) 0I(ll 'eha$e,0 she said at last)
06ere) Tomorro#) *ame time)0 %a&a stood aside, letting the t#ins dash a#ay to change clothes) To the empty room she murmured, 0That could ha$e gone 'etter)0 *he ru''ed her head) The trou'le #ith meditation #as that it #as harder to talk a'out it than it #as to do, and she #as not the 'est talker) 5hy couldn(t "riar, or Tris, teach the t#ins2
The thought made her smile) "riar #ould end 'y tacking ;ory to the floor #ith thorny $ines) Tris #ould ha$e the girl so terrified that ;ory #ould 'e a'le to think of nothing, including the control of her po#er) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
<a#ning, she descended the stairs to #ash up for supper) If only she could sho# them that cool, 'right place she #ent to #hen she meditated) Then she #ouldn(t ha$e to #orry.unless the places the t#ins carried #ithin themsel$es looked and felt completely different) *he had to match them up #ith proper teachers) Then ;ory #ould 'e someone else(s headache)
In the hope that Frostpine could ad$ise her, she checked his room) It #as dark and chilly! in all likelihood he #as out on his in$estigation) %a&a sighed, then fed #armth to the hearthstones) They #ould hold it for hours, heating the room until the ser$ants came to 'uild the night(s fire) Then she #ent to change)
5hen the supper 'ell chimed, %a&a opened her door to find the t#ins) They #ore supper clothes7 their masses of hair #ere neatly com'ed, ia(s 'raided, ;ory(s tied 'ack #ith a 'road ri''on) 05hat a'out teachers20 ;ory asked) 0%id you find one20
%a&a looked do#n to hide her smile) *o ;ory at least hadn(t en&oyed her teaching, either) 0I found se$eral,0 she replied #hen she could keep her face straight) *he follo#ed them to the stairs) 0 o# #e ha$e to meet those #ho #ill take a student) <ou ha$e to pick the one #ho seems right for you)0
0"ut +ama picks our teachers,0 ;ory argued as she rattled do#n the stairs)
05ell, this is different,0 %a&a told her 'ouncing 'ack)
0If %a&a says you are to choose, you are to choose,0 +ata/i informed her daughters #hen they asked a'out it o$er supper)
Kol nodded agreement) 01round here, #e lea$e mage things to mages) 5hen can you start taking them to these teachers20 he asked)
%a&a looked at the t#ins) 0Tomorro#)0
0<ou(ll ha$e *erg to dri$e you for the day,0 said +ata/i) 0<ou t#o, pay attention, and think 'efore you choose) <ou can(t &ust go changing teachers #hene$er you like) ;orality, are you listening20
;ory e-haled a tremendous sigh) 0+ama,0 she complained)
0<our mother is right,0 Kol added firmly) 0 o trying this one, or that one, and deciding you #ant someone else in a month) These are 'usy people) They(re good enough to offer to teach you, and you #ill 'e good enough to treat it seriously)0
;ory stuck out her chin and met her father(s le$el ga/e) Immediately the chin retreated7 she looked do#n) @ery 8uietly she replied, 0I #ill, Papa)0
Chapter D
The follo#ing morning %a&a #as a#ake #hen she heard giggles and the click of the door. latch7 she #as rarely caught 'y surprise the same #ay t#ice) *he sat up and glared at the t#ins #hen they came in) 0%o you find this amusing20 she in8uired)
0"ut #e(re doing it for you,0 said ;ory at her most innocent)
0If this is re$enge for my re$ealing you ha$e magic, it(s #orking,0 %a&a informed them) *he tossed her co$ers aside and tried to get out of 'ed) 1fter the pre$ious day(s skating lesson she had gone stiff #ith pain in places she hadn(t kno#n she could hurt) +uscles ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html hea$y #ith years of smacking things #ith hammers ached as if she(d picked one up only a day ago) 6er 'ack #as one large 'ruise)
0It didn(t hurt me that 'ad,0 ia commented as %a&a ho''led to her #ater pitcher)
;ory suggested, 0+ay'e you didn(t fall as much)0
0I don(t think it(s that she fell more)0 ia sounded as if she #ere genuinely trying to 'e helpful) 0+ay'e %a&a hit harder, 'ecause there(s so much of her to hit)0
%a&a turned to glare at them) 0?nless you #ant to spend the #inter stuck in ice to your knees, you #ill go do#nstairs and #ait for me)0
06o# can #e get stuck in ice20 ;ory demanded as ia to#ed her from the room)
0*he(ll melt it under us and let it free/e,0 ia replied as they closed %a&a(s door)
%a&a stared at herself in her looking.glass) 0If this is ho# old people feel, I don(t like it,0 she told her reflection) 0I don(t ha$e to do this) Plenty of other people #alk) They don(t ha$e to skate)0 1nd they take fore$er to go anyplace, a treacherous part of her 'rain replied)
*omeho# she dressed and tottered do#nstairs) 5hen she emerged from the house in her #inter clothes, her skates o$er one sore shoulder, she sa# the t#ins had set out fresh torches and #ere skating as gracefully as 'irds, s#ooping and cur$ing, spinning and gliding 'ack#ard, the metal 'lades on their feet #inking in the torchlight)
Oh, thought %a&a #ith a sigh of longing) That(s #hy I #ant to learn) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
*he #as a 'ig, strong girl, not graceful like her foster.mother ,ark, not elegant like +ata/i "ancanor) ?sually she liked to 'e 'ig and strong! it helped her to handle iron, 'rass, and 'ron/e) *till, no# and then she #anted a little elegance, like the day she found that most 'oys preferred smaller, more delicate girls, or the day Teraud had sho#n her iron #orked like lace) The skaters on Kugisko(s canals made her think that perhaps she could 'e elegant for a time #ith her o#n 'ody) *he #anted to try, at least)
*he got do#n to the 'ench and put her skates on) 1s the t#ins glided to a halt to #atch, %a&a stood) This time she dug in #ith the toe of one skate until she felt steady) Then she pushed off, freeing the dug.in toe at the same moment) *he stroked do#n #ith that skate ne-t, gliding into the center of the ice) Feeling the smoothness of her motion, its grace, %a&a got e-cited) 6er ne-t stroke #as a little too enthusiastic) *he fle# across the 'asin and slammed into a fro/en sno#'ank, face.first)
0O#,0 she said) 6er nose #as mashed flat)
The t#ins pulled her to her feet) I #ant to learn this, %a&a told herself grimly) *he pushed off again, gliding to the center of the 'asin)
1fter 'reakfast ia and ;ory rushed out of the house and clam'ered into *erg(s #aiting sleigh) Once the girls #ere in place, %a&a used her staff to clim' in)
0<ou #alk like an old #oman,0 *erg remarked, confused) 0"ut you #ere fine yesterday)0
0It(s the ice.skating,0 ;ory informed him) 0*he(s trying really hard)0
01nd you are really trying,0 %a&a said, trying to get comforta'le on the padded seat) *he ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html glanced up at the sky! fat sno#flakes drifted do#n in a slo# dance) 0I hope this doesn(t get too 'ad)0
0It #on(t,0 ia replied) 0The #eather.mage(s crier comes e$ery morning) Today(s supposed to 'e &ust sno#fall like this) It(ll 'uild up, 'ut not too 'adly)0
01t least, it #on(t if the #eather.mage is right) +ost of the time they are,0 ;ory contri'uted)
0%o not 'orro# trou'le, 3a$$ikki,0 *erg told ;ory) 0@iymese %a&a, I a#ait orders)0
0Camoc Oak'orn,0 'egan %a&a)
0 yree *treet,0 replied *erg) 6e clucked to the horses and dro$e out the main gate #ith easy grace)
Once they arri$ed, an apprentice ushered %a&a and the girls into Camoc Oak'orn(s large shop, then #ent to find the master) They didn(t ha$e long to #ait 'efore Camoc &oined them) 0@iymese %a&a,0 he said #ith a nod) 6e looked at ia) 0This is the girl you spoke of20
0 iamara "ancanor, this is @iynain Camoc Oak'orn,0 %a&a said gi$ing him the amornese title for a mage) 1s ia curtsied, %a&a added, 01nd this is her sister ;orality)0 ;ory curtsied as #ell) 0;ory doesn(t share ia(s magic, @iynain Camoc)0
0I see that,0 he said) 0Come along, then, 3a$$ikki iamara) I(ll gi$e you the tour)0 6e led %a&a and the t#ins around the shop, identifying for ia #hat #as 'eing made) 6e took a moment to inspect each of his people(s #ork 'efore he mo$ed on) ia looked at e$erything #ith #ide and shining eyes, 'reathing the scents of paint and #ood sha$ings as if they #ere perfume) "y the time they reached the second floor, her dark and practical go#n had ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html ac8uired a coat of sa#dust and a $ariety of #ood sha$ings) 6er creamy 'ro#n cheeks #ere flushed)
*he 'elongs here, %a&a reali/ed) 3emem'ering her misgi$ings #hen she(d met Camoc, she added, Or someplace like it)
On the ne-t floor carpenters toiled o$er e$erything from ta'les to 'eds) ;ory #as 'ored 'y then7 %a&a sent her out to 'uy hot cider and #ait #ith *erg at the sleigh)
%a&a toiled up more steps 'ehind Camoc and ia, #ho remained spell'ound 'y her surroundings) The third floor #as for delicate #ork! inlays on fancy 'o-es, end ta'les, and cup'oards, parts for looms and spinning #heels, e$en a dollhouse in the east amornese style)
0+ost places are smaller,0 Camoc e-plained to ia) 0I don(t speciali/e, so instead of running from shop to shop all day, I put it all under one roof, and clim' stairs to keep my figure)0 6e smiled ruefully at %a&a) To the girl he said, 01'out half my people are #oodcraft.mages, as I told @iymese %a&a) 1ll are specialists) If you choose to study here, one of the senior mage.students #ill teach you at first) I don(t really handle 'eginners) 1rnen #ould 'e your tutor)0
6e pointed out a 'espectacled young man of medium height and neatly trimmed 'ro#n hair and 'eard) 6e #as intent on shaping a #ooden tree that flattened on top to 'ecome a ta'le! %a&a sa# magic follo# his hands in glo#ing sil$er ropes, his po#er sinking into the #ood) It #as car$ed and stained to make it resem'le a century tree from the south, t#isted and gnarled from long, $ery slo# gro#th)
01rnen(s good #ith 'eginners,0 Camoc said) 0I ha$e to let him get one of these fancy pieces out of his system no# and then) The rest of the time he makes the 'est 'arrels and a-le.trees money can 'uy) Those 'arrels hold anything, and his a-le.trees ne$er 'reak)0
,ooking at 1rnen(s tree, %a&a mar$eled at the mind that could &ump from 'arrels and ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #agons to something so 'eautiful) 1rnen reminded her of "riar, #ho #ent from #eeding temple fields to shaping miniature trees, not &ust to fit them for magic, 'ut 'ecause there #as lo$eliness in the tree itself)
Camoc opened a door onto a classroom much like the one in "ancanor 6ouse) There #ere no maps on the #alls) %esks #ere replaced 'y long ta'les and #ork 'enches) 1 case of 'ooks lined one side #all7 a large slate #as hung on another) On it someone had #ritten the magical runes for strength! fle-i'le strength, hard strength, endurance)
1 collection of #ooden cu'es a'out the si/e of %a&a(s fist sat on a ta'le) Camoc stirred them #ith kno''y fingers) 0Come here, girl,0 he ordered) 0,et(s see #hat you kno#)0
ia #alked o$er, her eyes on the 'locks rather than on Camoc(s face) *he pulled one a#ay from the others) 0<ello# pine,0 she murmured)
0*peak up,0 the man ordered) 05hat use does it ha$e20
ia cleared her throat) 0*hel$es,0 she said) 0Porches, house #alls.0
0Pick something else,0 Camoc ordered)
ia pulled a second 'lock from the collection) 0+aple,0 she announced) 0+usical instruments, shel$es, stairs, interior trim.0
0 e-t,0 ordered Camoc)
*he #ent through most of the pile, una'le to name only a fe# pieces) %a&a sa# that ia had learned a great deal already, haunting carpenters( shops near her home) *he reminded ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html %a&a of all the time she(d spent as a child, handling e$ery piece of metal her family(s ship had carried)
5hat happened to am'ient mages #ho ne$er found teachers2 %id they e$en kno# #hat they #ere missing2 The thought made %a&a shudder) *he dragged her attention 'ack to Camoc and ia) The #ood.mage #as asking her to name a series of carpenter(s tools and their uses) %a&a sat and #aited)
Finally Camoc looked at %a&a) 0*he kno#s more than I e-pected,0 he told her) 0I kno# you($e other mages to see 'efore she decides.0
0Please, I don(t #ant to see anyone else,0 ia said, her $oice 8uiet again) 0I(ll stay here)0
0<ou(re 'etter off meeting other carpentry.mages) %ifferent carpentry.mages,0 Camoc insisted) 0*maller shops, not as many people trooping in and out)0
0"ut I like that it(s 'ig,0 ia said, almost #hispering) 0There(s all kinds of things to do here)0
0+ay I talk to ia a moment20 %a&a asked Camoc) 6e nodded, and #ent out into the shop) %a&a turned to the girl) 0 ia, not all teachers #ork the same) *ome are easygoing, some strict) <ou #on(t e$en 'e studying #ith Camoc at first, 'ut his student) Tell me #hy you don(t #ant to see anyone else)0
0<ou ha$e ;ory to settle,0 ia e-plained) 01nd I like it here)0 *he 'rushed at a streak of sa#dust on her go#n) It clung to her stu''ornly) 0It(s) ) ) homey)0
%a&a grimaced) Too often ia put her t#in first) 0 e$er mind ;ory) ,et(s $isit some other carpentry.mages)0
ia shook her head) 0<ou said I could pick) 5ell, I ha$e)0 *he looked at %a&a #ith flashing eyes) 0I($e 'een in other #ood.mages( shops, you kno#) This is the 'est, and no# I kno# #hy, 'ecause my magic(s here)0
%a&a scratched her head and grimaced as she yanked a loop from one of her many 'raids) *he didn(t like it.she #asn(t sure that she liked Camoc.'ut ia #as the one #ho had to li$e #ith the choice) If Camoc or his assistant 1rnen had 'een handsome and charming, she might ha$e forced ia to meet other teachers) The girl #ouldn(t 'e the first t#el$e.year.old to fall for a handsome face) 5hen %a&a thought of the healer.mage student she(d fallen for t#o years ago, she felt her cheeks #arm) *he had mooned o$er the fello# for months) "ut ia didn(t sho# signs of a sudden infatuation, and %a&a had only a feeling that Camoc might 'e too hard on her) It #asn(t enough)
*he #ould do 'etter to let time decide) ia might #ell change her mind) If that happened, %a&a #as fairly certain she could get +ata/i and Kol to let ia change teachers) They should kno# ho# uncertain anything in$ol$ed #ith magic #as)
*he took ia out to Camoc, #ho introduced her to 1rnen) 1'out to go, %a&a hesitated) 0 ia, ho# #ill you get home2 6a$e you money for a guest.sleigh, or.0
0I(ll skate home) There are al#ays la#keepers on the canals.I(ll 'e fine,0 ia insisted)
09-cuse me, @iymese.0 That #as 1rnen) 6e spoke as 8uietly as ia did)
%a&a looked at him) 05hat can I do for you20
1rnen glanced at Camoc, then pushed his spectacles up on his nose) 0It(s a'out meditation) +ost of us started #ith other mages, and #e already kno# it)0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0Impossi'le to meditate here,0 Camoc said 'rus8uely) 0Too much noise) Can you take that part of it20
0It really is noisy,0 1rnen told ia apologetically) *he nodded, too shy to speak)
%a&a #anted to o'&ect, 'ut suddenly she could hear her grandmother(s $oice) 0*hirkers are half.ka8,0 that fierce old lady told her grandchildren) 0Traders take the 'urden they are gi$en)0 *he had 'een gi$en this 'urden) It #asn(t shirking to find teachers #ith the t#ins( o#n skills, 'ut if those teachers asked %a&a to help, she #ould 'e a shirker to refuse) 05e(ll meditate at home,0 she told the men and ia) 05e($e already started, any#ay)0 *he did her 'est to seem happy a'out it, though her inner self #as demanding to kno# ho# she #as to #ork on her o#n pro&ects if she had to nursemaid the t#ins) *he stepped on that self hard) ia #ould hear any touch of impatience in %a&a(s $oice) The minute she did, she #ould fade a#ay like a ghost, learning nothing properly from anyone) %a&a ran her right thum' o$er her 'rass glo$e) 05e(ll practice tonight, #hen #e get home,0 she told ia, #ho nodded)
5hen %a&a left Camoc(s, she #as astounded to see +orrachane ,adradun, elegant in a sa'le.trimmed coat and hat, in the sleigh #ith ;ory) There #as liking and affection in the face that #as so harsh #hen %a&a had met her) ;ory said something, and the #oman actually laughed)
*he must ha$e 'een pretty once, %a&a thought) +y mother #as right.if you keep making the same nasty face, one day your face #ill set in that e-pression)
0%a&a,0 ;ory said eagerly, #a$ing) 0%a&a, come meet 1unt +orrachane)0 *he grimaced and added, 0*orry) 3a$$i +orrachane ,adradun) 1unt +orrachane.0
0I ha$e met 3a$$ikki %a&a,0 said +orrachane #ith a nod) 0I understand you ha$e 'rought the t#ins #onderful ne#s) <ou are to 'e a cook.mage,0 she said #ith a smile, cupping ;ory(s cheek in one glo$ed hand) 06ouses #ill scram'le to offer marriages for you and my little ia) "ut #here is she20 +orrachane asked %a&a) 0;ory said she #as inside #ith you)0
%a&a ran her fingers o$er the li$ing metal on her left hand and silently listed the $arious coins used in "ihan) ormally she disliked the title @iymese) *he felt nothing like the ackno#ledged mage it proclaimed, yet it irked her that +orrachane #ould not use it)
;ory #as una#are of %a&a(s tension and +orrachane(s snu') 0*he #on(t keep us #aiting fore$er, #ill she20 asked ia(s t#in) 05e($e other 'oring carpenters to see.0
01ctually, ia #ants to stay here,0 %a&a told ;ory)
0*he does20 ;ory asked, surprised) 0"ut she hasn(t met any of the others40
0One moment,0 said +orrachane #ith a fro#n that looked easier for her face than smiles) 0 ia chose20
0Isn(t it fun20 ;ory asked eagerly) 05e ne$er get to pick our teachers, 'ut %a&a says #e ha$e to)0
+orrachane patted ;ory(s arm, 'ut her pale green eyes #ith their tiny pupils #ere fi-ed on %a&a) 0I kno# you like the freedom, dear one, 'ut adults0.#as %a&a imagining it, or had +orrachane emphasi/ed the #ord2.0kno# more of the #orld) *urely it is up to your parents to decide)0
0 ia(s mad to pick the first place she sees,0 ;ory added) 0Is she serious2 *he doesn(t rush into things) *he(s not like me)0
0*he says she(s certain,0 replied %a&a, speaking to ;ory)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0@iynain Oak'orn said she ought to meet others, too, 'ut her mind(s made up)0
0*he likes it here, then,0 ;ory said firmly, smoothing the ro'e o$er her lap) 0:ood) o more 'oring carpenters40
0I cannot 'elie$e +ata/i "ancanor consented to this,0 +orrachane said flatly) 0*omeone like @iynain "reech'ranch, #ith his selecti$e shop, #ould 'e far more appropriate for a #ell.'red girl than this hurly'urly place)0
%a&a #as not temperamental) *he certainly #asn(t like her foster.sister Tris, #ho #ent up like e-plosi$e 'oom.dust if anyone disagreed #ith her, or e$en like *andry, #ho sprang to 'attle the moment she thought someone #as treated 'adly) There #as something a'out +orrachane that s#iftly got under %a&a(s skin, stirring her to une-pected surges of temper) *he toyed #ith melting the #oman(s gold coat.'uttons and her elegant ru'y.and.gold earrings, 'ut kne# such a petty re$enge #as 'eneath her) *he imagined it 'riefly as she considered and discarded a num'er of sharp replies) Finally she said, 0I thank you for your interest, 'ut I ha$e discussed these matters #ith 3a$$ot and 3a$$i "ancanor, and #ith my o#n teacher, the great mage Frostpine) This is ho# it is done)0
0Then it is done foolishly, #ithout thought for the student(s good,0 +orrachane said flatly) 05hat order is there #hen children are not guided 'y the ad$ice of their parents2 Family is sacred) To encourage young people to ignore the family(s needs.0
0"ut #e aren(t, 1unt +orrachane, really40 ;ory laid a placating hand on the older #oman(s arm) 0It(s &ust this one thing, and +ama and Papa #orked out the list of teachers) They ha$e medallions and things that say they teach as #ell as #ork magic) 1nd it(s so much fun to decide something for oursel$es)0
0There40 snapped +orrachane) 0<ou see2 1lready it 'egins)0
%a&a(s knuckles #ere creaking, so tightly #ere her hands clenched in her coat pockets) The ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html li$ing metal 'it into her flesh, s8uee/ed 'y her #orking muscles) In the end, she did something she had al#ays s#orn she #ould ne$er try) *he could almost hear %edicate Crane, the most sno''ish mage at 5inding Circle, talking as she spoke) 0Forgi$e me, 3a$$i ,adradun,0 she said, gathering an in$isi'le ro'e of arrogance around herself as she stood straighter, 0'ut #e speak of things magical, #hich may only 'e understood 'y adepts) ia has disco$ered something #ithin these #alls #hich calls to the source of her po#er) It cannot 'e safely ignored) 6o#e$er incredi'le it seems to those #ithout magic, it is a thing that any mage #ill kno#)0 *he turned to *erg, #ho #as pretending not to ea$esdrop) 0,et us seek out a teacher for 3a$$ikki ;orality)0 To +orrachane she added, 05ill you e-cuse us2 The moment po#er is re$ealed, a teacher must 'e found 8uickly, or tragedy may result)0 +orrachane sighed) 6er face #as 'riefly #istful as she kissed ;ory(s cheek) 0Tell your sister I am sorry I did not get to say hello)0
;ory kissed +orrachane(s cheek in return) 0*he(ll 'e sorry, too, 1unt +orrachane)0
The older #oman clim'ed out of the sleigh) 6er nod to %a&a #as 'arely polite) 0:ood day to you)0
%a&a nodded, then clim'ed into the sleigh) In her normal $oice she said, 0,ittle *ugar *treet, please, *erg)0 1s he set the horses for#ard, %a&a looked 'ack) 1 sleigh #ith the ,adradun insignia #as dra#ing up 'efore +orrachane)
;ory, #ho had remained straight.faced through %a&a(s speech, collapsed into giggles) 0I(m sorry,0 she said #hen she caught her 'reath, 0'ut you should ha$e heard yourself) 5hat #as that2 Is it really so drastic to find us teachers20
0That #as #hat "riar calls snooty mage &a''er,0 %a&a replied #ith a rueful smile) 1fter t#o months, the "ancanors #ere all familiar #ith %a&a(s foster.family) 0I shouldn(t ha$e done it, really)0
0Oh, that(s all right,0 ;ory said) 01unt +orrachane(s s#eet to me and ia, and to 9idart and Peigine #hen she sees them, 'ut she isn(t $ery nice to other people)0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0Is she really your aunt20 %a&a asked) *he couldn(t imagine the "ancanor family tree sprouting any fruit like +orrachane)
0 o,0 ;ory replied, flouncing to get comforta'le) 0"ut #e call her that) I think she misses "en(s children, so she adopted us) *he likes it #hen #e call her 1unt) *he says it makes her feel like #e(re really family)0
1nd that is a good thing2 %a&a #ondered as *erg #o$e the sleigh through cro#ded streets) I(d as soon 'e related to a shark) *ooner)
%a&a had planned to stop for midday at some point, 'ut she had reckoned #ithout the cook.mages they $isited) 9ach offered %a&a and ;ory tea and refreshments7 amornese hospitality meant that *erg too #as fed) "y the time the sun dipped 'elo# the #estern roofs, they had $isited all of the cooking.mages on %a&a(s list) ;ory had chosen none of them)
05hat a'out Inagru20 %a&a asked) 0Only has t#o other students, 'akes for the go$ernor(s castle, does the :oldsmith(s :uild suppers) ) ) 0
;ory shook her head)
0@iymese @alerian,0 *erg suggested #earily) 0 o'les( 'an8uets only) ;ars of summer $egeta'les #ith magic for strength, health, peace, lo$e) I should eat at his ta'le)0
05e($e met the 'est cook.mages in Kugisko,0 %a&a reminded her) 0<ou sa# this list) <our ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html mother appro$ed e$ery name on it) I don(t.0
0There(s one I didn(t mention,0 ;ory said #ithout meeting %a&a(s eyes) 0+other didn(t list her 'ecause she(s said not to take students) "ut #e don(t kno# till #e ask, right20
%a&a la'ored against a feeling of ill.usage) ;ory had arranged things so that 'y the time she mentioned this person, %a&a #ould 'e too e-hausted to o'&ect) 5orse, her maneu$er #orked) %a&a &ust #anted to see this mage and get it o$er #ith) 05ho20 she demanded)
0Olennika Potcracker,0 ;ory #hispered) 0In "lackfly "og)0
0I am doomed,0 announced *erg, shoulders drooping) 03a$$ot Kol'orn #ill use my 'lood to strengthen his gold and make my skull into a chalice)0
0Papa #on(t put 'lood in gold,0 said ;ory) 0It #ouldn(t 'e good for it)0
%on(t reason #ith him, %a&a thought #earily to herself) <ou(ll &ust make the fit last longer)
0Or I #ill 'e killed in "lackfly "og 'y dangerous men for my clothes and the pretty horses,0 *erg moaned)
%a&a sighed) 0"lackfly "og20 she asked ;ory)
0 ot in "lackfly "og,0 ;ory said, glaring at *erg) 0On the ri$er, across Kyrsty "ridge) "eside the <orgiry 6ospital) It(s patrolled 'y la#keepers, *erg) It(s perfectly safe)0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html *erg straightened his shoulders and 'ack) 0If #e die, I 'lame you,0 he replied #ith dignity) 6e set the horses for#ard)
%a&a turned to ;ory) 0<ou could ha$e mentioned this earlier,0 she pointed out)
0I thought may'e I(d #ant one of the others,0 ;ory mum'led)
06mpf,0 snorted %a&a as the sleigh hissed through the fe# inches of sno# on the streets) 0In Oti "ookkeeper(s accounts it says that the thing you put off doing is the thing you pay for the most)0
05ho is Oti "ookkeeper20 asked *erg o$er one shoulder)
0The head#oman of the gods, &ust as Trader Koma is headman,0 %a&a e-plained) 01t least, they are to my people) In the 'eyond, after you die, Trader #eighs your life in his gold scales, and "ookkeeper #rites do#n #hat you o#e)0
0I thought you follo#ed the ,i$ing Circle, like Frostpine,0 remarked ;ory)
%a&a shook her head) 0I pay alms to +ila of the :rain, goddess of the north, for using metal ores and #ood, and to 6akkoi the *mith, god of the south, for the learning I get,0 she e-plained, #atching the sky go dark) *he felt dro#sy and peaceful #ith the arri$al of night) 0That(s good manners, to pay #hat you o#e to your adopted family(s gods)0
,amplighters no# roamed the streets, tending the lamps that the #ealthy paid for so there #as light at intersections) Indoor lamps cast a foggy glo# through #indo#s co$ered 'y horn or oiled paper, or scattered rays of light through e-pensi$e 'ull(s.eye glass panes)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html *erg guided the sleigh deftly) The la#keepers #ere changing their #atch, their #hite. painted sleighs dropping fresh keepers at their posts and picking up those #ho #ere done for the day) People rode in sleighs and on horse'ack, on their #ay to homes or entertainments) Once *erg had to mo$e aside as a no'leman(s sleigh shot do#n the center of the street)
0Tell me a'out this Potcracker,0 suggested %a&a as *erg #aited for an intersection to clear) 0<ou($e mentioned her 'efore)0
;ory studied her glo$ed hands) 0*he #as the 9mpress(s personal cook) They had others that she o$ersa#, 'ut Potcracker fi-ed e$erything for the high ta'le herself) o matter #hat people used, if someone tried to poison anything that she made2 The food #ould turn green and it #ould roll to the one #ho sent the poison) 1ny'ody the 9mpress sent Potcracker(s food to, enemies, nations she #anted to make alliances #ith, most times they(d do #hat she #anted)0
*he fell silent as they turned onto Cash'o- *treet, the route to Kyrsty "ridge) 0I don(t 'elie$e the palace is in "lackfly "og,0 %a&a said #hen it seemed as if ;ory had forgotten her in her consideration of Potcracker(s achie$ements)
0Oh4 Oh, no.some'ody pushed her into the *yth, so these no'les #ho meant to poison the 9mpress could do it) The *yth, in 5olf +oon4 Can you imagine2 9-cept she li$ed)0 ;ory sighed #ith admiration) 0*he had a $ision) *he said the goddess <orgiry came to her, and said there #ere more important things to do than cook $eal #ith truffles and thyme for people too ignorant to like the taste)0
0*he did20 asked %a&a, startled) *he supposed that gods could do as they #ished, 'ut $isiting their #orshippers seemed $ery irregular)
0*he did40 insisted ;ory) 05ell, she does in that play, The Cook(s @ision) The *kuretty girls told me the story #hen they $isited last) 1ny#ay, Potcracker ga$e up 'eing the 9mpress(s cook)0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html The sleigh glided into Kyrsty "ridge, #hich arched high o$er the ri$er.canal they called orth ?patka) "efore them shone the sullen lights of a truly poor district) To their right lay the fro/en section that in #armer months #as called the 5hirligig, #here the ?patka 3i$er split to surround the islands and feed their canals) 1 small 'eacon to#er stood on an island of rocks at the 5hirligig(s heart, lighting the ice for skaters)
To the southeast of the 5hirligig #as the ri$er(s main stem, flo#ing past the go$ernor(s palace on %orn Point) On the heights of the ri$er(s southern shore #ere the no'les( estates) Their #alls, 'uilt of pale mar'le, ga$e the place its mocking name! the Pearl Coast)
1s they dro$e off the 'ridge onto a road that follo#ed the ri$er'ank, ;ory continued her story) 0Potcracker got the 9mpress to gi$e her a huge amount of money to set up hospital kitchens that also ser$e the poor, and the 9mpress made the no'les gi$e her money, too) Potcracker 'uilt kitchens in fi$e cities, 'ut she mostly #orks) ) ) there)0 ;ory pointed)
1'o$e the #all that guarded the 'ack of a four.story 'uilding ahead of them, lanterns 'la/ed) The 'uilding(s shuttered #indo#s #ere closed tight against the dark and cold) Piers &utted into the fro/en ri$er, #here ships could unload cargo in summer) *leighs no# stood in a line that led through the gate closest to their road)
%a&a looked at the place and smiled) 3unes for health and protection #ere #ritten around each door and #indo# she could see, glo#ing magically 'right)
0<orgiry(s 6ospital, and its cookhouse,0 ;ory said, 'ouncing #ith eagerness)
%a&a, a'out to tell her that sla$ing to feed the poor #ould not 'e as gloriously heroic as she seemed to think, changed her mind) 1 taste of the real #orld #ouldn(t hurt ;ory in the least)
Chapter E ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Together %a&a and ;ory #alked around a line of people carrying fresh loads of supplies into the hospital(s immense cookhouse) Once inside, a 'illo# of mi-ed scents.fresh 'read, steamed 'arley, ste#ing meat.enfolded the t#o girls) %a&a could also see that ;ory noticed the sil$er gleam of runes and protecti$e spells against uncontrolled fire, rats, mice, and mold! they #ere inscri'ed on the ceiling, e$ery set of doors, the #alls, e$en the floor) *ome#here to their right %a&a heard the regular thump of 'read 'eing kneaded) Closing her eyes, she thought she could 'e at 5inding Circle(s great kitchen, #here a cook.mage named :orse ruled and no one came a#ay hungry)
*omeone cursed in amornese) %a&a(s illusion e$aporated) :orse also ne$er fi-ed millet and 'acon soup, a Kugisko fa$orite #ith a distincti$e smell) 9$en #ith those differences 'et#een kitchens, something edgy inside her rela-ed) *he #as not a cook.mage, 'ut she kne# the feel of a kitchen.mage(s realm) This #as a good place to 'e)
0%on(t stand there steam.struck,0 a sharp $oice said) 1 'ag of flour came at %a&a(s chest7 she caught it) 0Take it to the cellar)0
%a&a looked into 'lack, snapping eyes) They #ere set in an oli$e.skinned #hite face cro#ned #ith masses of carelessly pinned hair as soft and as shado#y as dark #ool) The #oman(s face #as s8uare.&a#ed and straight.mouthed, di$ided at the center 'y a strong nose) ?nder a full #hite apron she dressed like a respecta'le housekeeper in 'ro#n #ool #ith a plain 'and collar) The slee$es #ere rolled a#ay from forearms nearly as muscular as %a&a(s o#n)
0If you lea$e it on the floor do#n there I(ll put you in a soup40 the #oman called as %a&a follo#ed the other laden #orkers through a door at the kitchen(s rear) 0I could feed a #hole #ard on you40
,ooking 'ehind her as she descended the stairs, %a&a sa# that ;ory had 'een pressed into ser$ice #ith a 'ag of onions) *erg, 'ehind her, toted a 'ag of rice)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 6e shrugged #hen he sa# %a&a) 0They say, they tend horses and sleigh and no'ody eats 'efore supplies are 'rought do#n) I do not #ant sick people to star$e)0
They made three more trips to the cellar storeroom, the last #ith the 'urden of an entire dead pig, #rapped in can$as) %a&a #as ready to go home after that) Instead she found herself seated at a long ta'le, a roll in one hand, thick ste# in a 'o#l in front of her, a plate #ith parsnips in 'eef 'roth 'eside that) *omeone passed her a cup of milk) *he had 'elie$ed she #as stuffed on cook.mages( treats, 'ut this food smelled so good) 1nd of course she ought to taste #hat they(d gi$en her to 'e polite) "y the time she had finished tasting, her 'o#l and plate #ere empty, her roll crum's)
01t least you kno# you need to eat #ith a 'ody like yours,0 said that sharp $oice) %a&a looked at its o#ner, #ho no# sat across from her) 01t court I sa# girls #ith 'ig frames, 'ig muscles, eat like 'irds, faint, get sick, die) The %uke of 9ileag(s youngest daughter star$ed herself to death) %on(t fight the 'ody the gods send you, I told them, 'ut did they listen20 The #oman reached o$er and grasped %a&a(s #rist, thrusting 'ack her coat and shirt slee$es) 0:ood arms) "lacksmith arms)0 *he transferred her grip to %a&a(s fingers) 05ho are you, 'lacksmith2 I am Olennika)0
0%a&a Kisu'o,0 she replied, returning the friendly s8uee/e of the fingers 'efore the cook. mage released her) 0From 9melan) I(m here #ith my teacher, @iynain Frostpine) This is ;orality "ancanor) 6e(s *erg)0
0"ancanor20 Olennika raised straight 'lack eye'ro#s) 0<ou are a long #ay from Kadasep, "ancanor(s daughter)0
;ory #as so o$er#helmed 'y a#e for this great mage that she #as speechless) The girl stared at Olennika, transfi-ed)
0*ee that door20 Olennika flapped a hand to#ard a door set in the #all across from their ta'le) 0"ring to me an ounce of truffles, three saffron threads, a ta'lespoon of dill chopped coarse, a ginger root, a ta'lespoon of parsley, and a ta'lespoon of tarragon) There are trays and 'o#ls there, and any tools you need)0 *he handed ;ory a large, iron key) 0:o,0 she ordered) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
;ory #ent)
%a&a said, 05e are looking for a teacher for her)0 *omeho# she kne# that she didn(t ha$e to tell this #oman a'out ;ory(s po#er)
0There are plenty of cook.mages closer to Kadasep,0 Olennika commented) *he 'eckoned to a girl #ho carried a teapot and a tray of handleless cups)
o glasses here, %a&a thought #ith satisfaction as the girl ser$ed them) 0I kno#) 5e($e seen them today)0 %a&a held the filled cup under her nose and inhaled) 9$en the steam #as refreshing) 0;ory #anted to come here) *he #asn(t sure you take students)0
01lmost ne$er,0 Olennika said) 0That is my personal #orkroom, #here I ha$e sent her) o la'els) If she is serious, she #ill kno# the things I ha$e re8uested) I do not think the master of the :oldsmiths( :uild #ill let his daughter study in "lackfly "og) 5e do fine cooking may'e four times a year, #hen the hospital feeds the rich to get money from them) The rest of the time #e cook for the sick and the poor) Cuantity, no fancy spices or ela'orate creations) *he ought to study #ith @alerian)0
03a$$ikki ;ory doesn(t #ant him,0 *erg said gloomily)
Olennika looked %a&a o$er) 05hat is your interest, Kisu'o20 she asked) 06o# is it a southern mage takes "ancanor(s daughter to see teachers20
0<ou kno# I(m a mage20 %a&a asked) Then she #inced at the folly of her 8uestion) Olennika had already sho#n that she recogni/ed ;ory(s po#er)
Olennika smiled one.sidedly) 0I ha$e a nose, girl,0 she replied) 0The ra$$ikki is a spearmint plant, crushed in the hand) <ou.you are a 'ed of it, half an acre at least, rolled on 'y a herd of horses) 5hy are you here20
%a&a e-plained) "y the time she finished, ;ory had returned #ith a tray full of tiny dishes and plates) 9ach had something in them) *he set the tray do#n, #iped her hands on her skirts, grimaced, and 'rushed the places #here she(d #iped her hands)
0%on(t fidget,0 Olennika ordered, poking a finger through the contents of the dishes) ;ory fro/e)
0Put e$erything 'ack as you found it)0 1s ;ory left, Olennika faced %a&a) 0I suppose she is not to 'e all day #ith one teacher) I suppose she studies music, and dancing, and 'ooks)0
%a&a nodded) *he #as impressed 'y Olennika(s 'risk handling of ;ory) It #ould 'e good for the girl to study here) The soft.spoken Inagru hadn(t seemed up to ;ory(s 'outs of enthusiasm) 0*he can stay as long as you #ish for a #eek,0 %a&a e-plained) 0"ut then it(s mornings) 1s she ad$ances, I think her family can 'e persuaded to let her stay longer) They(re sensi'le people)0
0If you say so)0 Olennika got to her feet) 0Time to start cooking for the morning,0 she said) *he looked tired) 5hen ;ory returned Olennika told her, 05e #ill ha$e a trial) Come tomorro# ready to #ork)0
;ory s8ueaked and flung her arms around Olennika(s neck) *he gulped, released the #oman, then spun giddily for a moment) Taking a deep 'reath to get herself under control, she ran to fetch their coats)
Olennika #atched her) 0*he #ill 'e my student in a #eek, or she #ill 'e happy to study #ith Inagru or @alerian,0 she said #ith a firm nod) 05e shall see)0 *he turned to %a&a and ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html smiled ruefully) 0There is one thing,0 she 'egan)
*omeone dropped se$eral pots on the floor) 9$eryone flinched at the clatter)
%a&a(s heart sank, 'ut she could see the pro'lem) 0+editation20 she asked)
Olennika nodded) 09$en in my #orkroom there is no 8uiet) People come and go in the cellar, in the attics, from the hospital) 5ill you.0
It #as %a&a(s turn to smile ruefully) *he kne# #hat she had to say7 she &ust didn(t like it) 0<es, of course)0
0It #ill 'e 'est if she meditates 'efore she comes here,0 Olennika said as ;ory returned #ith the coats) 0*he #ill 'e good for nothing 'ut sleep #hen she gets home) "e here 'y the second hour of the morning,0 she told ;ory, then turned to ans#er an undercook(s 8uestion)
1t "ancanor 6ouse, rather than lea$e the girls at the front door, *erg dro$e the sleigh into the courtyard ne-t to the 'oat 'asin) 1 sta'lehand took charge of it and the horses as %a&a, ;ory, and *erg trudged into the house) Inside they found that supper had 'een ser$ed and cleared a#ay) %a&a and ;ory #ent on to the 'ook room, #here Kol, +ata/i, and ia sat and read) ;ory told them a'out Olennika! +ata/i and Kol took the ne#s #ell, though they e-changed a glance #hen ;ory announced #here her ne# lessons #ould 'e held)
%a&a looked at the ya#ning ia, then at the clock) 05e need to do meditation,0 she said)
0 o#20 ;ory #hined) *he glanced at her mother! +ata/i raised 'oth elegant eye'ro#s, a look that dared ;ory to continue as she had started) ;ory looked do#n)
0 o#,0 %a&a said) *he asked the t#ins( parents, 0It(s &ust an hour) 5ill you 'e a#ake20
0Certainly,0 Kol said) 0I #ant to finish this 'ook, and my #omenfolk keep interrupting)0
0Papa40 ia cried) +ata/i gently kicked her hus'and)
%a&a grinned and to#ed the girls out of the room) If she e$er married, she hoped she #ould ha$e as much fun at it as Kol and +ata/i seemed to)
They returned to the schoolroom) Finding it dark, %a&a #ent to one of the hall lamps, pinched off its flame, and carried it 'ack to light the lamps) e-t she dre# her circle #ith her staff) Once that #as done, the t#ins inside #ith her, she raised her protections to enclose them once more)
0Could you #ork magic #ithout your staff 20 ;ory #anted to kno# #hen %a&a finished)
0+ages al#ays ha$e sta$es in the stories,0 added ia) 03emem'er the story of %eliellen *torm#alker, raising her staff to part the #aters of the *yth20
05e could make it fashiona'le, perhaps)0 ;ory(s $oice lacked confidence) 0*lender, #ith a &e#el for a kno', or ri''ons tied to it)0 *he 'rightened) 05e could learn to fight #ith them, like the apprentice 'oys do40
0I don(t #ant to fight any'ody,0 protested ia)
%a&a leaned on her staff and #aited for them to 'e 8uiet) ;ory sighed) The t#ins took their ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html seats on the floor) Only #hen they #ere ready did %a&a take her o#n place, laying her staff on her crossed legs)
0 o, you do not need a staff,0 she informed them) 0I carry one any#ay, so I put it to use) Think, 'oth of you4 6o# many mages today did you see carrying sta$es20
The t#ins hung their heads) 05e didn(t reali/e,0 ia said sheepishly)
05ell, you(re mage.students no#) <ou(d 'etter start reali/ing) 9nough) Close your eyes and 'reath) One) ) ) 0 *he continued the count until they had the rhythm, then stopped counting aloud) Inside the heart of her o#n po#er she sa# the ragged sil$er flares that shot a#ay from each of the t#ins) They flickered more than they had the day 'efore) 9$en yesterday(s spotty meditation had strengthened their uncontrolled po#er)
The moment ;ory first shifted and opened her mouth, %a&a poked her #ith her staff) ;ory inhaled to speak again, %a&a raised her 'ro#s) *he hoped she said as much #ith the gesture as +ata/i did) ;ory looked at the floor #ith a sco#l and took up the 'reathing again) ia shook her head once, impatiently, 'ut continued to 'reathe to the silent count) 5hen ;ory inched an ankle out from under the opposite leg, %a&a poked her) ;ory sco#led and 'ounced one knee impatiently) %a&a poked her again)
0*top it, ;ory40 snapped ia) 0I(m trying to do this40
0*o am I40 ;ory snapped 'ack) 0"ut it(s hard and it gi$es my legs cramps and I(m 'ored40
0If you 8uit #anting e-citing things to happen for long enough to really pay attention, you #ouldn(t get 'ored40 retorted her t#in)
%a&a #atched #ith interest) Only around outsiders did ia huddle do#n like a mouse) It had taken her a #eek to get comforta'le #ith Frostpine and %a&a, #hile ;ory had 'een in ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html and out of their rooms not an hour after they(d arri$ed)
0I suppose you aren(t 'ored20 demanded ;ory of ia)
0 o, I(m not40 replied ia) 0Or I(m almost not, 'ut I thought I felt something, and you ruined it40
o# %a&a poked 'oth of them #ith her staff) 5hen they turned accusing eyes on her, she said, 0I can #ork a #hole day #ith little sleep) Can you2 "ecause the longer you fight, the longer #e sit here)0 :rum'ling, the t#ins settled do#n, ;ory sitting #ith her feet to one side, ia cross.legged) They closed their eyes and 'egan again) %a&a fell into her o#n meditations, letting herself drift, free of thought) *he set a'out housekeeping, collecting strands of magic that slipped from her central store, tidying up as she #ould tidy a forge at day(s end) *uddenly a light snore 'rought her to full attention) "oth t#ins had gone to sleep)
Their day had 'een hard7 %a&a thought they all had done as #ell as they could) *he nudged them a#ake #ith her staff and ru''ed out part of her circle, gathering its magic 'ack into her) 0+eet me here, tomorro# morning, half an hour past da#n,0 she said) 0"efore 'reakfast)0
0"ut if #e did it tonight,0 protested ia, interrupting herself #ith a ya#n)
0 o,0 %a&a said firmly) 0Tonight #as fiddling and fussing) 5e didn(t get anything important done, not the #ay #e need to do it) 6ere, tomorro#)0
0"ut skating) ) ) 0;ory protested #earily)
%a&a sighed) For a moment &ust that morning she(d felt as if she fle#) 0+editation is more important right no#,0 she informed the t#ins) 0<ou need to control your po#er) +editation ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html is the only #ay) :ood night)0
*he #atched them stum'le out of the schoolroom, fro#ning as she ru''ed her 'rass mitt) *he had more pro'lems than &ust the cancellation of skating) This form of meditation #ouldn(t ser$e for ;ory) *he #as too acti$e, too used to mo$ement)
0<ou ha$e t#o #ays to make the deal,0 %a&a(s father had taught his children) ,essons in Trader #ays #ere held on deck7 they all #orked at ship(s chores.mending fish nets, se#ing can$as, #inding rope, polishing 'rass.as they listened) 0<ou can make it your #ay, pro$ing to the customer you are #onderful, #ise, po#erful, and right) Then the customer either 'uys once and ne$er again, or he doesn(t 'uy) Or you can in$ite the customer, hear his trou'les, soothe his fears, sho# understanding, and he 'uys) <our #ay or his #ay) <our #ay, you feel superior all the #ay 'ack to your clan(s house #ith a 'egging 'o#l in your hand) 6is #ay, and he 'rings his children to 'uy from you ne-t time)0
*he could force ;ory to meditate in the #ay that #ould plainly #ork for ia, the #ay that had #orked for %a&a and her three friends) If she kept to that, she might lose ;ory 'y turning #hat should 'e the most comforta'le #ay to manage her po#er into a chore) It #ould 'e like clipping a 'ird(s #ings 'efore she learned to fly)
*he o#ed ;ory 'etter than that) *he o#ed her o#n teachers 'etter than that)
It suddenly occurred to her to #onder #hat pro&ects Frostpine had set aside to teach her, #hen she #alked into his forge) 5hat important magics had ,ark and 3osethorn put off, to #atch o$er four $ery different young mages2 1nd iko, #ho had #orked the most #ith their meditation, #hat had he gi$en up2 People had constantly mentioned their surprise that the rootless iklaren :oldeye had spent four #hole years in one place, after only staying a year in others) 6e(d gi$en up four years, to ground %a&a and her friends in their command o$er their po#er, and to teach Tris) one of them had e$er 8uestioned it)
*o there #as the lesson of mage.teachers, if %a&a #anted to learn it) Teaching #as more important than personal o'&ecti$es) Teaching #as a serious de't that could only 'e repaid 'y correct teaching of ne# mages)
%eep in thought, %a&a 'le# out the lamps) There #ere other #ays to meditate) +ay'e it #as time to try one of those)
1'out to enter her o#n room, she remem'ered that Kol and +ata/i #anted to talk #ith her) *till thinking, %a&a #ent do#nstairs)
0*it,0 +ata/i ordered #hen she &oined them) 0<ou look e-hausted) 6ere)0 *he poured %a&a some tea)
Kol put aside his 'ook and leaned for#ard, propping his el'o#s on his knees) 06o# safe is Potcracker(s kitchen20
0It(s not actually in the slums,0 %a&a said, sitting 'ack in her chair) 0It(s part of the hospital, #ith a log #all 'et#een it and the "og itself) I sa# la#keepers e$ery#here, and there are #ards and spells laid all o$er the place for safety, good ones)0
0I kno# the hospital,0 +ata/i said) 05e contri'ute to it) Potcracker has a tremendous reputation) I(d &ust al#ays heard she didn(t take students)0
"ut she did #hen faced #ith one, %a&a reali/ed) ;ust like Frostpine and iko and ,ark and 3osethorn) 0I like this Olennika,0 she told the "ancanors) 0If she agrees to keep ;ory, I think it #ill 'e $ery good)0 %a&a hesitated, then decided to 'e honest) 0;ory surprised me) Olennika didn(t make any 'ones a'out it, ;ory #ill #ork hard, not at #onderful, #i/ardly things, 'ut at plain cooking) 1nd ;ory didn(t flinch) I think 'etter of her for it, though I ha$e to take some of that good feeling off for her dropping Potcracker on me at the last minute after #e(d 'een all o$er to#n)0
05hat a'out this Oak'orn fello#20 Kol in8uired) 0 ia(s teacher20
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 1gain %a&a had to think) The ans#er she came to #as the one she o#ed to these people) 0I(m not sure) *he(s shy, and he doesn(t like #ealthy people) If she #as to study directly #ith him, I #ould ha$e said no) I dou't he(s patient) "ut Camoc(s placing her #ith his senior student, 1rnen) 6e may 'e all right)0
05ill you keep an eye on ia20 asked +ata/i, putting her hand on %a&a(s) 0I called her little *hado#, 'efore she 'ecame a young lady and too dignified for such things) *he(ll hide in the shado#s and not say a peep if something 'others her)0
0I(ll keep #atch,0 %a&a promised) 0I(m still their meditation teacher, for one thing)0 In response to their curious looks she e-plained, 0"oth Camoc and Olennika ha$e huge shops. plenty of noise and distractions) I don(t kno# ho# they think straight in all that) They asked if I(d keep #ith the t#ins on meditation, and I agreed)0
05e can find someone else,0 Kol suggested) 0<ou(re our guest, not the girls( tutor)0
%a&a could still get out of it, keep her time all to herself) ) ) no) 6er teachers had not shirked their duty to ne# mages, and neither must she) 1nd she o#ed the t#ins a personal de't for their skating lessons7 she had to repay that to 'alance the 'ooks) *he cupped her hand o$er her mouth to hide a ya#n) Tea or no, she #as nearly asleep on her feet) 0 o, I disco$ered them, they(re my responsi'ility) "esides, I(m not going any#here 'efore spring)0 *he fought another ya#n and got to her feet) 0Forgi$e me) I(m tired)0
Kol and +ata/i stood #hen she did, and offered their hands) %a&a looked at those outstretched palms, then at the o#ners, confused) Kol said, 05e o#e you more than #e can say) <ou found something in our girls e$eryone else missed, something that could ha$e made them unhappy)0
05e kno# it(s #ork for you, and you ha$e your o#n studies,0 +ata/i added) 0If #e can e$er thank you properly) ) ) 0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html %a&a felt ashamed that she had e$er resented her o'ligation to ia and ;ory) This #hole family had taken her in as if she shared their 'lood) They ga$e freely7 she must do the same) *he clasped each offered hand) 0*ee if you feel that #ay come spring, after a #inter together)0 *he returned the pressure of their fingers and released them, touched 'y their thanks)
"efore she #ent to 'ed, %a&a #rote a note and left it for a ser$ant to carry to ,adradun 6ouse in the morning) The ne-t day she #as to #ork iron #ith the smith Teraud) If she finished early enough, she #anted to start fitting "en for those glo$es)
The First %edicate of the Fire temple, the temple of &ustice, la#, and com'at, #as a #eathered, lean #hite man #ith short red hair that stuck out at all angles, and a short red 'eard) 6e had a #ay of talking that sounded like a sho#er of nails 'eing poured into a metal 'ucket) Once a general, he(d taken the name *kyfire #hen he dedicated himself to the temple) That night %a&a dreamed a'out *kyfire(s form of meditation) In her dream she #as 'ack in the practice yard used 'y the Fire temple(s #arriors)The day #as summery, the yard so dry that dust rose like smoke from the ground and from the practice clothes of e$eryone present)
%a&a panted as she circled %edicate *kyfire, her staff in her hands) 6e #as old, 'ut he #as 8uicker than eels) *he hurt all o$er from the 8uick punishing raps he ga$e her #hen he thought her attention had strayed) 0*top #aiting for me to strike here or there,0 he 'arked) 6is dark 'lue eyes 'la/ed through the coat of dust on his face) *#eat tracks marked it like a tri'al mask, e$en in his short red 'eard) 0*top trying to think) %on(t e-pect anything.e-pect e$erything) "e open to its approach4 9mpty your head, or I(ll crack it so the thoughts run out) <ou aren(t a girl, #ith a staff, on t#o legs, any more than I am a creaky old man #ho shouldn(t 'e a'le to touch you) I can(t touch mo$ement) "e mo$ement) "e air) "e nothing)0
6e lunged) %a&a 'linked, half.hypnoti/ed 'y his #ords, half in the 8uiet place she found #hen meditating) *he 'locked him and #aited for his ne-t try) 6e mo$ed) *he stayed as she #as and #aited to hear #hat came ne-t) 1fter fi$e minutes of hard #ork #hen he scored fe# touches, he called a halt)
0"ut this is meditating, only #e(re mo$ing,0 she panted, 'racing her hands on her knees) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html *he felt #onderful)
0That(s all it should 'e) I ne$er could sit on my 'ehind and count myself silly,0 *kyfire replied 'reathlessly) 0I meditate this #ay)0
The dream #as #ith her #hen she opened her eyes) *he #as smiling) 6er classes #ith *kyfire after that day had 'een $ery different) *he thought ;ory #ould like the tough old man)
%a&a rolled stiffly out of 'ed.she #ould ha$e to find another time to skate if they #ere to meditate at this hour.cleaned up, and dressed) *he had seen #ooden poles in a room off the passage 'et#een the sta'les and the pantry) Taking the 'ack stairs, she 'ypassed the kitchen.she hated to see a kitchen dark and fireless) 1 little e-ploration 'rought her to the room #here old chairs, ta'les, and other things #ere stored in case of need)
The poles #ere stacked in a corner) They #ere smooth stakes a'out fi$e feet long, pro'a'ly used to replace handles in mops and 'rooms #hen the old ones #ore out) 1ll #ere smoothed do#n, so she didn(t ha$e to #orry a'out splinters7 all #ere made of sound #ood, so she didn(t ha$e to #orry a'out them 'reaking in mid.strike) They #ere a'surdly light after her o#n staff, 'ut her o#n comfort #as not the point)
%a&a had chosen three #hen she heard a #oman scream) *he dropped her poles and headed to#ard the screams at a dead run, imagining fire, assassins, rats) ) )
*he 'urst into the kitchen) 1nyussa the cook and @aresha the housekeeper, half.dressed, arri$ed from the ser$ants( 8uarters as she did) 1 maid co#ered against one of the long ta'les, still screaming) 1s @aresha and 1nyussa con$erged on her, she pointed at the great fireplace, 'urst into tears, and hid her face in her hands)
%a&a had 'een #rong to e-pect a cold and lifeless kitchen) The sheer si/e of the fire that roared in the hearth told her it had 'urned long enough to make the room deliciously #arm) 1t the heart of the 'la/e sat Frostpine, his 'ack to the room, legs crossed, hands palm.up on ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html his knees, eyes closed) 6e #as so deep in meditation that he hadn(t e$en heard the maid(s screams) 6is masses of hair and 'eard fluttered in the flames( caress) 6is clothes for the day #ere neatly folded on a stool placed 'eside the hearth)
%a&a(s mouth t#itched)
oise made her turn) +ore people had reached the kitchen, most still #earing night clothes) 1nyussa and the housekeeper, standing #ith the hysterical maid 'et#een them, dre# close to stare) ;ory and ia must ha$e galloped do#n from the third floor) They peered around the maids, eyes #ide) Footmen arri$ed in nightshirts, demanding to kno# #hat the fuss #as a'out)
%a&a(s mouth t#itched again) *he sternly for'ade herself to smile and #alked o$er to the hearth) *he #asn(t sure if her shirt #as one of *andry(s) To 'e safe.she thought one naked mage #as all this household could stand.she put her hands palm to palm, and pulled them apart) The flames 'et#een her and Frostpine split neatly) ,eaning in, she laid her palm on his shoulder) Through their common magic she said, Come 'ack)
Frostpine t#isted to glare at her) 05hat20 he demanded) 0Can(t a man meditate20
0I thought you did that in your room,0 she said) 0Frostpine, you(re naked)0
0 aked and #arm,(0 he said #ith a sco#l) 6e hitched himself around until he faced %a&a, doing it so e-pertly that he hardly distur'ed the #ood stacked around him) 0I can(t get a decent fire going up there, the hearth(s too small) I thought I(d do e$eryone a fa$or and start the fire here)0
0%id you tell anyone20 %a&a in8uired)
0I meant to 'e gone 'y the time.0 Frostpine looked past %a&a to see his #ide.eyed ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html audience) 06akkoi and *hurri,0 he grum'led) 0I &ust #anted to get #arm)0
05hy didn(t you put up a folding screen2 Or let someone kno#20 %a&a asked) 0Then may'e the #hole house #ould still 'e asleep right no#)0
0<ou(d think they ne$er sa# a naked man 'efore,0 Frostpine grum'led) 6e crouched, then stepped carefully out of the 'la/e #ithout scattering #ood or ashes) 6e then used a poker to sho$e the 'urning #ood in until it co$ered the place #here he(d sat) Once done, he set the poker aside and 'egan to dress)
The maid #as still so''ing) Other ser$ants #ere 'acking out of the kitchen) This #asn(t the magecraft they kne#, a matter of potions, signs, and charms) They #ere unner$ed) Only 1nyussa #as unshaken) *he looked Frostpine o$er, hands on hips, a crooked smile on her lips) 0+y cousin says mages are eunuchs) I #ish he #ere here right no#) %o you #ant 'reakfast20 she asked Frostpine as he put on his ha'it)
6e grinned) 0I(m ra$enous,0 he admitted) 01nd for the first time since I came here I feel #arm)0
%a&a shook her head and #ent 'ack to collect her poles)
In spite of the morning(s distur'ance and their reluctance the night 'efore, ;ory and ia #ere in the schoolroom #hen %a&a arri$ed) o fires #ere lit in the hearth! #ool dresses and stockings or no, the t#ins( 'reaths steamed on the chilly air)
0I can(t sit like this,0 ;ory informed %a&a) The t#ins #ere shi$ering) 05e(ll free/e)0
0<ou(re not sitting,0 %a&a said) *he tossed a pole to ia, #ho caught it easily, and another to ;ory, #ho nearly dropped hers) *he placed her o#n pole against the #all)
0I thought you said #e #ouldn(t ha$e staffs,0 ia said, running her hands o$er her pole)
0<ou #on(t need a staff as a mage,0 %a&a replied) 0<ou.0
0%oes he al#ays sit in fires naked20 asked ;ory) 01re #e going to learn ho# to do that2 1nd #hy(d he pick the name Frostpine if he hates 'eing cold20
%a&a had asked him the same thing, as they huddled in a mountain tra$elers( hostel during a late summer 'li//ard) To ;ory she repeated his ans#er! 06e said he hadn(t thought cold got so $ery cold, and he thought frostpines must 'e pretty trees) either of you #ill 'e sitting naked in any fires)0
ia shuddered) 0Oh, please40 she #hispered) 0I ha$e nightmares a'out fire40
%a&a patted her shoulder) 0Once your magic(s under control, you(ll feel less like you(re actually made of #ood,0 she said gently) 0<ou(ll 'e a'le to seal yourself off from your magic) The dreams #ill stop then) o#,0 she said 'efore they could interrupt again, 0#e(ll start #ith some easy first mo$es #ith the staff)0
0"ut ho#.0;ory 'egan)
0;ust do as I say,0 %a&a told the girl sternly) ;ory nodded, mute)
*he didn(t mean to make fighters out of them, 'ut if she #as going to do this, she ought to do it properly) Other#ise her ne-t dream of *kyfire might end as he trounced her for slipshod teaching) *he taught the girls ho# to properly grip the staff and ho# to stand to keep their 'alance) Then she sho#ed them the high strike and its defense, the high 'lock, the 'ody strike and its defense the 'ody 'lock, and the lo# strike and 'lock) e-t she ga$e ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html them a se8uence, high, middle, lo#) ;ory struck first as ia 'locked7 after they had done fi$e sets, %a&a s#itched them so ia struck ;ory(s 'locks) They didn(t hit hard) It #as more important at this point to hit and 'lock correctly) They repeated the se8uences o$er and o$er until 'oth girls sho#ed 'eads of s#eat at the temples) 1s they got more confident, they picked up speed)
;ory 'egan to hit too hard) ia shrank a little at each 'lo#) 5hen it #as her turn to strike, she tapped ;ory &ust as she had at first) 5hen ;ory 'ecame striker again, she #as impatient) *he 'rought her high strike do#n #ith all her strength 'ehind it) ia cringed) 1s ;ory launched her middle strike, %a&a thrust her o#n pole in and knocked ;ory(s staff aside) ia 'acked up)
0Keep control of your feelings,0 %a&a told ;ory) 0<ou can(t get e-cited) <ou ha$e to pull that in) 1nd you can(t shrink a#ay,0 she told ia) 0Keep the rhythm going) %on(t #orry a'out anything 'ut doing the same mo$es o$er and o$er)0
0"ut I hate to hit, and I hate 'eing hit,0 protested ia) 05hy can(t #e meditate like 'efore20
0I hated that,0 ;ory told her) To %a&a she said, 0I(ll 'e good) ;ust do the things, and hit nicely, and not get e-cited)0
0Pay attention to the pattern and to the #ay your 'ody #orks,0 %a&a said) 0That(s all) o'ody(s going to hurt you, ia) This is &ust a pattern, like the 'reathing, only #ith all of your 'ody) 1ll right, you strike, ;ory 'locks, high, middle, lo#, then s#itch) "egin)0
They o'eyed, striking and 'locking slo#ly, as they had at first) ,ittle 'y little they rela-ed) %a&a #atched carefully, noting #hen they 'egan to speed up) ;ory started to grin) Faster they #ent) ;ory hit harder7 ia 'egan to flinch) Then, as ia struck high, ;ory 'locked and s#ung a middle strike at her sister(s ri'cage) %a&a, e-pecting it, slid her o#n pole in, hooked ;ory(s, and sent it flying) 1fter another lecture to ;ory a'out emotions, %a&a started the t#ins a third time) It #as no good7 after a minute she sa# that ia didn(t 'elie$e her sister(s promise to control herself) *he flinched e$ery time ;ory struck her, e$en though she 'locked ;ory) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
5hen the 'reakfast 'ell rang, the t#ins looked at %a&a) *he held out her hand for their poles) ia thrust hers at %a&a and fled) ;ory ga$e her pole up reluctantly) 0I(d get 'etter,0 she told %a&a) 0Only I suppose you(ll #ant to go 'ack to the 'oring #ay no#)0 *he ran out of the schoolroom)
%a&a chose not to eat #ith the family) 1 'urned scent in the air told her that 'reakfast cooked 'y a half.terrified staff #as something she could gi$e up) Instead she dressed for the outdoors, picked up her real staff and the satchel that held her tracings of "en(s hands, and set out for Teraud(s smithy) 6alf#ay do#n Tenniy *treet an old #oman made almost perfectly round 'y skirts and sha#ls sold dumplings from a cart) %a&a 'ought herself 'reakfast there and strolled on, turning her pro'lem o$er in her mind)
ia liked to sit and meditate) ;ory concentrated 'est #hen she #as mo$ing) o matter ho# many times %a&a put those facts into the forge to heat, they al#ays came out in the same shape)
That(s magic for you, she thought gloomily) One part glory, one part fun, and one part polishing the 'right#ork till your 'ack and your knees and your hands all ache)
Then she chuckled) *ometimes her old seafaring life 'roke into her thoughts at the oddest moments) *he also took the lesson) "right#ork got ruined 'y rust #ithout plenty of scru''ing) The t#ins #ould ne$er get the 'est out of their po#er if %a&a #as a la/y teacher) 5ork #as #ork! it had to 'e done right)
Chapter F
If Teraud @oska&o #as not the ugliest #hite man %a&a had e$er met, she had mercifully forgotten the uglier man(s appearance) *tringy 'ro#n hair 'arely co$ered his 'locky head) %ark eyes peered out from under a shelf of 'ro#) 6is nose #as mashed7 a sla' of chin ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html &utted out 'eneath a thin mouth) 6is arms #ere mallets of muscle and 'one) 6e #as si-. and.a.half feet tall)
9$ery child in the neigh'orhood kne# the man #ho looked like a monster #ould do anything, from rescue kites to gi$e coins for s#eets) :irls told him their lo$e trou'les, young men asked his ad$ice on dealing #ith their fathers) 6e #as a leader of the smith(s guild in amorn and kne# more of #orking iron than e$en Frostpine) 6e #as not a mage)
6e had 'een delighted to gi$e %a&a forge.time in e-change for her assistance #ith some of his pro&ects) 5ith him she studied fine iron#ork, shaping metal into lacelike forms! 'et#een the *yth and the Pe''led *ea, Teraud #as the 'est at it) 1s a successful master smith Teraud super$ised nearly t#enty apprentices and &ourneymen in his massi$e 6ammer *treet forge)
"efore she entered Teraud(s, %a&a took a moment to look at the can$as.co$ered sleigh in the courtyard) The sleigh 'elonged to Kugisko(s go$ernor) It #as a glory of 'rass#ork, enamel paint, and gilt moldings) 1ll it re8uired #as runners7 those #ere nearly finished) Today she and Teraud #ould harden the long metal pieces that #ould 'e shaped to create t#o sil$ery, elegant lengths of metal that #ould cut through ice and sno#) If all #ent #ell, they could temper the steel the ne-t day, and fit the runners the day after)
Once inside, she laid her Trader(s staff against the #all of the coatroom, then hung her satchel and outer coat o$er it to hide the telltale 'rass head from $ie#) 5hile none of Teraud(s people had spoken against Traders, it #as silly to flaunt her people(s 'est.kno#n sym'ol) *he stuffed her scarf, glo$es, and knit hat into her coat and #orked off her fur. lined 'oots, replacing those #ith leather shoes)
0<ou ready to #ork20 Teraud stood in the door#ay, tying on his leather apron) 6is family had 'een miners in the hard lands north of the *yth7 he had still not shed the accent after thirty years on its southern shore) 0Teaching didn(t #ear you out20
%a&a grinned as she found her o#n leather apron) 06o# does any'ody ha$e a pri$ate life on this island, the #ay ser$ants gossip20
Teraud chuckled as he led the #ay to his forge) 0The #hole city pro'(ly kno#s you teaching dose girls 'y no#,0 he teased) 0Our ser$ants are good at da gossip)0
"et#een stretches #hen the metal heated to the proper 'ro#nish yello# shade for hardening and Teraud checked his apprentices and &ourneymen, %a&a #orked on the iron rods she used for so much of her o#n #ork) That morning she took e-tra care, shaping her rods #ith her po#er as much as her dra#ing tongs) These #ould 'e the foundation of "en(s glo$es)
The morning fle# past) %a&a #as startled #hen Teraud(s #ife called them to midday) *he sto#ed her tools as the &ourneymen and apprentices headed for the dining room in a fast. mo$ing herd)
Once inside, apprentices at one long ta'le and &ourneymen, Teraud, and %a&a at another, e$eryone fell on their loaded plates) ?nlike plenty of masters, Teraud made sure his people #ere #ell fed) 6e(d once told %a&a it #as &ust self.interest.happy #orkers meant 'etter #ork)
The meal #as half.o$er #hen a maid sho#ed in a 'oy #ho carried a sealed sheet of parchment) *he pointed %a&a out) 1s he approached, %a&a sa# he #ore the ,adradun insignia on the shoulder of his thread'are gray coat) 6e #as trying not to stare at the laden ta'le) +utely he offered his message to her)
*he took it and signed for him to #ait, digging in her pocket for a sil$er argi' as a tip) 6e looked half.star$ed) *he hoped he(d 'uy himself something to eat 'efore he returned home)
0"etter read dat careful, make sure you don(t need to send 'ack no ans#er,0 Teraud ad$ised her) 6e speared a thick slice of roast pork #ith one hand as he scooped up t#o sla's of 'read #ith the other) 6e dropped the meat onto one piece of 'read, capped it #ith the other, and thrust the #hole at the 'oy) 0+y #ife cooks too much,0 he gro#led) 09at 'efore it goes 'ad)0
The 'oy didn(t need encouragement) 6e clutched the offering #ith 'oth hands and took a huge 'ite) %a&a slo#ly cracked the seal and read the fe# lines of "en(s note) It #as his ans#er to her re8uest for a time to fit him for the glo$es) If it #asn(t too late #hen she finished at Teraud(s, he #rote, she could find him at the ,adradun #arehouses on "a/niu/ Island, at the &oining of Cash'o- *treet and Co$il 5ay)
*he read it three times 'efore the 'oy finished #hat he(d 'een gi$en and accepted a second 'read.and.meat sla' from Teraud) Then she ga$e the messenger her argi' and said, 0Tell 3a$$ot ,adradun I #ill see him later this afternoon)0
The 'oy nodded, still che#ing, and trotted a#ay) Teraud(s #ife ushenya came o$er, shaking her head) 0The #ay that #oman stints on food, you(d think e$ery grain of #heat #as taken from her o#n children,0 she said to her hus'and) 0*he #hips them, you kno#) The ser$ants) The island council fines her.she doesn(t care)0 *he glared at the &ourneymen, openly ea$esdropping) 0%on(t think any of you are too 'ig for a #hipping) I sa# that $egeta'le plate4 1 $egeta'le plate goes 'ack half.empty at supper and #e ser$e #hat you turn a#ay instead of meat tomorro#40
%a&a ducked her head to hide a smile as the diners, male and female alike, dug into eggplant and carrots)
0*omet(ing(s not right at dat house,0 Teraud commented as he sat 'ack and dug at his teeth #ith a toothpick) 0+orrachane(s half cra/y)0
%a&a put her fork do#n) 0"ut #hat a'out "en2 6e(s all right isn(t he20
06e(s a hero,0 insisted a young &ourney#oman) 0That carriage shop on 3ider *treet #ould ha$e 'urned last #inter.
0The hat shop on *tifflace ,ane,0 someone else put in) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
09mperor oodles,0 called a girl apprentice)
0If you can talk you can #ork,0 Teraud said) 1pprentices and &ourneymen left the ta'les to #ash up and #alk around a 'it 'efore they returned to their tasks) Only %a&a remained #ith Teraud at the ta'le) 6is #ife &oined them #ith sturdy mugs of honeyed tea) *he #as from Capchen, #here tea #as drunk in the #ay %a&a e-pected it to 'e drunk) *he too sat #ith her hus'and, #illing to let the maids clear the ta'les)
0Call me a grumpy old man #it( a nose full a soot and a copper.coated tongue,0 Teraud said o$er his toothpick) 0To hear da #orld tell it, "en ,adradun(s de only good dat family e$er ga$e Kugisko)0 6e shook his 'locky head) 0+e2 If somet(ing like a fire took my &oy0. he engulfed his #ife(s hand #ith one of his o#n.0I #ouldn(t go hunting da t(ing dat took my s#eetheart and my children)0 6e sighed and looked into his mug, then drained it)
%a&a follo#ed him 'ack into the main forge) "en(s intense focus on fire didn(t seem odd to her) *he had seen Tris destroy part of a fleet 'ecause those #ho sailed #ith it had murdered her cousin) *andry had 'attled her terror of the dark to keep her friends ali$e) "riar had plunged into death rather than let go of his 'elo$ed teacher) %readful e$ents, in her e-perience, led people to do e-traordinary things) It made sense to her that "en #ould de$ote his life to a #ar on fire) +ay'e Teraud &ust didn(t kno# the kind of people she did)
It #as mid.afternoon #hen %a&a left Teraud(s forge, staff in hand, a 'undle of slender iron rods and her rolled parchment tracings of "en(s hands in her satchel) Outside it seemed #armer than it had that morning) %espite there 'eing t#o more hours until sunset, the light #as going) +asses of clouds like fat gray moonstones slid 'y o$erhead, their edges fu//y and soft) 1fter #eeks in the mountains and months in the north, %a&a kne# sno# clouds) These looked serious)
5ith her satchel o$er her shoulder, %a&a strode 'riskly along Kategan 5ay, testing the ground #ith her staff #here she suspected hard ice lay under the sno#, and dodging sleighs and riders) *he could risk her life to cross to "a/niu/ on foot, or she could risk her life to hire a sleigh! they all seemed to 'e dri$en 'y madmen) I ha$e to practice skating, she thought as a sleigh hurled slush on her 'oots and coat) I don(t care ho# much I ache, it #ill ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 'e #orth it)
*he did take in the $i$idly painted storefronts and fences along the #ay) Color #as a amornese o'session) 3oofs #ere trimmed in yello#, scarlet, emerald green) Outside #alls #ere 'lue, red, pink, and orange) %oors #ere 'right enough to startle) It #as hard to 'elie$e that *andry, #hose taste in color #as perfect, #as half. amornese)
"y the time %a&a stepped onto "a/niu/ Island, the lamplighters #ere out) 1s she #alked do#n *arah *treet, shopgirls and 'oys left their 'usinesses for the #alk home) 5hen she turned north on Cash'o- *treet, fat sno#flakes 'egan to drift idly through the air, as if they toured the city)
3eaching ,adradun Furriers, %a&a halted) The property included most of the 'lock on #hich it stood, e-pensi$e on the islands that made up half of Kugisko) The spra#ling #ooden comple- of 'uildings marked #ith the ,adradun em'lem included a large #arehouse, a furrier(s shop, a #orkshop from #hich men and #omen dressed like common la'orers streamed, a courtyard #here men put co$ers on #agons against the sno#, and the charred remains of a second #arehouse) For a moment she had the fanciful idea that the fire gods #ere $e-ed, to $isit a man #ho dedicated his life to destroying their #ork) *he made a face and shook the idea from her head! that #as Tris(s or *andry(s kind of addled, imaginati$e thinking, not hers)
The shop that fronted on Cash'o- *treet #as a haunt for the rich) ,u-uriant pelts #ere draped in its many.paned #indo#, an in$itation for 'uyers to come and touch) That polished cedar door, inlaid #ith e'ony and #hite pine, #as not for the likes of %a&a) *he #alked around the corner) "eside the courtyard gate #as an ordinary door and a sign! ,1%31%? F?3*! T31%9*+9 O ,<) *he entered that #ay)
Inside #as a typical clerks( office! long, tilted desks and 'enches for seats) 1ccount 'ooks lined a #all) ,amps #ith 'rass reflectors supplied light for those #ho kept the company(s records) 1 hearth on one #all #as the only supply of heat7 the amount it ga$e off #as meager) 9$eryone, e$en the chief clerks, #ore outdoor coats)
The messenger #ho had come to Teraud(s sat 'y the door, #hittling a stick into kindling) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 6e &umped to his feet #hen he sa# her) 0@iymese %a&a, 3a$$ot ,adradun(s e-pecting you,0 he greeted her) 0This #ay)0
01 moment)0 %a&a 'ent to tug at her 'oot, as if it had t#isted on her foot) *he thrust deep into the ground #ith her po#er, passing through stone and #atery mush, then granite, until she reached the earth(s hot life'lood of molten stone)
*traightening her other 'oot, she called the heat up to her, letting it pass through the #ooden floors sheathed in her magic to keep the 'oards from catching fire) Opening her right hand she spread her fingers) 5armth streamed through her to settle into any metal in the clerks( office that could hold it! the hea$y iron grate, the andirons and pokers of the hearth, the empty metal coal 'ucket, and the 'rass lamp reflectors) *he ga$e the metal &ust enough heat to #arm the air #ithout changing the metal(s color) The #orkers might not reali/e they #ere more comforta'le, 'ut she kne#) It #as her slap at +orrachane(s copper. clutching fingers)
*he cut the flo# of heat and let the rest fall into the molten rock again) One second more she #aited, to ensure the metal in the office #ould not 'urn the #ood around it) *he had done something here) Content, she straightened and stamped her feet, as if to make sure her 'oots #ere comforta'le) 0I see you had a 'uilding fire outside,0 she commented as she follo#ed her guide do#n the hall to the rear offices)
01 month ago) It #asn(t serious)0 6e stopped at a closed door and faced %a&a, s#allo#ing hard) 0@iymese, you ga$e me too much money)0 6e held out a sil$er coin) 0<ou 'eing foreign, may'e you don(t kno#.the likes of me gets a copper argi', not a sil$er) If #e gets anything)0
%a&a smiled) 0I 'et that honest streak pinches you, doesn(t it20 she asked) *he couldn(t imagine "riar correcting anyone a'out such a mistake) 0%on(t 'e silly,0 she added 0<ou had to skate around t#o islands, 'oth #ays) *omeday #hen you ha$e a 'it e-tra, gi$e it to one #ho needs it)0
The 'oy shook his head) 01nd I al#ays heard southerners are tightfisted) :riantein shine on your #inter, @iymese,0 he said, naming the amornese god of light and #armth) 6e ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html rapped on the door, then opened it) 03a$$ot ,adradun, @iymese Kisu'o is here)0 6e 'o#ed %a&a into the room, then returned to the clerks)
0%a&a, #elcome,0 said "en) 6is office #as crammed #ith a large desk, account 'ooks in cases, maps on a #ork.ta'le, and pigeonhole shel$es into #hich rolled pieces of paper #ere thrust) One #all 'acked a large cup'oard) The #all 'eside his desk #as co$ered #ith large slates that looked to 'e shipping schedules) 1 corner sto$e thre# off a small amount of heat, enough that he didn(t #ear his outer coat) 6e did #ear his indoor coat 'uttoned all the #ay up) *omeho# she didn(t think he #as that much #armer than his clerks)
*he reached again for the earth(s heat, letting it spread from her this time in a pool of #armth) *he dou'ted the a'ility of the sto$e to hold #hat she could 'ring to it) Testing it #ith her po#er, she sa# the &oint #eldings #ere cheap #ork that only fused the edges of the attached pieces) +oreo$er, the iron sides #ere une$en in thickness) It #as 'etter to radiate the heat from her o#n 'ody)
1s the air #armed, %a&a shed her outer coat, rested her staff against the #all, and opened her satchel on the #ork.ta'le) *he #atched "en from the corner of one eye) In this room, #ith its ink#ells, slates, 'ooks, and stacks of patterns on hea$y parchment, the hulking "en seemed like a 'ear in a pit, resigned to ha$ing star$ed dogs dropped in to harry him) The contrast #ith his 'eha$ior at the 'oardinghouse fire pinched her heart) 6e ought to 'e outside, facing danger head on, not trapped #ith clerks and furriers)
0<ou #on(t 'e comforta'le,0 "en #arned as she doffed her inner coat) %espite his #ords, he(d 'egun to fiddle #ith his o#n collar 'uttons) 05e get a daily allo#ance of coal for the sto$es, and I(m out)0 6e tried a smile) 0+other says people get la/y if they(re too #arm)0
6e took %a&a(s inner coat from her hands and folded it neatly 'efore he set it on his desk) 0I spoke to the magistrates( mages a'out the 'oardinghouse fire, 'y the #ay) They say they(ll look into it, #hen they ha$e time) Of course, a fire in *hopgirl %istrict isn(t at the top of their list of priorities)0
%a&a, remem'ering the counterfeiting case that #as at the top of their list, and its potential for national disaster, nodded) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"en un'uttoned his coat) 05hat do you need me to do2 It must 'e a'out to sno#.it(s #armer in here, don(t you think20
%a&a took the metal rods from her satchel) That afternoon she had cut them to fit the lengths sho#n in her tracings of "en(s arms) 0It is sno#ing,0 she told him) 0Could you make a clear spot on your desk20
6e shifted stacks of paper and accounting 'ooks) 5hen he finished, %a&a had him sit #ith his arms flat on the desk) 0I thought you(d &ust mold them on me like clay, or may'e se# cloth glo$es20 "en asked)
%a&a shook her head) 0I need to make a metal form, like a dressmaker #ould use, only for glo$es,0 she e-plained) 01nd I ha$e to 'e sure of all the dimensions in your hands and arms) Other#ise you(ll 'e fighting the glo$es to hold things #hen all your mind should 'e on the fire)0
"en commented, 0*o #hen I ha$e to push 'urning material aside, I #on(t cook the 'ack of my hand again)0
09-actly,0 %a&a replied) *he positioned t#o rods on either side of his forearms, lea$ing room for him to #ear the glo$es o$er his outdoor coat) Taking the el'o# and #rist rods, she channeled the earth(s heat up through a sheath of magic to shield the #ood around her) *he used it to #arm her rods to the point #here she could handle them like clay) It #as tricky #ork) *he had to add enough heat to the el'o# and #rist rings 'oth to make them cur$e around his &oints, and to fuse them to the side rods, all #ithout 'urning the man or his clothes)
03aise your forearms until they(re straight up, palms facing out,0 she said 8uietly) "en o'eyed, lifting his hands) o# %a&a closed the el'o# and #rist rings, heating them until the ends merged #ithout a seam)
1s "en sat patiently, she added rod after rod to the forearm model, heating the ends and molding them around the rings) 6e remained silent and steady, a rare $irtue) *he(d had to stop using "riar as a model for this kind of thing 'ecause his a'ility to sit still #as limited unless he #orked his o#n magic) Then he had a tree(s patience)
0%o you need a rest20 she asked #hen the forearm and #rist segments #ere finished) 0+o$e your arms20
0I(m fine)0 "en said) 0It(s soothing, in a #ay) <ou(re much 'etter than the maid #ho fits my clothes) *he chatters a'out silly things until I #ant to scream) 5hat happens ne-t20
0I do the same thing, 'ut #ith your hands) That(s trickier,0 she e-plained, #arming the shorter rods) 0I ha$e to #ork around the &oints, so there are lots of little pieces to fit) %on(t #orry, this is &ust the 'oring part) The finished glo$es #ill feel like your o#n skin)0 The short pieces for the palms #ere ready) 1s she 'egan to attach them to each #rist ring, she said, 0I sa# that 'urned.out #arehouse on my #ay in)0
0That,0 he replied contemptuously) 0It happened a month ago) ,osing it #as a 'lessing) It &ust held old furnishings and nonsense) I #ould ha$e cleaned it out years past, 'ut +other sa$es e$erything) +ind, this #as the first fire #e(d had in the city since spring)0 6e smiled ruefully) 0<ou(d think I(d 'e glad for a summer #ithout fires, 'ut) ) ) 0 6e shook his head)
0<ou keep #aiting for the 'lack ship to dock,0 suggested %a&a, #orking a#ay)
0"lack ship20 asked "en)
0*orry.a Trader thing) 1 ship #ith 'lack sails carries 'ad ne#s,0 she e-plained)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0That(s a $i$id image) 1 'lack ship.I(ll ha$e to remem'er that) <es, I suppose I #as #aiting for it) 9-pecting it, really, only it ne$er came) 1nd the longer #e #ent 'et#een fires, the la/ier the people I #as training to fight them got) It #as maddening)0
%a&a nodded, most of her attention on her #ork) In a corner of her mind not fi-ed on her creation, she thought it a pity that a man couldn(t take up firefighting as employment) "en(s heart #asn(t in trade) 1nd Teraud #as right, a little! it #as odd that "en had gotten entangled #ith the thing that had destroyed his early life)
0+ay I ask something20 he in8uired as she checked the gaps 'et#een her frame#ork and his 'ody) ,i$ing metal didn(t stretch) If she didn(t lea$e plenty of room for clothes, he(d ha$e to remo$e his coat to use the glo$es against some fire and risk free/ing outdoors some 'itter night)
%a&a nodded)
"en tapped one metal.framed arm against the 'rass on her left hand, making it clink) 06o# did that happen2 %oesn(t it hurt you20
0Oh, that,0 she murmured, stretching a thum' ring gently) 03emem'er the fire I told you I #as in2 I #as holding my staff #ith that hand and the cap melted all o$er it) I guess it mi-ed #ith the magic my friends and I #ere using, and, #ell, there it is) o# that I(m accustomed to it, I don(t mind) <ou should see my foster.'rother(s hands) They(re strange) 6e tried to tattoo them #ith plant dyes, and no# ink plants 'loom and gro# all o$er his hands)0 *he eased each form off, setting them on the desk #hile "en ru''ed his hands and arms) 0+y thanks) <ou #ere $ery patient)0
"en smiled) 0It(s all to my 'enefit, after all) *urely my sitting for a short time isn(t too high a price to pay)0
%a&a sto#ed her materials and the iron slee$e forms m her satchel, pulled on her coats, and picked up her staff) 0I(ll send #ord #hen I ha$e something to sho# you)0 ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"en shrugged on his outdoor coat and lit a spill from his sto$e) In the outer hall he used it to light a lantern 'y the door) 6e took it from its hook) 0I(ll #alk you to the street) 1re you hiring a sleigh to go home20
%a&a smiled) 0I(d as soon &ump off a 'ridge) "esides, I like #alking in the sno#)0
"en fro#ned) 0It(s a long #alk, %a&a)0 Together they #ent into the courtyard) 05hy don(t you #ait until +other comes from shopping, and ride #ith us20
The thought of sharing a sleigh #ith the sour.faced +orrachane made %a&a shudder) To change the su'&ect #ithout offending "en, she glanced at the mess of the 'urned #arehouse) 0+ay I take a look20
"en o'ligingly led the #ay through sno# that fell in fat, steady flakes) 0I could hardly 'elie$e it #hen it happened,0 "en remarked) 0The place #ent up like a torch) ?sually most of the ground floor #alls are left, 'ut not this time)0
The #reckage inside the huge, cluttered rectangular pit that #as the cellar of the old #arehouse #as nearly t#o feet deep in accumulated sno#)
%a&a sighed and hunkered do#n #ith her staff against one shoulder) *he #as annoyed at ha$ing to deal yet again #ith amornese #inter) In ci$ili/ed places #inter arri$ed as rains, o'scuring the ground only if the #ater collected into a pond) *he called a 'urst of heat up, &amming it through her outstretched, spread fingers to 'lanket the ruin) This heat.#ash #as far 8uicker than those she(d used in the ,adradun offices, and far hotter) *he didn(t hear "en(s soft gasp as the sno# #ithin the #alls of the ruined 'uilding shrank, collapsed in on itself, and trickled a#ay, melted completely)
0That(s 'etter,0 %a&a commented #ith satisfaction) *he stood) 0 o# #e can see) +ay I ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html ha$e your lantern a minute20 "en handed it o$er) %a&a opened it and took a pinch of flame, then closed the lantern and returned it to him) *he let the pinch of fire roll into her palm, then called again on the earth(s heat) 6er fire seed 'loomed to 'righten the entire courtyard) *he held her hand out 'efore her to see the #reckage clearly no# that she had cleared it of sno#) The hole in the ground sho#ed the remains of charred floors at its edges) Inside fragments of the outer #alls she could decipher the #ay the upper floors had dropped through the lo#er ones until e$erything came to a stop in the cellar) 1t the $ery rear of the pit she disco$ered a gaping hole)
05hat(s that20 she asked, pointing to it)
"en s8uinted to see #hat she meant) 0It(s a loading tunnel,0 he e-plained) 01ll the canal. side 'usinesses ha$e them) In the summer the 'oats tie up in front of the tunnels, and the hands can then carry supplies right into storerooms and #arehouses)0
0@ery tidy,0 said %a&a, impressed) 05ere the doors to the canal open last month20
0<es,0 "en replied #ith a pu//led fro#n) 05e keep them open all #inter, or the free/ing in the ground #arps, e$en 'reaks them) 5hy20
0It(s the key to ho# the #arehouse 'urned so fast,0 she e-plained, #alking around the #reckage to get a closer $ie# of the open tunnel) *ure enough, she felt a cold draft rising from it)
6e stared at her) 9$en the 'right light she held didn(t 'leach his features enough to hide that he #as plainly startled) 06o# do you kno# that20 he asked)
0It comes of 'eing a smith)0 %a&a let the seed of fire sink into her palm) It made her hand glo# orange, lit from #ithin, until she thrust it into the ground) *he forgot to sheath it in her po#er! the instant the unguarded heat entered the earth, the sno# melted and she sank into slush to her ankles) %a&a clim'ed out of the puddle #ith a sigh and shook her 'ooted feet off) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
05e pump air #ith the 'ello#s through a channel under the fire) That makes it e$en hotter, and that(s #hy this place0.she pointed to the shado#y depths of the ruined #arehouse #ith her staff.0#ent up so thoroughly)0 *he #alked 'ack to him) 06o# did it start2 5as it deli'erately set2 1ll this is too perfect to 'e an accident)0
"en shrugged 05hy go to so much trou'le for a #orthless 'uilding2 I assumed some 'eggar got in there to sleep out of the #ind, and his cookfire or candle set it 'urning 'y accident) Frankly, I didn(t care) I($e 'een after +other for years to pull that firetrap do#n) 1t least it ga$e my local firefighters a chance to use their training, after months of no fires at all)0
%a&a nodded, impressed) That #as so like him to #orry that, #ithout chances to #ork, his people might not 'e ready for a true disaster) Only "en #ould think that more important than the loss of a second.rate #arehouse)
1 gust of #ind made him shi$er) 6ere she #as, keeping this man out in the cold) 0I(d 'est 'e going,0 she told him)
0I #ish you #ould #ait for +other,0 he complained) 0It(s on.0
0"en40 a hard $oice cried, interrupting) 0,amps are lit in the cutting room #ith no one there40 +orrachane ,adradun #alked out of "en(s office.%a&a guessed she had entered through the store on Cash'o- *treet) 05here are the %ancruan accounts2 1nd your office is far too #arm)0
If +orrachane had a mirror, thought %a&a, it had to 'e metal) *il$ered glass #ould 'reak e$ery time "en(s mother sho#ed that face to it) 1s it #as, %a&a 'et the metal had to 'e flattened at regular inter$als) Continued e-posure to +orrachane(s face #ould #arp the 'est metal from time to time) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
"en sighed faintly and #ent to his mother) %a&a follo#ed)
05ho is #ith you20 demanded the older #oman) *he peered through the s#irling sno# at %a&a) 0Oh) 3a$$ikki Kisu'o)0
03a$$i ,adradun)0 %a&a said #ith minimum politeness) 9$en that #as for "en, not for this unpleasant female #ho refused to call her 'y her mage title) 0I #as &ust going)0
0%a&a, #ait and lea$e #ith us,0 "en said) 05e ha$e plenty of room, and it(s a misera'le night)0
+orrachane(s lips crept up#ards at the ends) %a&a #inced) *he had forgotten.happily.the unfortunate results of +orrachane(s attempts to smile) 0I am happy to offer a ride to the t#ins( friend,0 she informed %a&a) 0Particularly the one #ho re$ealed their magical talents) I al#ays suspected it, of course, 'ut ha$ing no familial ties, I couldn(t $ery #ell get them e-amined 'y a 'etter mage than those the "ancanors hired)0
%a&a opened her mouth to reply to the implied insult to Kol and +ata/i, then closed it again) The mark of a 'orn Trader #as to kno# #hen persuasion and discussion #ere useless) Instead she 'o#ed to "en, then to +orrachane) 0I thank you, 'ut I($e 'een at the forge all day) I need the #alk) :ood night to you 'oth)0 3ather than risk "en arguing #ith her, she #alked 'riskly to the gate on the street)
In her #ake she heard +orrachane tell her son, 0It(s &ust as #ell) I #ant to re$ie# those accounts from the capital)0
Chapter G ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Outside the ,adradun gate lamps 'urned, marking the edges of the road in the sno#) %a&a trudged do#n *arah *treet, looking around her) *he didn(t care #hat Frostpine said! she lo$ed freshly fallen sno#, the #ay it clung to trees, fences, and ornamental car$ings, softening e$en the &ingle of sleigh'ells, muffling the clop of horses and the sounds of people going home) *he lo$ed the #ay it danced in the air, shaping glo'es of light around the lamps, s#irling in and out of patterns) In the mountains 'et#een the *yth and 9melan sno# #as untoucha'le, hard, and deadly) 6ere people trudged through it, s#ept it, rode through its curtains and streamers, played #ith it) It made the 'usy Kugiskans into friendly people) 9$eryone she passed #ished her a good e$ening, or smiled and said things like, 01 foot or t#o 'y morning, at least40 %a&a ans#ered them #ith smiles and nods) *he didn(t kno# enough a'out this #hite element to predict ho# much #ould come do#n 'efore sunrise)
*he heard 'ells approach 'ehind her and mo$ed close to the lamp.posts to gi$e the sleigh plenty of room to pass) *he kept her head do#n, hoping the $ehicle coming up on her #asn(t the ,adraduns()
0@iymese %a&a20 a familiar $oice called) 0Is that you20
*he turned as the "ancanor sleigh, *erg at the reins, dre# up 'y her) "ehind *erg %a&a sa# a lump of 8uilts and furs that had to 'e ;ory)
05hy are you afoot20 *erg demanded, reining up) 0:et in) <ou(ll free/e)0
%a&a clim'ed up 'eside him rather than distur' the girl) They dro$e on in friendly silence until they turned into the 'ack courtyard at "ancanor 6ouse) 1 sta'le hand emerged from the sno# to take the sleigh as *erg scooped ;ory off the seat, 'lankets, furs, and all) 6e carried her into the slush room, %a&a 'ehind him)
1fter hanging up their o#n coats and 'oots, they un#ound the sleepy ;ory) *he had ash on one cheek and flour on another7 her apron #as splashed #ith some kind of red sauce, and a ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html gluey su'stance clung to the end of her 'raid) 0*he says 1nyussa(s a good teacher,0 ;ory told %a&a dro#sily as they #ent into the kitchen) 0*he said I don(t ha$e to unlearn things)0
In the kitchen they sa# Frostpine at one of the ta'les) 6e #orked his #ay through a 'o#l of soup as he talked to 1nyussa) ia sat across from them, #hittling 'uttons) Other mem'ers of the household #ere gathered there, some #ith se#ing in their hands, others gi$ing pots and 'oots a thorough polish, still more &ust gossiping)
05hat(s going on20 ;ory asked, sliding onto the 'ench ne-t to her t#in) 05hy(s e$ery'ody in here20
On of the maids opened the door that led to the family(s part of the house) They heard a clear, commanding female $oice! 0.the day that one of my granddaughters #ould 'e spending any more time in "lackfly "og than she might need to drop off a 'asket for the poor.0 The maid shut the door again)
0Oh,0 said %a&a #ith a #ince) *he had forgotten this #as the night that Kol(s mother came for her once.a.#eek meal #ith her son and his #ife)
0("e#are the matriarchs of amorn,(0 Frostpine said, 8uoting a pro$er', (0for they are 8ueens #ithout cro#ns)(0
%a&a grimaced) If +orrachane(s a 8ueen, it(s of pi&ule fakol, she thought, placing "en(s mother in the #orst of the Trader afterli$es, reser$ed for those #ho did not pay their de'ts)
Frostpine eyed %a&a) 0<ou look all nice and rosy #ith the cold,0 he remarked) 0I suppose you(re going to tell me this #eather isn(t so 'ad)0
6e looked so misera'le that she #ent o$er and kissed his head) 0I #on(t say any such thing,0 she promised him) Instead she laid her fingers under his 'eard, #here she could feel ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html the pulse in his neck $eins) *lo#ly, carefully, she let heat trickle into his 'ody to #arm his 'lood)
Frostpine sighed his gratitude) 0 ot that the food hasn(t tha#ed me out #onderfully,0 he told 1nyussa, #ho smiled)
0Or that you(re practically sitting in the kitchen fire,0 %a&a added, feeling its heat on her 'ack) *he asked ia, 06o# did it go, your first day20
ia held up a #ooden rod the #idth of %a&a(s thum'nail, and gestured to a small sa#, car$ing kni$es, sanding paper, and a heap of 'uttons and sa#dust 'efore her) 01rnen sho#ed me ho# to make 'uttons,0 she said #ith a shrug) 0I(m to #ork on them at home, and he(ll check e$ery #eek to see ho# many I do)0
%a&a grinned) 0*mith apprentices get nails,0 she said) 0I used to think they start you on 'oring things so you(ll 'e half.cra/y 'y the time they sho# you anything real) 5e ha$e meditation in the morning, first thing) %on(t forget)0
ia(s eyes fell) 0 o, I #on(t)0 *he reapplied herself to her 'uttons)
0%on(t make plans for *unsday night,0 Frostpine told %a&a) 05e(re in$ited to the Kugisko +ages( *ociety(s first #inter festi$al) Our fello# mages #ould like to make our ac8uaintance)0
%a&a grimaced) *he hated parties) 06o# can I say no to the Kugisko mages20 5ith a nod to e$eryone, she #ent up to her room 'y the ser$ants( stair, to keep out of Kol(s mother(s #ay)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html In the morning ;ory a#aited her in the schoolroom, staff in hand, her 'reath steaming on the air as she 'ounced eagerly) ia #as a'sent)
05here is she20 %a&a asked)
0I don(t kno#,0 replied ;ory #ith a shrug) 0%o #e need her2 *he(s &ust going to &ump any#ay, she #on(t really hit)0
0<ou 'oth ha$e to learn to meditate,0 %a&a reminded her, leaning her 'room.handle staff against the #all) 03efusal isn(t a choice you get)0 *he had an uncomforta'le feeling that she kne# #hat she had to do) The prospect made her grumpy) *he had come to amorn to learn, not to teach) 0Tell me #here to find her)0
;ory shrugged again) 0"y the time I got dressed she #as gone)0
%a&a crossed her arms o$er her chest) 0<ou kno# #here she is)0
0<ou(re not fooling me,0 %a&a told the younger girl) 0 ia kne# #here you #ere, the other day)0
0*he(s the only one #ho can do that,0 ;ory said 'lithely) 0I can(t)0
%a&a sighed) *he supposed that closing ranks against outsiders did #ell for the t#ins) 0%on(t lie to me again,0 she recommended) 0I($e 'een lied to 'y an e-pert) Compared to "riar, you(re as o'$ious as a co# in a mud puddle)0
;ory set her mouth stu''ornly)
It #as too early for a contest of #ills) 01ll right,0 %a&a said) *he #ent to the hearth, #hich had yet to 'e cleaned, picked up a piece of charcoal, then 'eckoned ;ory close to one of the #alls) 0Face that #all and hold your staff in the high 'lock position,0 she ordered)
;ory o'eyed) %a&a ad&usted the girl(s hands, the angle of her staff, and her stance) Once they met %a&a(s re8uirements, she used the charcoal to mark the positions of the upper and lo#er end of the staff on the #all and the placement of ;ory(s feet on the floor) +o$ing the girl an arm(s length to the side, she marked the correct positions for the middle 'lock on the #all and the floor, then marked them for the lo# 'lock)
0The housekeeper #ill ha$e a fit #hen she sees those,0 ;ory said, more interested than sullen no#)
0*end her to me) <our hands in the right position20 %a&a checked the placement of ;ory(s hands on her staff) 06old it &ust like that)0 *he yanked up heat from the roaring kitchen fire t#o stories 'elo# through her 'ody and into her hand) Then she pinched the staff #ith her thum' and forefinger, 'urning the #ood to sho# ;ory #here to grip) The girl yelped #hen she felt the heat and sa# the #ood char, 'ut she held still)
%a&a returned her 'orro#ed #armth to the kitchen, 'ut kept enough to ans#er a 8uestion) 6er hand #as still hot enough to 'urn cloth, if not #ood) *he laid it o$er one of ;ory(s hands) The girl smiled) 0That(s #arm40 she e-claimed) 0%o the other one20
%a&a folded her hand around ;ory(s cold fingers and summoned more heat, enough to 'oil #ater) ;ory grinned) 05ell, you(ll ne$er need potholders,0 %a&a remarked) 06a$e you e$er lifted a hot kettle #ith your hands20
01re you &oking20 asked the girl) 0 o'ody lets me do anything that might scar my hands) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html :randmother e$en gets cross if she sees me #ash $egeta'les.she says my hands #ill get chapped, and no'ody #ill 'elie$e I come from a good home)0
%a&a smiled) 05ell, my hand is hot enough to 'urn, and all you noticed #as that it #as #arm) <ou can pick up hot pots #ithout fear) I can(t speak for #hat #ill happen to your skin #hen you #ash things) o#, I #ant you to practice ten high 'locks #ith your staff, feet and hands on the marks) Then ten middle 'locks, then ten lo#) 5hen you(re done, if I(m not 'ack, start o$er and keep practicing) I(m going to find ia)0 *he #ent to the door)
0"ut I thought you #ould teach me fighting #ith this40 cried ;ory) 0I don(t #ant to sit in a circle and think of nothing and try not to scratch any itches) I hate that40
0Practice your 'locks,0 %a&a said firmly) 0O$er and o$er, #ith e$erything &ust as #e marked it)0
06o# can I learn anything like that20 ;ory complained)
0"y repeating 'asic mo$ements o$er and o$er, you learn them throughout your 'ody) That(s the first step) :et mo$ing) 5e(ll talk a'out meditation some more after ia &oins us)0
;ory mo$ed into high 'lock position) 0<ou #on(t find her)0
01nd adults say young people these days don(t kno# anything,0 %a&a retorted, shaking her head) 0If only those adults kne# that you, ;orality "ancanor, kno# e$erything, #hy, they(d hope for the future)0
%a&a had thought it might come to this, #hich #as #hy she had her ne# scrying mirror in her 'elt pouch) *he took it out and cleared her mind of e$erything, e$en the sounds ;ory made as she practiced high 'locks) %a&a recalled her sense of ia, then 'reathed onto the mirror) 6er 'reath condensed on the metal, then slo#ly e$aporated) 5hen it #as clear ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html again, %a&a sa# ia in the #ood room #here she had originally found their staffs)
Tucking the mirror into her pouch, %a&a trotted do#nstairs)
*he found ia ya#ning as she inspected a handful of #ooden 'uttons) They dropped from the girl(s fingers #hen %a&a #alked in) 0I #on(t do it40 ia cried) *he knelt, scram'ling for the #ooden rounds) 0That isn(t meditating4 o'ody e$er talks a'out hitting #hen they meditate40
0Then they ha$en(t met %edicate *kyfire,0 %a&a said, picking up a 'utton that rested against her foot) 0<ou can(t decide you hate it after &ust one try)0
0<es, I can,0 ia said, her chin thrust out mulishly as she glared up at %a&a) 0I hated it e$en 'efore #e #ere done) I(m not ;ory4 *he al#ays gets e-cited, and she starts hitting, and she(s al#ays sorry after, 'ut that doesn(t make my fingers not hurt, and I liked the other #ay, the sitting and counting.#hy are you looking at me like that20
0I &ust #anted to see ho# long you #ould make that sentence last,0 %a&a admitted) 0I honestly don(t think you meant to stop 'efore 'reakfast)0
ia stared at %a&a for a long moment, plainly 'affled) Finally she said, 0<ou aren(t really like anyone else, are you20
%a&a smiled) 0I am, 'ut I don(t think you(d 'e comforta'le around the people I(m like)0 *he so'ered again) *he kne# #here this #as leading, and her o#n heart #as in re'ellion) *he #anted more time to herself, not less, to #ork on "en(s glo$es and may'e e$en a suit for him to fire#alk in) It(s not like I #anted to 'e a teacher, she told herself)
0Children in Capchen #ant the same things you do,0 her 1unt 6ul#eme used to say) 0They can ha$e them, 'ecause they(re only ka8s) Our children don(t get the things ka8s get, ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html so no# you decide) 1re you a Trader, or are you a ka820
01re you sure you don(t #ant to try the staff20 %a&a asked, though she kne# the ans#er) 0It(s like dancing lessons, only different)0
ia(s eyes filled #ith tears) 0I(m sorry I(m a co#ard,0 she said, and sniffed)
%a&a sighed) 0<ou(re not a co#ard,0 she told her second student gently) 0<ou &ust don(t kno# #hat you(re 'ra$e at)0
0I(m a co#ard,0 ia insisted, tears running do#n her cheeks) *he #iped her eyes on her slee$e) 0;ory says I(m al#ays s8ueaking and &umping, I al#ays hide, I don(t argue) ) ) 0
It 'othered %a&a to talk so long to a kneeling girl) *he knelt and helped to gather 'uttons) 0The 'ra$est person I kno# is afraid of the dark) *he sleeps #ith a night lamp al#ays, 'ut if her friends are threatened2 *he suddenly thinks she(s a 'ear t#el$e feet tall and attacks #hoe$er scared her friends) There are all kinds of courage) <ou(ll find yours)0 *he felt a sigh rise in her chest and s#allo#ed it) ia felt 'ad enough! %a&a #ould not let the girl think that she #as unhappy to teach her) 0Though looking for courage #hen ;ory gets #orked up doesn(t seem useful) 5e(ll go 'ack to the meditation #e tried first)0
ia stopped gathering 'uttons and fro#ned) 0"ut ;ory) *he #iggles until I &ust #ant to scream)0
0I(ll use this hour of the day for ;ory(s meditation,0 %a&a said, offering ia a handful of 'uttons) 0<ou and I #ill meditate the hour 'efore supper)0
01nd I can 'reathe, and count, and sit, and not get hit #ith things20 ia asked, suspicious) 05e(ll 'e 8uiet20
0Cuiet as mice,0 %a&a said) 3emem'ering her first nights sleeping a'oard her family(s ship, she corrected herself! 0Cuieter, actually)0
5ith ia reassured, %a&a left to re&oin ;ory) *he glanced into the kitchen on her #ay to the 'ack stair) The main hearth fire roared, sending heat throughout the house) 1nyussa #as rolling out dough for the dumplings called piro/hi as Frostpine stirred a pot of 'uck#heat kasha cooked #ith milk and spices) 1nyussa laughed at something he said and looked at him in a decidedly flirtatious manner)
%a&a smiled and #alked on) *he liked the 'risk, irrita'le cook much 'etter, kno#ing that 1nyussa had it in her to like Frostpine)
05ell20 ;ory demanded #hen %a&a reached the schoolroom) 0<ou couldn(t find her, could you2 I didn(t think you #ould)0 6er hair #as popping out of its 'raid7 her cheeks #ere red, testimony that she had 'een e-ercising)
0 ia and I made other arrangements,0 said %a&a as she picked up her o#n 'room.handle staff) 05e(ll meditate in the afternoons) <ou and I #ill go on meeting here at this hour)0
06o# does learning to fight #ith a staff help me get my magic under control20 asked ;ory ner$ously as %a&a spun her light staff hand o$er hand, mo$ing out into the center of the room)
05e($e got all #inter to thrash it out,0 %a&a told her) 0*ee, the idea is, you get so used to those three 'locks and those three strikes that your 'ody #ill mo$e, 'ut your mind #ill 'e free) Then it doesn(t matter if someone tries to hit you) <ou(ll 'e at your center, #ithin your spirit and your magic) That(s #hen you start to learn control, #here you pull your magic in or let it out as you need) "ut for no#.0 *he struck high at ;ory, #ho 'locked &ust in time) %a&a #ent immediately to the middle strike, then the lo# strike, slo#ly enough that the girl sa# the 'lo#s coming and 'locked them) They continued to trade 'locks and strikes, so preoccupied that #hen the clock chimed the first hour of the day, 'oth &umped) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
03ight here, tomorro#,0 %a&a said) ;ory nodded and ran to dress for the outdoors) *he #as due to lea$e for "lackfly "og in half an hour)
%a&a leaned on her 'room.handle staff, 'arely #inded) It #ould take longer to teach ;ory to grip her magic this #ay, 'ut she kne# they no# steered the right course) *he also kne# she #as right to gi$e the t#ins separate lessons, though she #as less happy a'out that) *till, they #ere 'oth good girls and they did #ant to learn) %a&a could appreciate that) 1nd she had liked trading 'lo#s #ith ;ory) *he missed her practices at the temple, and ;ory had a natural talent for it) +ay'e once the younger girl learned to control her po#er, she might also like to study more com'at techni8ues) That #as something %a&a could look for#ard to)
1fter 'reakfast she spent the morning in her room, #orking on her fireproof glo$es) First she molded li$ing metal as southern 'akers shaped flat'read, tossing rounds from hand to hand until they reached the proper thickness) 1s she #orked the stuff, she sent her magic through it, calling on the po#er of its 'irth) Then she had dragged a forest fire through her flesh, #hich had included a hand co$ered 'y the molten 'rass cap of her staff) This metal #ould 'e a'le to endure fires that intense) *he also imagined ho# "en #ould use the li$ing metal glo$es.to knock 'urning de'ris aside as he had at the fire #hen they(d met, to lift flaming 'eams out of his #ay, to grasp hot metal to shift it) *he filled the li$ing metal #ith her idea of "en as she(d first seen him, laden #ith t#o 'oys he(d carried from an inferno &ust in time) 5hen she finished, these glo$es #ould happily do #hate$er "en asked of them)
Once she set a piece of li$ing metal on a glo$e form, she carried the form to the #indo# and stuck it outside) The #ind 'le# hard off the *yth, trying to yank her creation from her grasp #ithout success) 5ith the li$ing metal strip cold enough to hold to the iron form, not drip through the openings 'et#een the rods, %a&a added the ne-t strip, molding it in place and pressing its edges against the cold section until they 'lended seamlessly) Then she took the form 'ack to the #indo#)
*he finished one glo$e 'y the time the clock struck noon, and #ent do#n to take her meal #ith the kitchen staff) 1'out to return upstairs, she reali/ed she needed physical acti$ity) 6andling li$ing metal #as more an e-ercise of po#er than #ork for her 'ody) *he #ent into the slush room and looked outside) People had 'een mo$ing sno# all day after the t#o.foot.deep fall during the night, the "ancanor ser$ants among them) ot only #ere the ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html paths around the house clear, 'ut the ice of the 'oat 'asin #as too) %a&a looked out under the street 'ridge, #here the 'oat 'asin opened on the canal) Con$ict #ork gangs #ere hard at #ork, smoothing the 'road strip of ice) *katers used the ice they had cleared)
If I #ant to skate the canal, I ha$e to practice, %a&a told herself) *he #ent to the slush room and put on her outdoor clothes, then #ent to the 'oat 'asin to skate)
5hen she returned to her room, she felt ten feet tall) *he had learned ho# to turn #hile still in motion, and she had not fallen once) 5hile she had 'een telling ;ory that her 'ody had to learn mo$ements so #ell that she didn(t ha$e to think a'out them, %a&a(s o#n 'ody had done a 'it of learning of its o#n)
*he felt so good that #ork on the second glo$e #ent e$en more 8uickly than it had that morning) *he finished &ust as the maids came upstairs to light the lamps) ia #ould 'e home from Camoc(s soon)
5ith 'oth forms co$ered, %a&a tied hea$y cords to their inner iron frames, opened one of her #indo#s, and hung the forms outside) The night(s cold #ould set the li8uid metal) In the morning she(d remo$e the iron forms and complete the magic that #ould keep the glo$es in that shape fore$er)
Pleased #ith her day(s #ork, %a&a leaned out the open #indo#) *no# lay thick on the rooftops, in heaps on either side of "lyth *treet and Prospect Canal, 'ut there #as less than she(d seen that morning or e$en at midday) People #ho li$ed #ith hea$y sno#s found plenty of #ays to handle it, %a&a had learned) *er$ants #orked almost as long and as hard as con$icts to clear courtyards and #alks so that nothing kept their #ealthy masters and mistresses from the day(s 'usiness) Con$icts la'ored on sno# remo$al in huge cre#s, shi$ering in rags and shackles) %a&a felt no pity for them) They #ere criminals and deser$ed their lot)
*he scooped up a handful of sno#! it melted almost instantly) *he had raised her personal heat the moment she(d opened the shutters) %a&a let it drain 'ack through her until her skin ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html held only normal #armth) This time #hen she gathered sno#, it didn(t melt a#ay 'efore she could eat it) *he lo$ed the taste of clean, crisp sno#)
*he #as #orking on her &e#elry #hen she heard the clatter of footsteps on the 'ack stair) 0%a&a40 ia cried) 0I(m home40
%a&a put her #ork aside, collected her Trader(s staff, and &oined her student) 06o# did it go today20 she asked as she and ia clim'ed to the schoolroom)
ia held up a cloth 'ag) 5ooden rods in three shades.pale oak, chestnut, and e'ony.poked out of it) 0+ore 'uttons,0 she said) 0"y the time I(m done, no one #ill ha$e to make any more for decades) +ay'e e$en a century)0
0That(s ho# I felt a'out nails,0 %a&a told her as she opened the schoolroom door) 0It(s ama/ing ho# many of such things people use though)0
ia shed her 'ag and coat and sat on the floor) 1s %a&a dre# the circle around them #ith her staff, she reali/ed she #as glad to ha$e this 8uiet girl to herself for a #hile) *miling, she took her o#n place and enclosed them in a 'u''le of magic)
In the morning, after a round of staff practice #ith ;ory and a good 'reakfast, %a&a returned to her room and 'rought her glo$es in from outside) Carefully she slipped her fingers 'et#een the li$ing metal and the iron forms, then #orked the forms out of their gleaming yello# sheaths)
1t last she set the iron aside and put her creations on) The glo$es #ere much too 'ig, of course, since they #ere made to "en(s measure) The cold inside the metal made her flesh ache)
*he took the glo$es off rather than call heat to #arm her arms) *he didn(t #ant heat near the glo$es yet) First she had to em'ed signs in metal around the cuffs, runes shaped from lead for sta'ility and copper for fle-i'ility) Then she #ould co$er the glo$es inside and out #ith a li8uid spelled for more fle-i'ility and sta'ility, and for strength) Only #hen that #as done could they 'e safely #armed)
%reaming of fire suits as she #ondered ho# in the Trader(s name she #ould create that much li$ing metal, %a&a set the glo$es upright on their 'ases) They looked like golden hands grasping for the ne-t rung of an in$isi'le ladder) *he #ent to her suraku and collected her materials) On her #ay 'ack to her #orkta'le she fro/e) The glo$es #ere collapsing in on themsel$es, returning to their original, thick syrup consistency)
0Pa$ao40 cried %a&a) 0Pa$ao, pa$ao, pa$ao4( 5ith all her #ork and #ith the magic she had used in their shaping, they should ha$e kept that form for a day at least4 Their collapse, #hile still ice.cold, meant that glo$es of li$ing metal alone #ould ne$er #ork) *he had to put them on a hard metal frame) It meant hinges at e$ery &oint and comple- hinges at the #rists to allo# side.to.side motion as #ell as up and do#n) 5ith a solid metal frame her finished creations #ould 'e far hea$ier than she had planned) If glo$es couldn(t e-ist on their o#n, a #hole suit of li$ing metal #ould 'e a nightmare) 1 hea$y nightmare)
*he put do#n her metals and oils and kicked her chair in frustration) 5hite.hot pain 'urst through her 'ooted toes) *he hopped on one foot, softly cursing in Tradertalk, Imperial, 6atarese, and Pa&unna, until she reali/ed she #as 'eing a fool) *he slumped into her chair to nurse her #ounded foot)
It #as her o#n fault) *he had gi$en in to pride) "ecause she #as successful #ith this stuff, she had thought that she could &ust #a$e a hand and get #hat she #anted #ith little planning and effort) 6ad she e$er made anything purely of li8uid metal2 *he hadn(t) 1ll of her other pieces had included hard metal like iron, 'rass, and 'ron/e) 6er false hands, arms, and legs #ere li8uid metal fi-ed to iron skeletons)
01s #ell e-pect 8uicksil$er to #alk on its o#n,0 she muttered) O$er and o$er people had #arned Tris a'out pride, 'ut Frostpine had ne$er cautioned %a&a against it) 5hy not2
Instead of spending her day in glory, finishing off her achie$ement, she 'egan the tedious la'or of replacing each lump that represented a &oint #ith tiny oiled hinges, using her po#er under tight control to remo$e the lump and to solder each hinge into place #here the lump had 'een) 6er only 'reaks had come at midday, for lunch and a s#ift skating practice, then meditation #ith ia #hen the girl returned home) *he(d pretended to 'e her normal, centered self at meditation! had ia gotten so much as a #hiff of %a&a(s self.disgust, she #ould ha$e thought she caused it, not %a&a(s o#n folly) %a&a 'riefly considered telling the younger girl her mistake, 'ut decided against it) *he #as $ain enough to feel that she didn(t #ant one of her first students to think she #as human enough to make a 'otch of something)
*he felt shri$eled and grumpy at supper, poking 1nyussa(s good cooking #ith an indifferent fork) ia, too, #as silent, listening to her parents talk) ;ory #as still at Potcracker(s) Frostpine &oined them, though he added little to the con$ersation) 6e looked e-hausted) %a&a looked at him #ith a gro#ing sense of 'etrayal)
05hy didn(t you #arn me a'out o$erconfidence20 she finally demanded, silencing Kol(s and +ata/i(s con$ersation a'out a change in gold prices) 0<ou ne$er lectured me a'out pride like iko and ,ark al#ays lecture Tris)0 *he reali/ed she had forgotten her decision not to let ia reali/e she #as human, 'ut resentment o$erpo#ered her) 05hy not2 <ou let me #alk into a mess, you kno#) I #asted hard #ork and I feel like a gru', and it(s your fault)0
0I(m not the only one #ho kno#s ho# to make a sentence last,0 ia murmured)
%a&a ga$e her student an I(ll.get.you.later glare and turned 'ack to Frostpine) 05ell20 she asked again)
Frostpine leaned his head on his arm) 0I thought you(d find out for yourself,0 he informed %a&a) 0,earning sticks #hen you get it the hard #ay)0 6e ya#ned) 05hen I($e finished my current task, you must tell me #hat happened) <ou($e #orked so smoothly I(d 'egun to think I(d ha$e to mention pride to you after all) ;ust to 'e sure I(d taught you properly, you see)0
+ata/i tapped Frostpine(s plate #ith her fork, making the delicate porcelain ring) 0<ou) "ed) o#,0 she ordered) 0<ou(re tired and addled)0
0<es)0 Frostpine left, #a$ing an idle good'ye o$er his shoulder) 6e did not go to the front stairs and the guest rooms, 'ut 'ack to the kitchen)
06e(s the most annoying man,0 %a&a announced, still $e-ed) 05hy does he get to 'e right20
06e(s al#ays 'een that #ay,0 Kol assured her)
05hen he told me I(d 'e happier #ith Kol than him, I tried to punch him in the nose,0 +ata/i added, startling a gasp of surprise from ia)
05orse, he #as right)0 Kol smiled into his #ife(s eyes)
+ata/i 'le# him a kiss) 0+uch #orse,0 she agreed)
ia rolled her eyes at %a&a)
0If he gets too smug, tell him a truly perfect person #ouldn(t get seasick,0 Kol said #ithout looking a#ay from his #ife)
0That(s right, he does,0 admitted %a&a, feeling 'etter) 0I forgot)0 6er appetite returned, and she 'egan to eat)
Chapter H
5hen "en(s father had 'een ali$e, the ,adradun family #orshipped on the first 5atersday of the moon at the temple of @rohain the ;udge, the god #ho had cut off his left hand so he could ne$er dilute the &ustice he dispersed #ith his right) On the second 5atersday they attended the temple of Cunoc, mother of the earth and its seed7 on the third, they paid their respects to "aion, the cold, #hite god of killing ice) On the fourth moon they #orshipped 9ihg, goddess of spring and freedom) 1fter his father(s death, "en and his family still #orshipped all four gods each month) It #as +orrachane #ho #ent less and less to the other temples) 5hen "en returned from :odsforge(s school, he took his mother to #orship @rohain each 5atersday, rather than fight #ith her) 6e also made fre8uent offerings at the temple of *ythuthan, the trickster #ho ruled the immense lake)
The day after %a&a(s first attempt #ith the glo$es failed, the ,adraduns attended @rohain(s #orship) 1s they left +orrachane #as else#here, her copy of The "ook of ;udgment clutched to her chest, her pale.green eyes fi-ed on some $ision of &ustice and punishment) *he looked e-alted) The oddest thought #riggled through "en(s mind! did he look like her #hen he #atched a fire2
6e snorted) 6e had nothing in common #ith her) *he #ould 'e the first to say so7 in fact, she(d 'een telling the #orld as much for years)
6e did not share her e-altation) Instead he re$ie#ed his plans) Tonight(s test of his firefighters had to go #ithout a hitch) For that to happen, he needed to get rid of his mother and go to #ork)
;ust the thought of escaping her, e$en for a day, sent guilt to nip him) 6e and his 'rothers had promised their dying father that they #ould take care of +orrachane) Only "en had kept his #ord, though it got harder and harder) *ometimes he thought the 'est #ay to do it #ould 'e to put her out of her misery) That #as a monstrous thought.he kne# it #as monstrous) <et he thought it all the same)
5atching the cro#d, he sa# the #hite or sil$er.trimmed hats and long coats of the magistrate(s la#keepers) Of course they #orshipped @rohain, 'oth here and at the shrines in the district stations) 1 glint of gold mi-ed #ith sil$er caught his eye! the mages #ho ser$ed the la#keepers #ere here too) +any la#keepers and mages nodded to him! "en #as #ell kno#n to the magistrates( people) 6e(d trained most in :odsforge(s methods of fighting fires and protecting the cro#ds #ho came to #atch them)
6e had not told them that the 'oardinghouse fire #as deli'erately set) ;ust as "en set fires to test his 'rigades, he thought of them also as a test of Kugisko(s magistrates( mages) They had to 'e $igilant) They thought the penalty of 'urning ali$e #as enough to stop anyone from committing arson7 it made them la/y) Once people disco$ered fires #ere set #ithout the mages( disco$ering it, their office #ould ha$e to impro$e their methods of in$estigation)
*ooner or later, he kne#, someone #ould reali/e that his test fires had 'een set) *ythuthan played tricks on e$eryone7 sooner or later 'lind accident #ould make the authorities suspicious) 5hen that happened, "en #ould mo$e on, happily, to another city and another set of lessons)
0%on(t &am your hands into your pockets,0 snapped his mother, 'reaking into his thoughts) 0<ou(ll ruin the line of that coat) %o you #ant us to free/e to death2 ,et(s go40
"en fell in 'eside her, plans tum'ling through his head as he rearranged and resorted them)
1t home they sat do#n to midday in the kitchen, #here the heat from the sto$e #armed them) "en laid the place settings and poured tea for his mother and himself) +orrachane ser$ed a four.cornered meat pie #ith 'raised ca''age and mushrooms) There #ere no ser$ants in the house7 +orrachane refused to pay the e-tra coin that any ser$ant e-pected #hen asked to gi$e up his 5atersday) Instead she cooked like a common householder)
They ate in silence) "en kne# 'etter than to dra# +orrachane(s attention #hen her mind #as fi-ed on @rohain) 1fter#ard, she retired to read her "ook of ;udgment and nap) 6e ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html cleared and #ashed the dishes, then left the house) The 'usiness #as closed) 6e #ould 'e a'le to finish his preparations uninterrupted)
6is #orkroom #as in a corner of the main #arehouse garret, secured #ith t#o locks and hidden 'ehind empty crates) Inside he lit the sto$e, then took out his fire.setting de$ice)
6e lo$ed #orking on it) +odeled on a fire.starter designed 'y :odsforge, it #as an intricate layering of materials that #ould smolder inside for hours 'efore the surface 'urned and set its surroundings a'la/e) :odsforge had drummed it into his students that fires #ere une-pected7 they should al#ays 'e prepared) To enforce the lesson, he(d arranged #ith the locals to use his de$ices to set fires at all hours, calling his students out to fight them) "en kne# he #as simply continuing the great man(s #ork)
5orking on his present de$ice, "en longed for the pure study at :odsforge(s school) 6e had reco$ered from his family(s deaths there and e$en found contentment, only to ha$e it shattered on his return) 6e #as in his mother(s house again, for one) For another, he #earied of 'attles #ith councils for funds and space to train firefighters, and 'attles #ith the men and #omen #ho #ere ordered 'y their masters to learn from him) It had 'een #orse that summer! the more time 'et#een large fires, the harder it #as to get the councils( attention) They #ere as 'ad as children, longing to play #ithout thought for the future) 1ll he #anted to do #as help7 all the rest of the #orld did #as fight him) If it #asn(t some fur. ro'ed guildsman complaining o$er the loss of his ser$ants( time, it #as his mother s8ualling a'out hours taken from the 'usiness) Only #hen he #orked on his tests did he feel 'etter) 5ith those he found a #ay to control his life! the 'oardinghouse fire had 'een his second, his o#n #arehouse the first)
o# he put the final touches on the most comple- de$ice he(d made) It #as #orth all his trou'le) 6e must 'e no#here near his target #hen it 'egan to 'urn, or suspicion might fall on him) "y the time the fire 'roke out of his creation, he #ould ha$e 'een home for hours) The fire #ould destroy all traces of the de$ice, 'affling mages and their tracking spells) 6e had learned that at :odsforge(s, too)
Though 5atersday #as a rest day, the mages in "ancanor 6ouse had things to do) 1fter she dressed, %a&a #ent to her lesson #ith ;ory, trading staff 'locks and strikes #ith her, ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html making sure the girl had no time to think, only mo$e) 1s they practiced, %a&a thought that ;ory might 'e #orking on her o#n) *he #as faster, more accurate, her hands and stance surer) Keeping a le$el head #as more of a struggle, 'ut there too she had impro$ed) 1s they left the classroom, %a&a kne# that 'y focusing on mo$ement and not allo#ing herself to get e-cited, ;ory had already 'egun to drag her magic inside her skin) The $isi'le flares in the girl(s po#er had 'egun to flatten and spread o$er her to coat her skin) It #as nearly time to start ;ory on the ne-t step as %edicate *kyfire taught it! the state of #aiting for e$erything and nothing) That #ould 'e #hen their real #ork 'egan)
1t 'reakfast they found that Frostpine #as gone, still chasing his counterfeiter) The capture of those #ho planned to destroy amorn(s economy #as far more important than 5atersday rest) The sick needed food, 5atersday or not, 'ut Carnoc Oak'orn closed his shop) ;ory left for "lackfly "og #hile ia and her parents #ent to the temple of the goddess Cunoc) The "ancanor ser$ants #ho had the day off #ere gone) Only a handful rattled around the 'ig house as %a&a #ent 'ack upstairs to her room)
First she prayed to Trader and "ookkeeper, then to the spirits of her family, lighting incense so they #ould kno# she still remem'ered them) 1mong Traders, to 'e forgotten #as the one final death! memory lasted #hen the flesh #as gone) %a&a #ould make sure that her children, if she had any, #ould say the prayers for each mem'er of Fifth *hip Kisu'o)
*he #orked on tiny hinges through midday as the tray of food 'rought 'y a maid #ent cold) Finally she stopped! her last hinge #as gone) *he #ould ha$e to go 'ack to Teraud(s for a day or t#o, and trade #ork for iron forge time) It #as time to rest! her 'ack and neck #ere one solid ache) 6er eyes t#itched madly #hen she closed them, a sign that she had 'een doing too much close #ork) Time to practice skating)
%a&a put on layers of clothes) *he didn(t try to #arm herself! they #ere good clothes, and after t#o days of the sharp control and release of her magic, her head spun) *he needed to rest her po#er)
*he took the ser$ants( stair do#n the 'ack of the main house) *he could smell supper, all dishes that could 'e set in co$ered pots and left to cook through the day) The ser$ants( area #as forlorn #ithout the constant clatter, arguments, thumps, and scrapes of a large household) That #as 5atersday! upperclass ser$ants had almost a full day to $isit and to ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html shop, #hile the handful that stayed recei$ed an e-tra sil$er argi' and another #eekday off to 'alance the scales)
6earing the soft murmur of $oices in the kitchen, %a&a stopped to look in) ia and +orrachane ,adradun sat at a #orkta'le, glasses of tea and a plate of cakes 'efore them, looking through a 'ook that appeared to 'e sheets of cloth 'acked in parchment)
0Oh, I like that one,0 ia said, pointing) 0,ook, you can see $ines in it)0
0That(s called +aiden "lessing,0 +orrachane replied softly) *he stroked ia(s hair gently #ith one kno''y hand) 0I taught Kofrinna ho# to make it) *he #ore an entire $eil of that #hen she married "en) *he #as such an adora'le girl) I miss her and the children e$ery day)0
%a&a tried to mo$e on! it #as not comforta'le to #atch +orrachane in a tender mode) ia sa# her at &ust that moment) 0%a&a, come see these lace patterns,0 she called) 01unt +orrachane 'rought them for ;ory and me) They(re so pretty, and some of them are really old)0
%a&a couldn(t refuse #ithout seeming churlish) *he glued a smile onto her mouth and sat on the 'ench opposite ia and +orrachane) 03a$$i ,adradun,0 she said #ith a polite nod)
0%a&a,0 replied +orrachane) 06a$e you 'een at some #ork of magic20
0Tinkering,0 %a&a said, not #anting to discuss her la'ors #ith this #oman) Once she had made the mistake of 'iting a sheet of gold foil) +orrachane had the same effect on her) 0Is this the lace pattern 'ook you told me a'out20
0This one(s +aiden "lessing,0 ia said, turning the 'ook so %a&a could see that the cloth pages anchored samples of lace#ork, #hile faded #riting on the paper pages descri'ed ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html ho# to make the particular pattern) 0This one(s 6er' :arden, and here(s the King(s Treasure)0
To %a&a they looked similar, 'ut she nodded gra$ely, as if she understood the niceties) *andry #ould ha$e 'een a'le to identify each piece separately, she kne#) 0The 'ook seems old,0 she commented as ia turned other pages)
0It #as in my hus'and(s family for ten generations,0 +orrachane said #ith pride) 0Our families come from the old empire, the #estern side) "ooks of lace patterns are passed from the 'ride of each son to the 'rides of their oldest sons) This #as to go to Kofrinna, until the tragedy)0 *he stroked a piece of lace #ith fingers that trem'led) 0I(ll ha$e to ship it to one of the other 'oys( #i$es 'efore I die) It is hard to think of it going to someone I do not e$en kno#)0
0Please don(t 'e sad, 1unt +orrachane,0 'egged ia) 05hy don(t you $isit your sons this summer2 <ou could meet your grandchildren)0
+orrachane shook her head) 0I could not lea$e the 'usiness for so long)0
0"ut "en(s here,0 ia pointed out) 01nd e$en if you don(t $isit them, he can still marry again) 6e(s not that old)0
+orrachane smiled and cupped ia(s cheek in one hand) 0<ou are a good girl, iamara "ancanor, and you kno# your family duty) @rohain kno#s I ha$e presented that son of mine #ith perfectly eligi'le females, 'ut #ill he do as he ought20 *he folded her lips, her pale.green eyes flashing) 0I don(t understand ho# I could ha$e failed #ith him, 'ut I did)0
%a&a clenched her hands under the ta'le) *he #as determined not to say that it #as hardly a surprise if "en didn(t follo# his mother(s #ishes, not #hen +orrachane had yet to speak #ell of him) 0I imagine he(ll remarry #hen he gets to it,0 she said #hen she got her temper under control) 06e seems rather 'usy keeping the city from 'urning up)0
0That is his e-cuse,0 +orrachane said) 06e has a gift for making others think #ell of him) The truth is that he #ould rather idle #ith the city(s riffraff than ser$e his family)0 *he looked at ia, #ho read the old.style #riting on one page, her lips mo$ing silently) 6er face, as hard as iron #hen she discussed her son, rela-ed) 05ould you like me to ha$e copies of this made for you and ;ory20 she asked ia) 0It(s no trou'le, and I(d like you to ha$e them) Though chances are your hands #ill 'e so rough from hammering and sa#ing that you #on(t 'e a'le to make lace40
ia smiled7 %a&a 'ristled at the hint of criticism) 0I(ll &ust do like +ama does, to keep her #ork neat,0 ia assured the old #oman) 0I(ll make a pair of thin linen glo$es)0
0 o# there(s an idea,0 +orrachane said #ith appro$al) 0<our mother does ha$e lo$ely hands)0
0*he puts lotion on them and #ears the glo$es to keep the lotion on her skin longer,0 e-plained ia) 0I($e 'een thinking a'out trying that any#ay) 1nd then I could make lace #ithout damaging the threads)0
0*o cle$er40 +orrachane said #ith appro$al) *he hugged ia gently around the shoulders) 0I(m glad to see that 'anging a#ay #ith rough tools hasn(t made you forget #omanly interests)0
0Oh, look at this one40 ia said, her eyes #ide) 01unt +orrachane, #hat is this20 *he traced a pattern in old lace, her finger not 8uite touching it)
*o her rough mage(s fingers didn(t touch +orrachane(s precious legacy, thought %a&a, cross)
05ell, those are flames or #a$es, depending on ho# you look at them,0 +orrachane ans#ered ia) 0+y mother.in.la# thought they #ere supposed to sho# 'oth sides of ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #omanhood, passion and the a'ility to flo# around o'stacles)0
%a&a had heard enough.did the #oman do anything 'ut carp2 *he got to her feet) 0I hope you(ll forgi$e me,0 she told +orrachane) 0There isn(t much light, and I need to practice my skating)0
+orrachane nodded) 6er pale.green eyes did not mo$e from ia(s face)
03emem'er, slo# is 'etter,0 ia said a'sently, turning another page)
%a&a grinned despite her anger #ith +orrachane) 0I ha$e three friends #ho #ould tell you I ha$e slo#ness do#n to an art,0 she assured ia and left the kitchen)
In the slush room she donned coat, scar$es, glo$es, and e$en a #ool cap so she #ouldn(t 'e tempted to use her magic to #arm herself) Picking up her skates, she #ent do#n to the 'asin)
0%oesn(t do his duty,0 she gro#led as she 'uckled her left skate) 0Idles #ith riffraff) "angs a#ay #ith rough tools) That #oman(s mouth is so sour she could pickle lemons in it40 *he yanked the straps on her right skate so hard they pinched her foot e$en through her 'oot) Cursing in Tradertalk, she loosened the strap) 06o# someone like "en came from that 'itter old shoe of a female) ) ) 0
*he stood and thrust herself a#ay from the 'ench) ?nfortunately she did so a little too hard) 1cross the 'asin she shot, right into its sno#y sides) *he pushed herself out of the sno#, her face hot #ith em'arrassment) o one #as present to #itness her humiliation, 'ut she still said aloud, 0I meant to do that)0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html It #as like meditation, she reali/ed as she steadied herself on the ice once more) *he couldn(t think a'out anything 'ut skating #hen she skated) *he closed her eyes and took deep 'reaths, thrusting +orrachane from her mind) 5hen her thoughts #ere filled only #ith skating, she 'egan again)
ia &oined her after a #hile) +orrachane had gone home) 0<ou don(t like her, do you20 ia called from the 'ench)
%a&a #as practicing turns) 0I don(t need to like her)0
0I feel 'ad) *he(s so dreadful to e$eryone else, and so kind to ;ory and me)0 ia stood and glided across the ice)
0That(s #hat ;ory said,0 admitted %a&a)
0I don(t understand it,0 ia told her, going into a tight, 8uick spin) 1s she slo#ed she added, 0I used to think all the stories a'out her #ere &ust lies from &ealous people) Then. then I sa# her thrash a 'eggar #ith her dri$er(s carriage #hip one day) 6o# can she 'e so lo$ing to us, and so horri'le to the rest of the #orld2 5hat #ould make a person gro# up that #ay20
0I don(t kno#,0 replied %a&a) 0I($e ne$er seen anyone like her) +y 1unt 6ul#eme #as mean to e$eryone, no e-ceptions) :reat na$igator, 'ut a dreadful person) I(m &ust glad "en isn(t like his mother)0
0The #hole city(s glad,0 ia assured her) *he gra''ed %a&a(s hands) 0Come on) ,et(s go try the ice in the canal)0
0Oh, no,0 %a&a said, trying to pull free) 0 o, no, no40
0<es,0 replied ia) 0Come on) <ou can do this)0
+uch to %a&a(s surprise, ia #as right) They skated carefully from "ancanor 6ouse north to the tip of Kadasep and 'ack) %a&a fell only once, #here a patch of ice #as pitted) "oth girls returned to "ancanor 6ouse flushed #ith $ictory)
Their good feelings carried o$er into ia(s meditation after they #ent inside) The younger girl entered the 'reathing pattern #ith confidence) %a&a #atched as her po#er slid o$er her skin to coat it in a glo#ing layer) The emptier ia(s thoughts, the fe#er occasions #hen her po#er flared a#ay from her skin) *he #as close to the point #here she #ould 'e a'le to handle her po#er as she did #ood)
0%id Camoc gi$e you #ork for today20 %a&a asked as they left the schoolroom)
ia shook her head) 0I asked if I could 'orro# a 'ook on magic for hard #ood, and he grunted) I think it meant yes) 6e kne# I took it, any#ay) I read some this morning.I hid it in my hymn'ook)0 *he smiled) 0Papa sa# me, 'ut he didn(t say anything) I think he gets 'ored in temple, too)0
%a&a shook her head as they separated to dress for supper) 1fter she ate, %a&a spent the e$ening in the 'ook room #ith the family) *he #ent to 'ed feeling as if she(d accomplished a great deal that day, despite +orrachane) *he #as silly to let the #oman irritate her, she decided as she cra#led under her co$ers) +orrachane #as a sad creature, hated 'y most, not understanding #hat a pri/e she had in "en) *he #as to 'e pitied, not fought)
It #as nearly dark #hen "en left the #arehouse, a rough #ool coat and felt 'oots o$er his clothes) 6e #rapped scar$es around his head, hiding all of his face 'ut his eyes, and carried his de$ice and a lantern in a 'asket) ?nnoticed he &oined the stream of ser$ants returning to their masters( homes, their heads 'ent against the hard #ind that 'le# off the *yth) "en appreciated the #ind! protecting his face from it, he also disguised his height) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
9$er since he had 'egun training firefighters, he had 5alked o$er e$ery inch of most Kugiskan islands, through courtyards and alleys, past middens and #ells, around out'uildings and along the tops of #alls) 6e had descended into cellars and clim'ed into garrets and to#ers) 6e kne# those islands, including 1lakut, 'etter than those #ho had li$ed there for centuries)
5ith that kno#ledge, he had his pick of sites at #hich to test his lone 1lakut Island 'rigade.footmen and shop assistants #ho skipped training a third of the time, to run their masters( errands or simply 'ecause they forgot) They needed sharpening up) For this test he had chosen a confectioner(s shop on 6ollyskyt 5ay) It #as near enough to ,adradun 6ouse that his 'rigade #ould immediately send for him #hen the fire started, 'ut not so near that it might dra# suspicion on him)
6ollyskyt 5ay #as nearly deserted) The families #ho ran its e-clusi$e shops #eren(t deemed good enough to li$e on 1lakut! their 'usinesses #ere closed for 5atersday) There #as a houseguest the confectioner didn(t kno# a'out, a 'eggar #ho crept into the cellar to sleep) "ut she came #ell after dark, #hen there #as no chance she #ould 'e seen)
"en had seen her, of course) 6e(d #atched the place for t#o months 'efore making his decision) o# he used her tight.fitting entrance to the shop, feeling his ser$ant(s gar' catch and pull on its edges) 6e #ould lose 'its of thread that a magistrates( mage might use to trace the #earer, 'ut that #as no pro'lem) 6e #ould lea$e his outer clothes and anything he(d carried 'ehind to 'urn! mages couldn(t use tracking spells on items cleansed 'y fire) "en smiled as he dropped to the cellar floor, en$isioning those mages like frustrated 'loodhounds, looking for a trail that only dou'led 'ack on itself)
6e lit the lantern and #ent upstairs, #here he set his de$ice in the pantry and lit the fuse) 6e propped the door open to feed his 'la/e air, and set empty sacks and &ars of oli$e oil near'y to ser$e as fuel #hen the de$ice set the room on fire) 6e left his 'asket there as #ell)
Outside the shop, he remo$ed his coat, scar$es, and 'oots and thrust them into the cellar, making sure his other clothes didn(t catch on the edges of the opening) ,ast of all he 'le# ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html out his lantern and thre# that into the cellar) This area #as directly under the pantry! the cloth #ould 'e ash, the lantern molten tin 'y the time the magistrate(s mages arri$ed)
Then he hurried home to 'e his mother(s 'ro#'eaten son until his summons arri$ed) 5hile she fed him her endless scolds and insults, he imagined the shop as it started to 'urn) Imagination got him through supper and her usual 5atersday speech, that it #as his fault, his inattention, his stupidity that had gotten her grandchildren killed) 6e endured it) *ome days he #ondered if she #as right) Tonight he did not! his thoughts #ere on his test) Once she finished, she ordered him to 'ed, so he #ouldn(t #aste candles) "en o'eyed) 6e al#ays did)
The truth #as, +orrachane #as an incon$enient con$enience) In return for ser$ice as her $er'al #hipping 'oy.he(d put a stop to her real #hippings a month 'efore he married.she ga$e him a place to stay) If he li$ed alone, there #ould 'e a house to manage and ser$ants to o$ersee, endless 'oring details that took precious time from his reason to li$e) 6e ga$e his mother his #ork at the 'usiness and someone to 'lame7 she sa# to his daily needs) 1nd one day he #ould repay her for e$ery time she made him #onder if indeed it #as his fault that his #ife and children #ere dead)
:oing to 'ed posed certain pro'lems) 6e(d planned to 'e reading in his nightshirt #hen they came, until he reali/ed he had no urge to free/e as he fought a 'la/e in night.clothes) 6e set out his things as if he prepared them to #ear the ne-t day) 6e could stuff them on o$er his nightshirt, perhaps lea$e the end of the shirt trailing outside his 'reeches) That decided, he got into his 'ed and opened a 'ook, :odsforge(s Types of "urn and "urn 6ealing) It #as nearly impossi'le to read) *oon they #ould come) *oon, soon) ) )
"ut the clock kept striking) o one came) 6e didn(t dare go to the garret #indo# that #ould gi$e him a $ie# of 1lakut) If they came #hile he #as there, it #ould 'e hard to e-plain #hy he #atched a fire instead of racing to it)
*o "en #aited through a sleepless night) *ome of his 1lakut 'rigade arri$ed in the morning, long after it #as o$er)
05e thought #e could handle it,0 #hined the head footman from ,u'o/ny 6ouse) 05e($e ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html trained for #eeks.0
0Three,0 "en interrupted coldly) 05hen you 'othered to come) <ou didn(t kno# enough to put out a 'rush fire in a park, let alone a shop) 01nyone hurt20
01 #oman #ho slept in the cellar.she #as fried 'lack) 1nd t#o of us,0 said an undercook from the :emcutters( :uildhall) The cook #as a 'ig #oman, one of the fe# #ho came to e$ery training session) 0The healers said they 'reathed smoke) 5e got them at the 1lakut Infirmary) ) ) )0
"en yanked on his coat) 0*moke4 5ere you #earing masks2 5hen I told you smoke is as deadly as fire20 *ome glared at him as if it #ere his fault that they hadn(t remem'ered a'out smoke)
"en flung open his door and strode out into the glare of the morning sun on sno#) 1t least his so.called firefighters had 'rought a large sleigh) They tum'led into it after him and raced to the infirmary, arri$ing in time for "en to hold one smoke.stricken man(s hands as he died) 1s his last 'reath escaped the man(s lips, "en felt a &oy so intense that it made him #eep) The healers, e$en the fire 'rigade, looked properly so'er and admiring) They think it(s grief, "en thought, trem'ling as he fought laughter)
5hat he(d felt &ust no# #as almost too intense to 'ear) 6e(d made the rules) 6e(d told them, they hadn(t listened, and t#o people had paid the price, this fello# and the 'eggar #oman) The fire had killed them for him) 6e had turned it loose as mages commanded the #inds to rescue 'ecalmed ships, and the fire had gi$en him its greatest gift.the po#er o$er human life)
The destruction of #ood and glass and porcelain #as nothing to this, "en thought) ,ook at them, after their complaints o$er the drills and schedule) ,et one die.let one of them struggle to 'reathe until the struggle #as too much.and suddenly "en had their attention) 6ere #as #hy Kugisko had treated him callously) The stakes #eren(t high enough)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html :ently he freed himself from the man(s grip) 0I(ll look at my other firefighter,0 he informed the healers) 01nd then that 'eggar) 5hat #as she doing there2 1nd then I need to see 1lakut council) One of you tell them I #ill meet them in the council hall, 'y midday)0
6ealers and 'rigade trainees alike, they scram'led to do as he ordered) It #as ama/ing, the #ay dead people changed things)
The &oy #as less po#erful #ith the second firefighter! the healers said he #ould li$e, though his lungs #ould ne$er 'e the same) The 'eggar #oman, though ) ) ) again he felt that o$erpo#ering thrill) 6e had done this."ennat ,adradun, his mother(s scapegoat, ignored 'y the coin counters of the island councils) They #ould heed him no#, #ouldn(t they2
6e rested a hand on the dead 'eggar(s charcoaled ankle, kno#ing the picture he made, solemn.faced, eyes 'right #ith tears) The firefighters #atched him #ith a#e as they fought to keep from $omiting at the dreadful smell of 'urned flesh)
6e dre# his hand a#ay, pretending not to notice the 'lack flakes that clung to his palm) 0*uch a price to pay,0 he murmured shaking his head) 0+ay'e #e could not ha$e sa$ed this poor creature, 'ut #e might ha$e sa$ed our o#n people)0
They stood 'ack to let him pass, like a no'le, like a king) It #as the 'est morning of his life)
"y the third hour of the afternoon, his #orld #as 'leak again) The 1lakut council had argued, e-pressed regret, and refused him more funds to train a second 'rigade, though he e-plained that one #as not enough for the #hole island) 6is 'rigade, they said, had done poorly at this first challenge) They had to #ait and see) They #ould insist that those #ho #ere supposed to learn the skills attended training more often)
"en managed to contain his rage until he reached the #arehouse) There, #hen no one could see or hear, he slammed his hands against the #alls) Only fire respected him) The ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 1lakut council, it seemed, re8uired a special lesson) 6e feared that it #ould 'e a frightful one, 'ut they had to learn that fire e-acted a frightful price)
Chapter 10
*unsday night %a&a and Frostpine stood on a 'road gallery from #hich t#o staircases led to the meeting hall of the +ages( *ociety of Kugisko) They held glasses of mulled cider as they #atched the acti$ity 'elo#) Kugisko(s mages, dressed in assorted finery, gathered in clusters and 'roke apart, greeting colleagues) %a&a, too, #ore her 'est, a Trader.style knee. length coat and leggings in gold.'ro#n damask trimmed #ith 'lack 'raid) o one put on elegant leather slippers #hen they had to #alk to and from sleighs as sno# fell, so %a&a #ore polished Kugiskan 'oots #ith gold spirals stamped around the rim) Frostpine, as al#ays, #ore his Fire.red ha'it o$er his layers of non.Temple clothes, 'ut no one could ignore Frostpine, e$en in this gaudy cro#d) ,ight glittered from gems and crystals or shimmered o$er $el$ets and 'rocade) +ages #ho #ere not priests or religious dedicates, %a&a had found, tended to peacock in dress and ornaments)
+asters #ere accompanied 'y those students they deemed #orthy) The students, their clothes good 'ut plain, struggled to hide a#e) 1lready %a&a had seen Camoc, 1rnen, and t#o more young mages she recogni/ed from Camoc(s shop, as #ell as the carpentry. and cooking.mages she had met)
0I don(t see Olennika Potcracker,0 %a&a remarked to Frostpine) 0I #anted you to meet her)0
0Potcracker once told me she cooks for parties.she doesn(t go to them,0 a harsh female $oice said 'ehind them) 0*he(s also referred pu'licly to some of our richer mem'ers as parasites) I dou't they(d #elcome her)0
%a&a and Frostpine turned to face the speaker) *he #as in her early fifties, t#o inches shorter than %a&a, #ith pale, #eathered skin and cro#s( feet #rinkles around small, dark eyes) 6er no.nonsense lips #ere thin and #ind.chapped, her nose a sharp angle thrust straight do#n from her forehead) ,ike many older nati$e Kugiskan #omen she had dyed ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html her hair 'londe so many times that it looked like stra#) In contrast to her plain looks, she #ore a 'lack silk undergo#n and a slee$eless maroon $el$et o$ergo#n, 'oth decorated #ith gold em'roideries) The 'uttons do#n the front of the o$ergo#n #ere small gold nuggets) *he #ore a sheer 'lack $eil and a round maroon $el$et cap o$er the ragged t#ists of her hair)
*he continued, 0I personally think Potcracker is o$ergenerous) 1fter all, there are creatures that feed on real parasites, so the real ones do some good) Our #ealthier mem'ers feed no one 'ut themsel$es)0
0I 'less *hurri and 6akkoi for keeping my nature sunny, unlike yours,0 Frostpine told the #oman, naming the fire gods to #hom he had dedicated his life) To %a&a he said, 01nyone connected #ith magistrates sees too much of the 'ad side of things)0
0<ou can hide from it in your pretty temples,0 the #oman said) *he measured %a&a #ith thoughtful eyes) 05e don(t)0
0That(s #hy I prefer the pretty temples,0 retorted Frostpine) 0@iymese 6eluda *alt, this is my student and friend, @iymese %a&a Kisu'o) 6eluda(s the mage I($e 'een #orking #ith lately)0
0I(m honored, @iymese *alt,0 %a&a told the older #oman politely) 0I hope the in$estigation goes #ell)0
05e(re close,0 said Frostpine)
0%on(t say that until #e ha$e the nali/ in irons,0 6eluda ad$ised him) *he offered %a&a a hand glo$ed in 'lack lace) 1 smile softened her firm mouth, though her eyes remained #ary) %a&a had a feeling that 6eluda *alt remained #atchful e$en in her sleep) 0I hear many good things a'out you,0 she told %a&a)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0Then you can(t ha$e 'een talking to him,0 %a&a said, gi$ing the older #oman(s hand a s8uee/e and letting go) 06e only e$er gi$es me a hard time)0
0"ut it(s for your o#n good,0 Frostpine said, inspecting the room 'elo# again) 0I force myself, so you #ill 'e strong)0
6eluda &erked her head at Frostpine) 05as he al#ays impossi'le, or has the cold he moans a'out so often done this to him20
%a&a shrugged! she too could 'e as #ary as a magistrate(s mage) 0I #ouldn(t kno#) 6e likes to keep me confused)0
In the air 'elo#, fi$e golden s#irls rose, coming together in a #hirl#ind 'eneath the huge chandelier) They sparkled as they #hirled and spread, until they formed a soaring palace in midair) The #atchers applauded) *lo#ly the illusion faded until only a handful of specks glittered in the air) These $anished, one 'y one) The last shimmered, faded, then 'la/ed into flaming orange glory as a sun) Then it too #inked out)
0It(s a *ociety tradition,0 6eluda e-plained to the t#o southerners) 0The illusionists compete all #inter, and the *ociety $otes a #inner at the last meeting, in the spring) 1 #aste of magic, 'ut no'ody listens to me)0
0If you earned your li$ing making old men look young and fat #omen look thin, I should think &ust doing something pretty #ould 'e a relief,0 Frostpine commented) 0,et them ha$e their fun)0
For a time they #atched the cro#d, 6eluda naming some of Kugisko(s mages and #hat they did) %a&a leaned on the stone rail, listening to her and to 'its of con$ersation that rose from people 'elo#)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0.and I said, #hy not gi$e up doing lo$e potions2 If you ha$e to keep mo$ing so &ealous hus'ands and lo$ers #on(t catch you.0
0.undersold me 'y fi$e gold argi's) Fi$e4 I told him, do that again, and I(ll go to the Fair Practices Council.0
1 handful of mage.students descended on the ta'les #here food #as laid out) *ome looked like this #as their first solid meal of the #eek) %a&a #as grateful that Frostpine #as a great 'elie$er in the theory that #ell.fed students #orked harder) +any teachers #eren(t)
0.no# that he(s got a no'le protector, he can afford pearls instead of moonstones for his money.dra#ing spells)0
06is protector(s #ife isn(t complaining either, not #hen her hus'and(s out making money until all hours40
The t#o #ho discussed that topic laughed in a kno#ing #ay) %a&a hated them) 5as this #hat the meditation, #ork, and study #ere for, to make rich men richer and supply material for smutty &okes2
0I did all I could)0 That $oice #as tearful, female, coming from the stair to %a&a(s left) 0I tried to call rain to put it out, 'ut I couldn(t fight the sno#) It.it fro/e) It coated e$erything like glass)0 The speaker sniffled) 1 male $oice murmured something) 0I told them the dangers, that I couldn(t #arm it enough to rain, 'ut they ordered me to do it) ;ust trying half.killed me) +y head still hurts) +y landlord #ants me out 'ecause the district(s angry at me) 1 man in the cro#d 'roke his leg on the ice)0 The #oman(s $oice 8ua$ered) 01nd this 'eggar #oman, #ho al#ays 'lessed me #hen I ga$e her a copper2 *he #as sleeping there after the shopkeeper left, and.and.:riantein shri$e me, she 'urned) They 'rought her out) ) ) 0The #oman 'egan to so')
%a&a s#allo#ed hard) 1 fire) They #ere talking a'out another fire) *he #anted to ask, 'ut ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html it #ould take more courage than she had to face the #eeping mage) 1 hand glo$ed in 'lack lace rested on her arm) 01 confectioners( shop on 6ollyskyt 5ay, last night) 1lakut Island,0 6eluda clarified, #hen %a&a fro#ned, not kno#ing the street name) 0;ust on the other side of Po/kit "ridge) ,ucky for the confectioner that he #asn(t good enough to li$e on 1lakut, &ust to sell his s#eets there)0
%a&a fro#ned) If she remem'ered correctly, that #as near ,adradun 6ouse)
0It could ha$e 'een #orse, then,0 Frostpine said) 6e appeared to 'e a'sor'ed 'y the $ie#, 'ut it #as like him to ha$e heard e$erything)
05as "en ,adradun there20 %a&a asked, trying not to seem #orried) Frostpine glanced at her #ith a 'rief fro#n, then returned to his sur$ey of the assem'led mages)
0 o, or things might ha$e gone 'etter,0 replied 6eluda) 0T#o of the firefighters 'reathed in smoke) One #on(t e$er ha$e healthy lungs again) The other died this morning) 1nd it #as stupidly done, stupidly) They didn(t e$en think to send for ,adradun, #here he li$es may'e ten minutes( run a#ay, on the other side of Po/kit "ridge) 6e only started training them three #eeks ago) They should ha$e kno#n they couldn(t manage yet) 6e #ould ha$e reminded them of the danger from smoke, at least)0
%a&a(s cider #as cold, 'ut it #asn(t the cider that made her sad) "en #ouldn(t 'lame the no$ice firefighters.he #ould 'lame himself for not 'eing there) There #as no con$incing someone like him that he couldn(t fi- e$erything) It #ould 'e #orse 'ecause the fire had 'een near'y)
0 o one can 'e e$ery#here all of the time,0 Frostpine said 8uietly, as if he kne# #hat she thought) 06e(s a gro#n man7 he(ll reali/e that)0
0<es, 'ut he takes fires so personally,0 %a&a pointed out) 06e(s got this idea in his head) ) ) 0
6eluda cleared her throat) 0I #as talking to the 1lakut magistrate(s mages 'efore I got here) They 'elie$e this fire may ha$e 'een set) They(re going to #ork their in$estigation spells as soon as the site cools.tomorro#, pro'a'ly)0
:oose'umps rippled along %a&a(s flesh) 0"en and I think the *hopgirl %istrict 'oardinghouse fire #as set too, she said) 0+ay'e they(re connected)0
6eluda raised her 'ro#s) 0The *hopgirl fire #as set) This is the first I($e heard of it)0
0"ut "en reported it,0 %a&a said) 0Or I thought he did)0 *he couldn(t remem'er his e-act #ords) 6ad he said he(d done it, or that he #ould do it2
0Then chances are the report(s 'uried on my desk,0 6eluda replied #ith a shrug) 0I get copies of reports from all the city districts to re$ie#.it(s hard to keep up, particularly #ith a ma&or in$estigation of my o#n under#ay)0 *he turned a large, &e#eled ring on her finger) 06a$e you or 3a$$ot ,adradun any ideas on #ho set that fire20
%a&a shook her head) 0I don(t kno# #hy someone #ould do such a thing in a city that(s mostly #ood)0
0Oh, there are do/ens of reasons to set fires,0 6eluda said) 0The #orst #e had, a man #ho(d 8uarreled #ith his #oman 'locked the e-its to the 5ea$er(s :uildhall and set it on fire) T#o hundred and forty people died so he could tell a &ourneyman #ea$er he #as angry) I(ll send #ord to the ,ord +agistrate(s office to ha$e someone look at the *hopgirl site as #ell as the confectioner(s shop) 1n e-perienced magistrate(s mage #ill 'e a'le to tell if they #ere set)0
%a&a raised her eye'ro#s, #ondering if 6eluda didn(t 'elie$e her)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0;ust as #ell to put your o#n people on it,0 Frostpine commented) 0<our mages see the #hole city, not &ust indi$idual islands) They(ll kno# if there ha$e 'een suspicious fires else#here in Kugisko)0
06ey4 Frostpine40 called a tall man 'elo#) O$er his gray $el$et tunic he #ore the sapphire. studded chain of the head of the +ages( *ociety) 0*top monopoli/ing all the 'eautiful #omen) "ring them do#n so #e get a chance40
Frostpine grinned) 6e led %a&a and 6eluda do#n the stairs opposite to those #here the #oman had 'een crying)
0The thing a'out +aster orthice20 6eluda murmured in %a&a(s ear as they descended) 06e honestly 'elie$es that #e(re 'eautiful) That(s #hy he gets reelected to head the society e$ery year) 6e sees the 'eautiful e$ery#here)0 *he smiled ruefully) 0I #ish I still could)0
In addition to the *ociety head, Camoc Oak'orn met them on the ground floor) 6e kissed the magistrate(s mage on the cheek) 06eldy, you look grand,0 he told her, eyes t#inkling)
*he actually smiled up at him7 %a&a had 'egun to #onder if 6eluda could smile) 01s you are handsome,0 she told Camoc) 0%o you kno#.0
*he(d turned to %a&a, 'ut Camoc #as already offering %a&a his hand) 0I($e met @iymese %a&a,0 he told 6eluda) 6e looked at Frostpine and raised his 'ro#s)
%a&a performed the introductions) 0This is my teacher, %edicate Initiate Frostpine of 5inding Circle temple,0 she said formally) 0Frostpine, this is @iymese Camoc Oak'orn, ia(s teacher)0
Frostpine took Camoc(s hand 'riefly) 0Of course) I(m glad to meet you)0 ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
0It(s good to ha$e you here, %edicate Frostpine,0 Camoc said) 0<ou honor Kugisko #ith your $isit)0
0It(s 'een interesting,0 Frostpine said casually) 0I #anted %a&a to get some e-perience of other smiths(.and other mages(.#ays of doing things, if only so she can see mine is 'est)0
Camoc actually laughed at that) 9$en 6eluda smiled) 06a$e you met %edicate Initiate Crane there at 5inding Circle20 asked Camoc) 05e #ent to ,ights'ridge together)0
,istening to the men talk of Crane and other mages they kne# as 6eluda added her o#n comments, %a&a thought that she could almost like Camoc this #ay) If only she felt 'etter a'out ho# he dealt #ith ia)
*he looked until she sa# Camoc(s student 1rnen at the supper ta'les, in a group of other student mages) They #ere eating and talking) %a&a #alked o$er to them, taking a couple of anise horn cookies as she #aited for 1rnen to notice her)
Finally someone told 1rnen, 0<ou ha$e a shado#,0 and snickered)
%a&a looked at the speaker.a young man #ith the pale skin and fair hair of a #estern amornese) 5as his remark an insult2
1rnen turned and sa# her) 0@iymese %a&a, good e$ening,0 he said)
0If you ha$e a moment, I #as &ust #ondering ho# ia(s lessons go,0 %a&a replied) 0*he says the #orkshop(s $ery 'usy)0 ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
1rnen nodded, his gold earring #inking in the candlelight) 05e get frantic days, particularly as ,ongnight approaches,0 he said) 0"ut she(s no trou'le, if that(s #hat you mean)0
That didn(t sound like anything %a&a #anted to hear) 06o# is she at her studies20 she asked) 0,earning runes, oils that #ork 'est #ith #ood, and so on)0
0 e-t she(ll tell you ho# to set a peg in a floor, 1rnen,0 remarked the pale young man) 0Or ho# to smooth a chair leg) ,ittle girl,0 he said to %a&a, 0#hate$er tricks you learned do#n south, you are interrupting adults here) <ou speak #hen you(re spoken to)0
%a&a #rapped her right hand around her left) The 'rass under her palm heated along #ith her temper) *he disliked 'eing sneered at 'y a &umped.up ka8 #ith a maggot(s comple-ion) *ince she refused to lose her temper #ith an idiot, %a&a instead remarked) 0The 'asics of mage.teaching are the same #hate$er one(s discipline)0
0*hut up, 9o'an,0 said a young #oman in the group) 0%idn(t your mother teach you guest. manners20
0*he(s not my guest, is she20 demanded the fair.haired 9o'an) 0*he(s &ust another southerner, come to take the 'read from #orking mages( mouths)0
%a&a sighed) 0+ight I speak to you a#ay from the #atchman(s clapper20 she asked 1rnen) 1 clapper #as t#o flat pieces of #ood on a cord, a noisemaker) 0I can(t hear o$er its racket)0
9o'an pushed her lightly on the chest, forcing her 'ack a step) 0"ack to your stra# hut, #ench,0 he snapped)
%a&a looked at him as she thought for a moment, fiddling #ith a 'raid) 1ll three of her foster.si'lings argued inside her head.not truly, 'ut they(d had so many discussions like this that she kne# #hat they #ould say) "riar #ould punch 9o'an or #rap him in $ines) *andry #ould treat 9o'an to no'le(s scorn for a commoner #ho(d touched her friend) Tris #ould go so #hite.hot #ith fury that she #ould literally ha$e to find cold #ater to stand in, so she could nurse a rage headache as #ater seethed and 'oiled around her)
%a&a simply reached into her tunic &acket and dre# out her medallion) *he held it up so 9o'an #ould clearly see that she #ore the insignia of an accredited mage)
1s a student, he possessed no such insignia)
0I ha$e things to do &ust no#,0 she said 8uietly, 0or I #ould teach you manners) "ut I(m 'usy) <ou(ll ha$e to #ait) Touch me again, I #on(t make you #ait long)0 5hen she sa# him gulp, she turned her 'ack on him and looked at 1rnen) 05e #ere talking a'out ia)0
6is eyes flicked to her medallion) %a&a had sho#n it to Camoc, not to him, though she thought Camoc #ould ha$e mentioned it to him) 1rnen met %a&a(s eyes again) 05e started on 'asic tools today, fi-ing them and putting edges on the cutting ones,0 he told her) 0*he kno#s a lot for a girl of her 'ackground.she says the carpenters #ho #orked around "ancanor 6ouse e-plained things to her)0 6e smiled, a glint of #armth in his eyes) 0*he doesn(t complain as much as I did o$er tools) I mean to start her on 'asic runes ne-t #eek) *he #orks hard) *he really #ants to learn, and I can see she(s picking up the meditation skills she needs)0
%a&a folded her arms o$er her chest, inspecting 1rnen.really inspecting him.for the first time) There #as someone here she hadn(t seen #hen Camoc had introduced them) *he had noted the young man(s artistry, 'ut did not think a'out #hat kind of person he #as) *he(d 'elie$ed he #as like most top mage.students, al#ays running 'ehind the master, #ith no minds of their o#n) o# she #ondered if she had mis&udged those students too) 05ill you mind if I check on her no# and then20 she asked)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0+aster Camoc takes his midday at home and #orks on papers there for t#o or three hours,0 1rnen said) 0The shop(s at its 8uietest then)0
%a&a smiled) 6er opinion of 1rnen rose another notch) 6e(d reali/ed her misgi$ings #ere #ith Camoc) 0I(ll keep that in mind,0 she promised)
1n hour later, %a&a sa# that Frostpine #as struggling to hide ya#ns) *he sent a runner for the sleigh Kol and +ata/i had ordered them to take) Their dri$er #as in the kitchens, eating and drinking #ith other ser$ants #ho dro$e those mages #ho could afford them)
Together she and their dri$er 'undled Frostpine in fur thro#s and 'lankets, #ith hot 'ricks under his feet, 'efore the dri$er set the horses for#ard) Frostpine immediately disappeared under the rug) %a&a reached into the earth for #armth, as far as she could, 'ut orth Fortress Island #as at the *yth(s edge) Its icy #ater made a po#erful e-tra 'arrier to the heat under the islands) %a&a could punch through the #ater in the canals and e$en the ?patka 3i$er, 'ut here the *yth(s si/e and natural magic #as much stronger than she #as)
1t least the sno# had stopped for the moment) Three fresh inches lay on the road that led across orth Fortress Island) It hissed under the runners and muffled the horses( hoo$es)
%a&a #orked a hand through Frostpine(s cocoon until she found his arm) Through their magic she said, I don(t see #hy they 'uilt the +age *ociety 6all all the #ay at the #estern tip of orth Fortress)
Kugiskan mages #ere infamous for e-periments once, Frostpine replied) The idea #as to get them as far from the city as possi'le #ithout actually thro#ing them out)
+ay'e these northerners are smarter than I thought, %a&a said) *he could feel his 'ody shake #ith laughter through his cocoon)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html The #ind picked up sharply as the sleigh raced across *choolman "ridge onto Odaga Island) +ost of the artisans and ser$ant families #ho ser$ed the #ealthy of Kadasep and 1lakut Islands li$ed here) Their #ooden houses #ere dark, shuttered against the sno# and the #ind off the *yth) Only the 'rass.'acked lanterns on +age 3oad #ere lit) o one stayed up late on Odaga, not #hen they rose at ser$ants( da#n, the cold gray hour 'efore sunrise)
%a&a sa# pinpricks of light on Kadasep Island, across an intersection of canals from Odaga) +ore #inked along the rocky cliff that #as the north point of 1lakut Island) 1 'igger light 'loomed ne-t to them, one that gre# e$en 'righter as the sleigh approached "olle "ridge)
%a&a yanked at Frostpine(s #rappings) 6is head shot up out of his cocoon like an irate turtle from its shell) 0:irl, #hat are you doing to me2 5e aren(t there yet) ) ) )0
6is eyes follo#ed %a&a(s pointing finger to the fire on 1lakut Island) It 'la/ed from a house at the peak of the cliff)
Frostpine lunged for#ard and tapped their dri$er(s shoulder) 0,ook40
The man turned his eyes from his horses to 1lakut) 0*ythuthan40 he cursed) 0That(s Olaksan ;ossaryk(s house40
%a&a and Frostpine gauged the fire) either of them spoke for a moment) Then Frostpine told the dri$er, 0<ou(d 'etter take us there) 5e might 'e a'le to help)0
The man glanced 'ack, as if he had a mind to argue) If he did, he changed it, and turned the horses not do#n the road to Po/kit "ridge, 'ut onto a steeper one that clim'ed the heights of 1lakut) %a&a stared at the 'la/e as they approached it, a strange, idiot thought repeating itself o$er and o$er! real or set2 real or set2 as if a fire deli'erately started #ere any less deadly than those #ith natural causes)
Frostpine scram'led free of his 'lankets7 %a&a gra''ed his #rist and threaded #armth through his $eins until they #ere three houses do#nhill of the 'la/e) There the dri$er halted the sleigh)
0This is as close as I can get,0 he said, apologetic) Other sleighs 'locked the street7 a cro#d had formed ahead) 0I ha$e to stay #ith the horses,0 he added, e$en more apologetic)
0<ou should go 'ack.0 Frostpine 'egan as he clam'ered out of the sleigh)
0The master and the mistress #ould kill me,0 the dri$er said, his $oice flat) 0Take some of them lap ro'es) They(ll 'e needed)0
Frostpine and %a&a each gra''ed an armful of 8uilts and fur rugs, then headed up the street) People stood in the road #atching, coats thro#n on o$er nightclothes, 'elongings thrust into pillo# slips, sheets turned into 'undles) *er$ants ranged around the houses on either side of the ;ossaryk home and on the opposite side of the street, #atching for deadly, floating em'ers ushered along 'y the 'itter #ind) Others formed rough lines to sand piles in kitchen courtyards, passing full 'uckets to those #ho fought the 'la/e) *and #as safer! it didn(t free/e to slippery ice) People helped others.#rapped in sheets or 'lankets, so''ing, soot.marked.through the tangle of sleighs and ga#kers into houses farther do#n the road)
Onlookers mo$ed a#ay from Frostpine(s scarlet ha'it, hardly noticing %a&a in his #ake) Once the pair entered the main courtyard of the spra#ling ;ossaryk 6ouse.it #as nearly a palace.they stopped, panting, and measured #hat they sa#)
The parts of the house that #rapped around the outer edges of the courtyard #ere one. story e-tensions) They led to t#o.story sections that attached to the three.story main house) These e-tensions #ould include ser$ants( 8uarters, storerooms, coops, sta'les, dairy, and all the other #orkaday parts that supported the elegant 'uilding) They #ere not yet on fire) "ehind those additions the ornately car$ed and painted main house #as half in flames) The hard #ind off the *yth struck the rock cliff on #hich it sat and raced up#ard, picking up speed and strength until it 'lasted o$er the cliff(s edge against the face of the house) The ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html fire that 'urned along the roof(s peak stretched to#ard courtyard and street, thrust almost hori/ontal 'y the #ind) There #ould 'e no sa$ing the house, only the people)
Firefighters stood on the #all around the place #ith 'uckets, ready to shout an alarm if they sa# clumps of fire 'lo#n to#ard other homes) +en and #omen hidden under sodden 'lankets streamed in and out of the e-tensions, returning #ith those #ho #ere still inside)
0:et the ga#kers out of here40 %a&a heard a clear $oice order o$er the roar of #ind and fire) 0Take the $ictims inside.they(ll free/e in this #ind) Tell the neigh'ors to open their homes.if they 'alk, come to me40
"en stood in the courtyard in the gap 'et#een the e-tensions) The #ind #hipped the curls that escaped his fur hat7 his coat #as half.'uttoned7 one pant.leg hung outside his 'oot) 6e directed those #ho left the 'uildings #ith people in their arms) For a moment %a&a #ondered ho# he(d kno#n to come, 'efore she reali/ed he pro'a'ly sa# the fire from his house)
Frostpine and %a&a #ent to "en) 05here can #e help20 asked Frostpine) 0Tell us #hat(s left to 'e done)0
"en looked them o$er) For a moment %a&a thought he #as angry, or perhaps &ust $e-ed) *he #ondered #hy, trying to put herself in his shoes) 6e must 'e thinking a'out ho# to put the most people to the 'est use) Frostpine and %a&a #ere &ust t#o more elements to #orry a'out)
0%o you fire#alk like her20 "en demanded)
Frostpine nodded)
0There(s a ser$ants( dormitory on the second floor of this e-tension,0 "en raised his $oice ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html o$er the roar of the flames, 0near the main 'ody of the house)0 6e pointed to the upper story of the longest e-tension, the one to %a&a(s left) 05e(re still trying to get them out, 'ut people are afraid to get too close)0
0Can(t 'lame them for that,0 Frostpine shouted) The #ind tossed his hair and 'eard #ildly, turning him into some dark, mysterious figure, more a #ind spirit than a man)
%a&a heard screams inside the roar of fire7 her 'elly clenched) People #ere dying) *he and Frostpine handed their dry thro#s and 8uilts to someone, then snatched up #ater.soaked 'lankets from a heap on the ground) "en ga$e them #et cloth masks from a 'ucket) Frostpine hesitated, then shrugged) 6e and %a&a suffered less from smoke than most, 'ut they #eren(t immune) 6e let "en tie the mask o$er his nose and mouth7 a #oman performed the same ser$ice for %a&a) Then Frostpine ran through the smoking door #ith his load of dripping 'lankets)
Chapter 11
"en looked at %a&a) 6e shouted, 0The nursery) 5e ha$en(t 'rought any children out)0 6e pointed to a second.story #indo# #here the other e-tension met the main house) 1 #oman in a #hite nightdress leaned o$er the ledge, a child in her arms) Their mouths #ere dark Os in their faces7 they #ere screaming) 1 handful of firefighters maneu$ered under the #indo# #ith an outstretched 'lanket, yelling for her to &ump) The #oman tossed the child do#n instead, then disappeared from the #indo#)
"en gra''ed a huge a-e and ran do#n the courtyard 'et#een the e-tensions, %a&a 'ehind him #ith her load of soaked #raps) 6e s#er$ed around the firefighters as they tipped the #ailing child off the 'lanket and approached a door on the ground floor near the nursery) First "en put his palm against it, making sure no fire #aited 'ehind the door to 'urn anyone #ho opened it) 6e then tried the latch! the door #as locked) *#inging the a-e, "en chopped until the door fell apart, releasing a 'illo# of smoke)
0Try to come 'ack ali$e40 he shouted o$er the roar of #ind and fire) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
%a&a grinned at him and ran into the 'uilding, stretching her senses out) 6er po#er #as of more use than her eyes7 she could see, 'arely, 'ut the smoke made her eyes stream #ith tears)
The fire #as still deep inside the main house, greedily de$ouring cheap pine and costly teak columns alike) *he heard metal scream as it lost the shapes it had held for years) *he had some time, 'ut not much, 'efore the 'la/e reached this e-tension)
To her right #as a stair! someone lay crumpled on it) %a&a hesitated, then dumped her 'lankets, gra''ed the $ictim.a 'oy.and dragged him to the open door, tossing him outside) "en #as still there! he gathered the 'oy up #ith a nod to %a&a) *he #ent 'ack inside #ith relief) "en had him) o# the 'oy had a chance to li$e)
*he raced to the stair, gra''ed her 'lankets, and clim'ed to the ne-t floor, #ondering ho# all this had started) ot in the kitchen, or the 'ack part of the house #ould 'urn first) ot in the e-tensions) In the front of the house, perhaps2 1 'ranch of candles knocked o$er, a hearth fire that popped 'urning em'ers onto a silk rug2 They might ne$er kno#)
Perhaps it #as set, #hispered a thought) %a&a shook her head) 5ho #ould 'e cruel enough to stage such a disaster2
*he heard screams as she lunged into a hall#ay from the stair) 3unning to#ard them, she searched for doors on either side of the smoky corridor) 6ere #as the source of the screams, a door on her left)
*he felt the press of the oncoming fire7 its po#er flooded her $eins) 1t the end of the hall she sa# #isps of smoke curl through a closed pair of dou'le doors that must lead to the rest of the house) 6o# long did she ha$e 'efore the doors 'le# off their hinges2
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html o time to think of that) %a&a checked the nursery door for heat as "en had, then thrust it open) 5omen in nursemaid clothes or nightdresses spun to face her, all 'ut one) *he stood at the #indo# across the room, gripping a child 'y the nightshirt #ith each hand) *he stopped, changed her hold to gra' one shrieking youngster 'y the #aist, and hoisted the capti$e to the open #indo#) 1 8uick sho$e and he #as falling out) The #oman sei/ed the ne-t child)
%a&a counted heads) There #ere more than a do/en people here, fi$e ser$ants, the rest children) *he thrust 'lankets at the three nearest #omen) 0Carry one pig.a'ack, ha$e the other #alk right 'ehind you40 she shouted, gra''ing a small child and lifting it onto one maid(s 'ack) The #oman stared) The child.a 'oy, %a&a thought.#rapped arms and legs around her) Taking an older child, %a&a thrust her against the maid(s legs and made her gra' the #oman(s nightdress) Then %a&a took the #et 'lanket she(d handed the maid and draped it o$er her and the children like a cloak, #rapping one of the #oman(s hands around the 'lanket(s edges so it #ouldn(t fall off) *he put another edge in the #oman(s free hand and tugged until the ser$ant held a #et fold o$er her o#n nose and mouth)
%a&a looked at the other #omen! they copied #hat she had done as %a&a helped) *eeing the children might slide off, she yanked sheets from the cots stre#n around the room and used them to tie each child to a #oman(s 'ack)
There #ere t#o more adults, 'ut she #as out of 'lankets) ,ooking around frantically, %a&a sa# #ater pitchers 'eside t#o 'eds) *he dumped them on se$eral co$ers, gi$ing one to a ser$ant #oman and #rapping t#o small 'oys in another)
0The 'a'ies40 cried the #oman at the #indo#) 0They sleep together and I can(t drop them40 *he pointed to a small side cham'er near her)
%a&a sho$ed the first #oman that she had #rapped in 'lankets at the door) 0:o40 she ordered, pointing) 0:et them out of here40
*he gra''ed a third pitcher of #ater, dumped it onto a tum'le of sheets, and carried the #et linens to the nursery door) *he could feel the 'la/e in the main house ad$ance) *he had to slo# it do#n) Free/ing for a moment, %a&a closed her eyes and thre# up the 'iggest ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html shield she had e$er created in her life, a solid 'arrier the #idth of the nursery, stretching from the ground floor to the roof o$erhead, to pre$ent the fire from going under or &umping o$er her floor) *he placed her shield ten yards into the main house and made it as hard as she could, kno#ing her real fight #ould come #hen the fire reached it)
The cool.headed ser$ant #as already in the 'a'ies( nursery, 'undling up three infants there) %a&a follo#ed her inside) 05hy so many children here2 *o many 'a'ies20 she shouted as she folded a sheet into a sling)
0T#o of us are nursing our o#n.#e($e permission to keep them #ith the 3a$$i(s ne#est,0 the #oman yelled o$er the roar of the 'urning house) *he #as streaked #ith soot! #orking in the open #indo#, she had 'een in the path of any smoke that entered the room and passed outside) *he coughed for a moment desperately, gasping for air as she clutched a small gilt figure of <orgiry that hung on a ri''on around her throat) 01nd 3a$$ikki ,isyl had her tenth name.day, #ith her friends to stay the night)0
?sing sheet slings, %a&a hung one 'a'y off each of the young #oman(s shoulders) The fire approached her 'arrier) Once it touched her defenses, %a&a(s #ar #ould 'egin) *he #ould ha$e to hold it in place or no one #ould get out ali$e) If it reached the nursery, the open #indo#s and the corridor leading to the door outside #ould act as chimneys, pulling fire and smoke do#n the only e-it)
*he draped the young #oman in #et sheets) 0Co$er your nose and mouth7 keep the 'a'ies co$ered,0 she ordered, picking up the last child) They #ent into the main nursery) The #omen %a&a had ordered to get out still #aited 'y the door, too frightened to mo$e)
There #as no time to #aste 'reath on curses) %a&a gripped her companion(s arm) 0<ou(re the only one #ith sense) ,ead them out of here.do#n the hall to the first stair, and outside) 6urry them) :o40
0"ut you.0 The #oman reached for %a&a) 0<ou must lead40
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html %a&a shook her head) 0I($e got to hold the fire) :et them mo$ing40
*he sho$ed the #oman to#ard the rest) The ser$ant hesitated, then ran to her fello#s, yelling) 5hen they 'alked she thrust them and the children around them through the open door, harrying them like an o$er#orked sheepdog)
%a&a slung the infant she carried on her 'ack, draped a final #et sheet o$er her as a cloak, then stood at the center of the main nursery as the others left) *he faced the #all 'et#een her and the main house, listening to her po#er) The topmost part of it #as #eak) There #asn(t enough to keep the third floor 'la/e from its hungry ad$ance) *he retracted her po#er there 'efore the fire ate it) 1 moment after she did so, she heard the third floor shutters o$erhead smash open under the fire(s pressure) o# the roof on that part of the 'uilding #ould 'urn) On the other side of the #all 'efore her the huge 'la/e pressed her 'arrier, leaning on her) *he felt her po#er forced 'ack, inch 'y inch, until the #all started to smoke) Tiny gray threads #orked through cracks in the plaster)
*he had kept 'ack some of her strength in case she needed it) That time #as no#) %a&a fell deep into her po#er and freed it of all 'oundaries) *he dragged her shield to her side of the #all and filled it #ith e$erything she had, on that floor and the ground floor) If she held the 'la/e on the other side of her 'arrier, the #omen and children had a chance to reach the outside door 'elo#)
*ome #ould die) The air #as $ery hot! #ater.soaked 'lankets and sheets #ould dry fast) 1s protection against suffocation they #ere half.measures at 'est) 1ll she could do #as pray to the "ookkeeper that their accounts #eren(t due) 6er task #as to pit her strength against that of a 'la/e that #as dining #ell on a #ooden house rich #ith paints and oils, #hipped to #hite heat 'y a hard #ind streaming off miles of icy lake) *he needed her friends for this7 she needed Tris, #ho could help her sho$e the fire into the icy canals and the cold #ater death of the *yth) *he needed *andry to #ea$e the 'la/e into a net that #ould imprison it) 1ll she had #as herself) It #ould ha$e to do)
The fire roared, a massi$e tide of heat and destruction) It #anted her to kno# it #as no tame forge fire)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 01nd you(re no forest fire,0 she informed it, her teeth chattering #ith fear) 0I handled one of those that #ould make you yelp like a puppy)0 *he did not admit that her friends had lent her their strength, that *andry managed one #o$en strip, and Frostpine another) This fire didn(t ha$e to kno# that)
Frostpine.#as he all right2 5as he putting his #ill against this thing in the ser$ants( dormitory2
6er 'arrier #a$ered! she couldn(t think a'out Frostpine) O, she thought grimly, leaning for#ard against the 'la/e(s force as she might lean into a high #ind) O)
It pressed) 6er skin felt taut, as if she #ere a cooking sausage a'out to pop) The fire stuck a finger through one gap in the #all, then another, #idening them) %a&a 'acked to#ard the door) *he #ould ha$e to gi$e the fire the nursery to keep it from 'reaking through in the hall and on the ground floor) *he couldn(t hold this room, not no#)
*he eased through the door, still fighting to hold the 'arrier upstairs and do#n) 6er magic #as 'urning to feed her shield, 'urning, and running out of fuel)
The 'arrier on the ground floor s#ayed) %a&a released the nursery 'arrier and slammed its po#er into the ground floor protections) The nursery #all splintered as uno'structed flames 'lasted through)
In the hall, 'ehind her last upstairs 'arrier, smoke poured around the edges of the dou'le doors that opened into the main house) Their hinges and latches glo#ed a dull cherry red) %a&a retreated from them, one hand on the #all) It #as hot) That #ould 'e the fire on the roof) *he refused to look up) If it 'roke through o$er her head, there #as nothing she could do)
*he found a door.chimney pouring smoke! the stair) *he 'acked into it, then reclaimed her last piece of magic on this story, freeing the 'la/e) The dou'le doors e-ploded off their hinges) 1 column of flame spat do#n the hall she(d &ust a'andoned) %a&a turned, 'linded 'y ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html smoke, descended three steps, and tripped o$er something soft) *he sei/ed the rail, dragging it loose from t#o sets of 'olts to stop her fall and sa$e the 8uiet child on her 'ack) 6er ground floor 'arrier #a$ered) :asping, %a&a clung to the rail until her fingers cramped, fighting the 'la/e(s surge against her po#er) *he thrust, scraping all she could from the #ellspring of her magic, that had once seemed so deep) *#eating, she &ammed hungry flames 'ack, past the limits she had set for them) Only then did she open her eyes, take a hand from the rail, and shake the #oman she had fallen o$er) It #as the 'ra$e maidser$ant, the t#o infants #riggling against her in their slings) 6er <orgiry figure gleamed against her sooty throat) *he coughed #ithout opening her eyes)
%a&a(s ears rang7 she trem'led from head to toe) 6er knees #o''led until she finally sat ne-t to the young #oman)
6er choices #ere 'ad) *he could mo$e, or she could hold her 'arrier) If she lost the 'arrier, there #ould 'e no place to mo$e to! the 'ig fire #ould roar up the stair#ell like a tidal #a$e) *he clung to her 'arrier, coughing) Perhaps this #as a dream) 1ll #ould 'e #ell if she had a proper, dreamless sleep)
*he might ha$e closed her eyes then and there, 'ut for the flames( defiance) They thrashed against her grip, fighting her) They #ere 'eing 'ad) This 'la/e had to remem'er she #as in control here, not it) Fire could not &ust run #here it liked, she kne# that much) 1nd so she gripped it #ith fading strength, #ith a smith(s iron #ill)
0;ust hold that 'arrier, s#eetheart,0 a familiar $oice croaked in her ear) 0I(ll do the rest) %on(t falter, or there(ll 'e roast mage on 1lakut tonight)0 One po#erful 'ro#n arm passed around %a&a(s #aist and raised her until she could stand) Frostpine leaned her against the #all) 0*tay,0 he commanded)
6e dragged the unconscious maid to her feet) Cursing as he found the 'a'ies in their slings, Frostpine mo$ed them until he could drape the #oman and her 'urden o$er one shoulder) 6e slipped his free arm around %a&a(s #aist) *he kne# enough to sling her arm o$er his shoulders, gripping the maid(s clothes #ith that hand)
06ang on,0 Frostpine ordered) %a&a heard and o'eyed, though nearly all of her attention ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #as no# in her 'attle #ith the fire) It #as $ery hungry) It sensed #ood and flesh 'eyond her 'arrier and demanded them in a $oice that thundered in her skull) *he 'arely noticed as Frostpine half.dragged her do#n the rest of the stair, along a smoke.filled hall and outside) They stum'led into the cold) Instantly 'oth mages 'egan to hack smoke from their lungs as the stuff they #ere supposed to 'reathe fought its #ay into soot.filled chests)
Coughing 'roke %a&a(s hold on the fire) Frostpine kne# the moment it ripped free) 0+o$e40 he shouted hoarsely as others ran in to gra' the maid and the infants) 0+o$e, mo$e, mo$e40 6is grip on %a&a still firm, he slammed into the others from 'ehind, knocking them out of the direct path to the open door)
1 column of fire, 'lasting #ith pent.up strength, roared through the opening and out o$er the sno#) If Frostpine hadn(t knocked e$eryone to the side, they #ould 'e dead)
"en and others ran in to help, taking e$eryone 'ack to the gate) There they turned) The e-tensions to the house #ere 'urning) *moke rolled from 'eneath shuttered #indo#s) 1 moment later the shutters 'le# off7 gouts of fire reached for the open sky)
Frostpine and %a&a sat hea$ily on cold and slushy ground) "en lifted the 'a'y(s sling from %a&a(s 'ack) 5ith its #eight remo$ed, she could lie do#n) The cold, #et stuff under her felt #onderful on her hot skin) 1ll of her hot skin) *he opened a smoke.teared eye and looked do#n) *he could see 'ro#n arms, a 'ro#n side, 'ro#n legs) *he giggled) *andry had ne$er e-pected that %a&a might #ear her 'est clothes into a fire, so she hadn(t protected them)
%a&a glanced at Frostpine) 6e sat, knees dra#n up, resting his head on them) ,ike her he #as naked, his clothes 'urned off)
0Frostpine20 she #hispered, her $oice cracking)
For ans#er he let the arm nearest her fall, until his hand lay o$er one of hers) %on(t you e$er scare me like that again, he told her through their magic) 9specially not for cra/y people #ho 'uild fancy houses all of #ood) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
*he kne# #hat he meant, 'ut that #asn(t #hat she needed to say) I #ant to go home, she told him) 6er eyes hurt7 she #anted to cry, 'ut she #as so dried out she couldn(t produce tears) To *ummersea) To our family)
On the first cara$an out of here in the spring, he promised)
*he slept, or passed out, and #oke in her 'ed in "ancanor 6ouse) It #as dark7 a pair of lamps 'urned at a ta'le near the 'ed #here +ata/i and ia sat) +ata/i #orked on a tapestry frame as ia read softly to her mother)
0Cedar is for the protection of the home,0 the girl said, 0to #ard against lightning or the entry of e$il from #ithout) It.0
0"a'ies20 %a&a croaked, and coughed) +ata/i came to help her to sit) ;ory, #ho %a&a hadn(t seen on a stool 'eside the fire, poured something into a clay cup and 'rought it o$er) ia stood at the foot of the 'ed, #ide.eyed)
%a&a sipped from ;ory(s cup) Onion and garlic e-ploded in her mouth and %a&a 'egan to cough in earnest, hacking and fighting for 'reath) 1 clump of some dreadful mess 'le# from her chest into her mouth)
+ata/i put a 'o#l under %a&a(s chin) 0*pit,0 she ordered)
%a&a spat) Three mouthfuls later, she could 'reathe #ithout pain) 0<our first spell20 she asked ;ory)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html The girl nodded) 0Olennika told me to make her a copy, after I used it on Frostpine,0 she said) 0Only it(s not all mine) It #as in a family 'ook of cures that 1unt +orrachane ga$e me) I ha$e to tell her ho# good it #orks)0
%a&a nodded) 0Thanks, I think,0 she told ;ory, onion and garlic still 'urning her tongue and throat) To +ata/i she said, 0The 'a'ies2 The maid Frostpine 'rought out #ith) ) ) 20 6er $oice trailed off as she read the ans#er in the #oman(s dark eyes)
+ata/i sat 'eside %a&a in a drift of &asmine scent) 0They sa$ed the 'a'ies the girl carried,0 she told %a&a gently) 0"ut she died in the courtyard)0
01nd the 'a'y I had20 %a&a #hispered) *he felt tears rise7 her mouth trem'led) *he #ouldn(t cry in front of them, she refused to cry)
+ata/i shook her head)
0It #ould($e li$ed if I sent it #ith someone else,0 %a&a #hispered) Tears o$erflo#ed for all her refusal to shed them) 0I had to stay, to.to hold.0 *he couldn(t 'ear it) Couldn(t 'ear the thought of that 'a'y suffocating on her 'ack, couldn(t 'ear the thought of that 'ra$e maid, #ho had sa$ed all those children only to die herself) %a&a turned facedo#n into her pillo#, and cried herself to sleep)
5hen she #oke again, she sa# that she still had company! Frostpine and ia meditated in a protecti$e circle on the floor) %a&a 'linked, her eyes stinging in the 'rilliance of Frostpine(s po#er) "eyond him she sa# that ia(s magic #as no# a steady sil$er gla/e on her skin, still and unmo$ing)
Cuietly she turned onto her side, a#ay from them) The e$ents of *unsday night returned in all their fear and sorro#) 6er o#n natural clearheadedness came #ith it) <es, she ought to ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html ha$e sent the 'a'y #ith someone else! #ho #ould that ha$e 'een2 9$ery adult had at least t#o other children in charge, and the handicap of #ater.soaked co$ers to manage) If she hadn(t held the fire, slo#ing her o#n escape to do so, it #ould ha$e 'roken through on the ground floor and killed e$eryone inside, including the t#o 'a'ies #ho had li$ed #hile the #oman #ho carried them 'egan to die on the stair)
5hat had started this disaster.a kitchen fire2 O$erturned candles, a popping log on a hearth2 The gods #ere cruel, to make such a tragedy from a stupid accident)
3eal or set2 asked that $ery determined part of her mind)
%a&a 'it her lip) *he #ished the others #ere here.*andry, Tris, "riar) *he didn(t ha$e them, 'ut she did ha$e Frostpine) *he could ha$e lost him! they put themsel$es in danger #hen they agreed to enter the house) Their magics #ouldn(t ha$e pre$ented their 'eing crushed 'y falling tim'ers)
The clock chimed do#nstairs7 ia(s eyes popped open) 1 moment later Frostpine emerged from his trance) 0@ery good,0 he told ia) 0<ou($e come a long #ay)0 6e ru''ed out part of the circle) The protections around them collapsed and flo#ed into his 'ody like a plume of smoke returning to its chimney) 6e helped ia to stand, then dragged himself to his feet, using the 'ed as a crutch) 6e #as stiff)
0<ou(re a#ake40 ia said happily to %a&a) 06ungry, too, yes20
%a&a sat up) 0*tar$ed,0 she admitted)
0I(ll tell 1nyussa,0 ia said, 'ut for a moment she didn(t mo$e, looking at %a&a #ith huge 'ro#n eyes) 0I could ne$er do #hat you t#o did,0 she said) 05alk into a 'urning house) ) ) I couldn(t)0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0<ou don(t kno# #hat you can do till you(re tested,0 Frostpine said) 6e leaned do#n and kissed ia(s forehead) 05ait until you are, 'efore you &udge yourself)0
ia glanced up at Frostpine and ga$e him a tiny smile, then left the room, shaking her head)
Frostpine leaned 'ack, hands on hips, stretching) %a&a looked at him, #orried) 6is skin #as ashy o$er the 'ro#n7 his fe# #rinkles seemed deeper) %id he ha$e more #hite hairs no#, or #as it &ust that she hadn(t noticed ho# many he had 'efore this2 01re you all right20 she asked)
0"etter than #hen they fetched us 'ack here,0 he admitted) 6e thre# se$eral chunks of #ood on the fire and poked up the em'ers so they #ould catch) 0I had it easier,0 he said) 0+ine #ere adults) Once I got their attention, they did as they #ere told) I lost t#o,0 he admitted, his full lips pinched) 0Old people, stuck in 'eds) The others #ould ha$e left them) <ou don(t see people at their 'est, times like this)0
3emem'ering the #omen #ho appeared to stop thinking at all #hen faced #ith peril, %a&a nodded) 0<ou tried to get them out20 she asked softly)
6e #ent to her #ardro'e, opened it, and 'egan to take out clothes) 0*moke got them,0 he said) 0I think they died as I carried them out) 9$ery'ody al#ays #orries a'out 'urns, not smoke) ?sually they(re dead 'efore they kno# they(re in danger)0
%a&a looked at the clothes he laid out for her) 0I can(t put those on till I #ash,0 she pointed out) *omeone.+ata/i and the girls, she hoped.had cleaned the #orst grime from her skin #hile she slept, since her nightshirt #asn(t too dirty, 'ut she smelled of fire, and there #as ash in her hair) 0I need the steam room)0 9ast amorn li$ed for its huge, steamy 'athhouses) ormally %a&a hated the things, preferring nice, clean 'aths, 'ut right no# she felt grime in her pores) *team #ould scour it out)
0I(ll help you to the steam room after you($e eaten,0 he promised) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
06o# many died20 she heard herself in8uire) *he shouldn(t ask.she kne# she didn(t #ant an ans#er.'ut she had to kno#)
0T#el$e,0 said Frostpine in a dull $oice) 0*e$en dead right a#ay) Fi$e after, including people #ho fought the fire) Three more.no one(s sure if they(ll make it) It could ha$e 'een #orse) They #ere ha$ing a children(s party and a supper party, #ith all kinds of e-tra ser$ants) Fifty in the house) Olaksan ;ossaryk is dead) 6e sa$ed his #ife and supper guests first) The last he #as seen, he #as on his #ay to the nursery #ing)0
0The #hole to#n is e-claiming o$er the coincidence,0 6eluda *alt announced from the open door) 1nyussa and ;ory, each carrying a loaded tray, filed in past her) They put the dishes on a small round ta'le 'efore the hearth) 5hen they finished, 1nyussa to#ed the o'$iously curious ;ory out 'y the arm) 6eluda closed the door 'ehind them) 0I see I $isited at &ust the right time,0 the mage remarked coolly) 05e must talk)0
0I(m only #earing a nightshirt,0 %a&a said in apology)
0Oh, of course you should #ash and dress and put off eating to sa$e me the sight of you in a nightgo#n,0 retorted 6eluda, amused) 0%on(t 'e ridiculous) Once you($e helped your daughter gi$e 'irth to your first grandson, 'elie$e me, things like proper dinner #ear aren(t important)0
%a&a thre# off her co$ers and stood #ith a lurch) If anything, she #as stiffer than Frostpine) 6e helped her to one of the fireside chairs) %a&a(s stomach gro#led as she sa# fresh 'read, ham, ste#ed spinach, and custard) It #asn(t Trader cooking or Trader spices, 'ut it smelled &ust as good right no#) 09-cuse me,0 she said) :ra''ing a spoon, she got to #ork on a pork soup #ith pearl 'arley and sour cream)
05hat coincidence is the to#n e-claiming o$er20 Frostpine asked as he poured tea for each of them) 6e and 6eluda took chairs across from %a&a)
0*unsday, "ennat ,adradun told the 1lakut Island council that the confectioner(s shop fire pro$ed he needed more money and more people to train in firefighting) The council said all it pro$ed #as that he(d trained those people he had poorly)0
%a&a looked her 8uestion o$er a mouthful of 'arley7 Frostpine asked it for her) 0<es, 'ut #hat(s the coincidence2 There are fires all o$er the city in #inter)0
0<es, 'ut this #as ;ossaryk 6ouse)0 The magistrate(s mage looked from Frostpine to %a&a) 0I keep forgetting you aren(t local,0 6eluda said #ryly) 0Chiora ;ossaryk is 3omachko *kuretty(s mistress)0
Frostpine and %a&a traded 'affled looks)
6eluda shook her head) 03omachko *kuretty is the head of 1lakut council) The one that turned ,adradun do#n)0
Frostpine grimaced) 0I could happily spend the rest of my life #ithout such coincidences)0
%a&a nodded, inspected her 'o#l) It #as empty, 'ut there #ere 'its of meat and 'arley and sauce) *he tore apart a rye.and.#heat roll and mopped up the rest)
05hat of our counterfeiter20 Frostpine asked) 0I(m a'le to go out)0
6eluda shook her head) 0Our people are sitting on e$ery 'rass supplier, #ith spectacles magicked to see through illusion,0 she told him) 0*ooner or later our friend, or his people, #ill come for supplies) Once #e track them home, #e(ll need you) 5e may not 'e e8ual to a truly po#erful illusion.mage #ho tampers #ith coins, 'ut my trackers can follo# 8uarry through 'li//ards) 5e(re fine for no#)0 *he drummed her fingers on her chair for a moment ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 'efore she said a'ruptly) 0I(m here on another matter, actually)0
*he got up, paced to the door and 'ack, then stopped, fro#ned, and #ent to %a&a(s #orkta'le, #here the iron glo$e forms stood upright) 05hat in @rohain(s name are these20 *he leaned in to inspect the forms, then took something from her pocket and scre#ed it into her right eye) It #as a lens spelled for magical $ision! %a&a could see gleaming sil$er runes on its rim) 0It(s 'een made #ith magic, 'ut these aren(t magical in and of themsel$es) 1re you 'uilding an artificial man20 *he #riggled one of the hinged fingers)
%a&a had started on a plate of piro/hi stuffed #ith salmon and sturgeon) *he gulped a mouthful, drank some tea, and said, 0They(ll 'e glo$es, co$ered #ith metal that isn(t much affected 'y fire)0 *he a'sently ru''ed the 'rass mitt o$er her left hand) 0For "en ,adradun) I thought it #ould 'e good to make him glo$es so he can push open 'urning doors and the like) I thought I(d make a #hole suit for him, 'ut I need to think a'out that a #hile)0
6eluda put her eyepiece 'ack into her pocket) 0<ou craft.mages ha$e the oddest ideas,0 she remarked, shaking her head)
Frostpine cleared his throat) 0<ou said you came a'out something else) I(m going to e-pire of curiosity)0 6e picked up one of %a&a(s rolls, ripped it in half, and 'uttered a piece)
6eluda #alked 'ack to her chair and flopped into it) 0;ossaryk 6ouse) +y people laid the inspection spells as soon as the remnants cooled) The fire #asn(t accidental) It #as set,0 she told them)
%a&a(s fork slipped from suddenly cold fingers, clattering on her plate)
Frostpine sighed) 06a$e you suspects20
0Only at least three for each ser$ant and ten for each guest,0 replied the magistrate(s mage) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0There(s al#ays that many people #ho #ish someone ill, and they all must 'e 8uestioned) Tracking the firesetter 'y his traces #as a #aste of time,0 she gro#led) 05hoe$er did it 'urned all he used, so #hat #e did find, the fire scoured clean) 5hat(s maddening2 o one sa# him, 'ut he must ha$e done it #hile guests #ere arri$ing for those parties) ,ook)0 Clearing a space on the ta'lecloth, 6eluda sketched the ground floor of the house #ith a fingertip, her magic turning the lines to inklike streaks) 0The front of the house, that looks o$er the cliff2 In #inter it(s closed.it takes the 'runt of the #ind off the *yth) The ser$ants store #hole carcasses.pig, co#, sheep.in it, it(s that cold) In summer, of course, it(s lo$ely) Our firesetter 'roke in there) 6e #alks up the cliff road, #hich no one uses for the same reason the house(s front is closed off.he may as #ell ha$e 'een in$isi'le)0
0Could you track him on the cliff road20 Frostpine #anted to kno#)
06e had t#o pairs of 'oots,0 said 6eluda) 0Our trackers follo#ed one pair do#n to a fire the hired sleigh men use to keep #arm on the Kadasep side of 1kkut) one of them sa# anyone thro# cloth 'oots into their fire, of course) Then he #alked a#ay in clean 'oots)0 *he grimaced and passed her hand o$er the dra#ing) It $anished) 0Curse him, rot his teeth, may he drop through thin ice,0 she gro#led) 06e laid a fuse to a good.si/ed fire, lit it, and left) "y the time anyone kne# the front of the house #as 'urning, it #as too late to stop it) The #inds #ere like oil on the flames)0 *he looked at %a&a) 0If you or 3a$$ot ,adradun ha$e any ideas a'out this nali/, let me kno#) 1s soon as #e($e 'agged our counterfeiter, this one(s mine)0
0I don(t kno# #hat ideas I could ha$e,0 %a&a said) 0"en(s the one #ho(s studied all this)0
0"ut you(re a mage, and in his company) <ou.0
*omeone rapped on the door and opened it #ithout #aiting) It #as a housemaid7 'ehind her #as a man in magistrate(s colors) 0@iymese *alt, #e($e got a possi'ility,0 he said 'reathless) 0"ought t#enty sheets of 'rass) 5e tracked him)0
Frostpine le$ered himself out of his seat as 6eluda stood) *he fro#ned at him) 01re you up to this20 she demanded) 0<ou look half dead)0
0+agistrate(s mages, so pessimistic,0 Frostpine replied, #alking to the door) 0I prefer to think I am half ali$e) 1nd I kno# the marks of his po#er) <ou need me)0 ,ooking at %a&a he said, 03est)0
%a&a nodded) 0"undle up,0 she replied, thinking the ka8 #ho mucked #ith money #ould disco$er he #as no match for Frostpine)
*he dragged on a ro'e, gathered her clean clothes, and doddered do#n the ser$ants( stairs to the steam room) Once she #ashed and re'raided her many 'raids, she slept again) *he #oke to the clock(s chime at midnight and got up, feeling stronger) *omeone had cleared the fireplace ta'le of the remains of her supper) %o#nstairs she #ent to raid the kitchen) The urge to go out caught her as she piled stra#'erry preser$es on 'read) *till eating, she #ent to the slush room and pulled on her #inter clothes) Once that #as done, she picked up a torch and her skates, and #ent outside)
*he didn(t need a torch! se$eral 'urned around the 'asin, though they #ould 'e out soon) %a&a 'uckled on her skates, then 'egan to e-ercise doggedly) *he kept one eye on the ice, alert in case her tired muscles decided to gi$e #ay) Instead, the skating seemed to help 'oth her muscles and her spirits) *he speeded up, gliding this #ay and that across the 'asin) The icy night air #as calm, #ith no 'reath of the #icked *yth in it) It #as clean and un'urdened #ith soot, ashes, smoke, or smells) It 'rushed her face like a 'lessing.a 'itterly cold 'lessing, 'ut a 'lessing all the same)
Chapter 1A
%espite her skating session, %a&a #oke at her usual hour, feeling 'etter physically, though sad yet) *he had dreamed a'out the maid, clutching her figure of <orgiry as she died)
Once dressed, her Trader staff and the staff she used to train #ith ;ory in hand, %a&a #ent upstairs to the schoolroom) To her surprise and pleasure, ;ory #as there practicing her ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html forms) It had to 'e 'oring, 'ut from #hat %a&a glimpsed 'efore ;ory noticed her and stopped, ;ory had made progress) 6er staff mo$ement and hand and feet placement matched the marks %a&a had made for them perfectly)
05e(re ready for the ne-t step,0 %a&a announced, leaning her sta$es against the #all) *he stepped into an open space and positioned ;ory there, then traced the outlines of her feet #ith a piece of charcoal) That done, she used her Trader staff to dra# a protecti$e circle around them 'oth, and raised her 'arriers to enclose them) *he #as looking for#ard to this, she reali/ed) 6er protections #eren(t as strong as usual.%a&a hadn(t reco$ered from her efforts at ;ossaryk 6ouse.'ut they #ould hold any po#er ;ory might thro# off)
0*tand here,0 %a&a told her) 09yes for#ard, your staff in the middle 'lock position) I(ll #alk around you7 no# and then I(ll strike) Keep your eyes straight ahead) o looking at me, no turning your head, until you actually ha$e to mo$e to 'lock me) "lock only) o strikes)0
0I don(t understand,0 ;ory replied) 0If I can(t follo# you.0
0<ou ha$e to 'e ready,0 %a&a said) 0Open your senses, magic and all) 1ct only #hen you must) If you start thinking your foot itches, or your hair needs to 'e #ashed, if you #ant your 'reakfast, I(ll hit you)0
0<ou(re going to hurt me20 ;ory asked, horrified)
%a&a sighed) 0 o# there(s a silly 8uestion) o, 'ut I #ill tap you) <ou ha$e to kno# you #ere #rong)0
05hat if you hit my 'ack20 ;ory #anted to kno#) 0I can(t stop you then40
0Trust I #on(t do it till you(re good enough to anticipate it) o# take the position)0 %a&a paced in front of ;ory as old *kyfire did #ith his students) 0*top follo#ing me #ith your ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html eyes) ,ook straight ahead) 5ait) ,isten) 3ela-) <our hands aren(t in the right position) *top #inking7 I ha$en(t hit you yet) T#itching your eyes #on(t protect your face)0
;ory instantly thre# up a high 'lock, e-pecting a strike from %a&a(s remark a'out her face) %a&a tapped ;ory(s ri's) 0%on(t listen to #hat I say,0 she told her student again, pacing once more) 0Forget the cold, or 'reakfast, or.0 %a&a shifted her 'ody) ;ory(s head #hipped around7 she 'locked lo#, and %a&a tapped her skull) 0%on(t try to outthink me,0 ordered %a&a) 0+ay'e you can one day, 'ut not today) I(m in my center, in my empty space, and I go #here I like)0 1nother high strike) ;ory(s 'lock glanced off %a&a(s staff! she #as a 'reath too late) %a&a thumped her head lightly)
For an hour %a&a #alked her staff up and do#n ;ory(s 'ody, talking or silent, al#ays in motion) 1t first it seemed as if she had o$erestimated ;ory as the girl got angry, then sulky, then stu''orn) 9ach time she lost her temper %a&a sa# ;ory(s magic flare a#ay from her in spikes) Once, angry, she struck at %a&a(s head) %a&a disarmed ;ory, sending her staff flying against the 'arrier) It 'ounced 'ack, nearly hitting the girl)
%a&a nudged the staff #ith hers) 0Pick it up,0 she ordered)
0<ou(re not human,0 ;ory grum'led as she o'eyed)
0+ore silliness) Come on, let(s go,0 %a&a urged) They 'egan again)
5hen the house clock chimed, %a&a, in the right.hand corner of the younger girl(s $ision, snapped a middle strike at ;ory(s ri's) ;ory(s po#er s#irled and soaked into her skin as she 'locked %a&a s8uarely)
;ory(s &a# dropped) *he looked at the staff, and at %a&a)
0I did it40 she gasped) 0I did it4 I.I felt it, it #as like, 'eing e$erything)0 ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
0:ood,0 %a&a said, #iping out part of the circle #ith her 'oot and retrie$ing her po#er) 0"ut #e #on(t kno# if you really ha$e something until you can do it all the time, not &ust once)0
0Oh, %a&a,0 moaned ;ory, 0you sound &ust like my parents)0 *he ran from the schoolroom)
05ell, there(s no reason to insult me,0 muttered %a&a, half offended)
1fter a hearty 'reakfast, she returned upstairs to do the physical #ork of fitting the li$ing metal to the glo$es, making sure it #as anchored to an iron rod as #ell as the other pieces) There #as &ust one more thing to do after that, 'ut it had to #ait) *imple tasks like protecti$e circles for the t#ins #ere easy enough, and she needed no magic to fi- the li$ing metal onto the forms) For anything 'igger, her magic felt #eak and floppy, as her arms might after she lifted something far too hea$y for her)
*he collected her Trader staff and #ent do#n to midday #hen the 'ell rang, 'ut she didn(t return to her room #hen she finished) *he had things to do that in$ol$ed no magic, 'ut she #anted to skate) *taff in hand, %a&a headed for the slush room) 1s she passed the ser$ants, they 'o#ed and got out of her #ay.they(d done so at 'reakfast too) O'$iously they had heard tales from ;ossaryk 6ouse)
They(ll get o$er it, %a&a thought as she donned coat and scar$es, picked up her staff, and slung her skates o$er her shoulder) 1 fe# 8uiet #eeks and they(ll treat me like a human 'eing again) If only she could hope there #ould 'e no more e-citement for a fe# #eeks4
Outside, she donned her skates) :athering her courage, she skated out of the 'asin, under the 'ridge, and onto Prospect Canal, 'alancing the staff in her hands) The canal #as as 'usy as any street #ith skaters and the large, hea$y sleighs that carried supplies, pulled 'y horses shod for ice #alking) Passenger sleighs kept to the dirt streets, o#ners not liking the ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html e-pense of ice shoes and the risk to their horses if they #ere not specially shod)
It #as sno#ing lightly as %a&a skated north along Prospect, keeping #ell to the side) %arede$ils raced do#n the middle of the canals) *o did ro''ers and pickpockets! those good skaters looked to #inter as their 'ounty season) %a&a didn(t think she could mo$e in the fast traffic in the center) *he en$ied the speeders and liked to #atch ho# they did it, half crouched, skates flashing, s#er$ing around 'umpy or une$en areas in the ice) *he en$ied them, 'ut she #asn(t a'out to copy them) *ometimes she had to use her Trader staff to keep herself upright)
*till, she had impro$ed) *he negotiated the turn into +ite Canal #ith no accidents, and slid to a halt at the hired sleigh stands a 8uarter of a mile north of Po/kit "ridge) 6er skates hung o$er her shoulder, staff in hand, she clim'ed up to the street) 6ollyskyt 5ay met ;ossaryk Place, the road %a&a and Frostpine had follo#ed across 1lakut on their #ay to the fire) The sleigh stand #as pro'a'ly the one #here the firesetter left one pair of 'oots to 'urn)
*he kne# #here she #as going no#, and she didn(t turn 'ack) *he had changed in the smoke, and the fear, and the dark) The change #asn(t to her magic) It #ould reco$er #ith meditation and rest, more 8uickly than her spirit #ould) If she #as to make sense of that night and those deaths, if she #as e$er going to understand the kind of person #ho #ould sentence fifty people to death 'y 'urning, she ought to see the final result for herself)
%a&a #alked do#n 6ollyskyt until she found the rising street that follo#ed the edge of the cliff) The sign read FO3T39** @I95 3O1%) It sho#ed little signs of #inter use) %a&a huddled deeper inside her coat and scar$es.she #ould rather 'ra$e the *yth(s #ind than tap her a'ility to #arm herself for no#.and hiked up the steep road)
o 'last of lake #ind caught her as she #alked) The air #as cold and still) 0Oh, no# you(re as nice as a kitten,0 she told it as she toiled up#ard) 0"ack #hen it #ould ha$e sa$ed li$es, you 'le# your #orst)0
6er mother al#ays said it #asn(t polite to mock other people(s gods, and *ythuthan #as a notorious trickster) 6e #as not likely to appreciate 'eing scolded) %a&a shut up) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
5all after #all sho#ed her 'lank faces as she passed the homes of the #ealthy) 1s she approached the summit, %a&a found the damage left 'y fire and the people #ho fought it) The road #as churned and fro/en into peaks and dips that made the footing tricky) Once more she used her staff to 'race herself) *oot marked the #alls of ;ossaryk(s neigh'ors) Then she reached ;ossaryk 6ouse itself) The gate stood open) The #all #as intact! the #ind had 'lo#n so hard that the fire ne$er turned this #ay) %a&a took a 'reath, resettled her grip on her staff, and #alked through the gate)
*he had e-pected to see part of the house.foolish, gi$en the fury of the 'la/e and the #ind) Instead she found no house, its cellars e-posed, e$erything a 'lackened mess) o #all stood higher than a foot) The ruin stretched 'efore her, complete all the #ay out to the courtyard #here she and Frostpine had collapsed)
6o# did mages like 6eluda do it2 6o# could they tell #here this had started, #here the e$il took root2 %a&a #as a mage, and she couldn(t tell) ,ooking hard, she noticed that the largest section of #all remaining #as the front) It #as that hard #ind, #hich had thrust the fire into the rest of the house 'efore it had completely de$oured the front #all) 1gainst the 'ase of that fragment she sa# a huge, old.fashioned hourglass, its 'rass parts melted to glo's, the sand #ithin turned to 'lackened glass from the heat) Ten yards to her left she sa# three #hole 'urned co# skeletons.the staff really did keep meat here in the #inter)
5alking around the outer rim of the house filled her #ith a#e for the po#er of fire) 1ll that remained #ere parts of things! charred clothes em'edded in fro/en mud, melted &e#elry, a set of false teeth in enamel o$er metal, more animal 'ones) The dead #ere gone 'y no#)
1t last she reached the rear #all and its empty gate) Firefighters had remo$ed the #ooden doors from their hinges to gi$e easy passage to the street) There %a&a turned to stare at the 'lack ruin, leaning on her Trader staff)
In *andry(s last letter, she had #ritten %a&a that she(d 'een forced to kill three murderers 'efore they escaped a trap set for them and killed again) 3eading, %a&a had thought she could ne$er do such a thing) o#, as she looked at ;ossaryk 6ouse, she #asn(t so sure) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Could she kill the one #ho had done this2 5ho #as she to say #hat punishment #as right2 1nyone #ho used fire this #ay must 'e mad 'eyond 8uestion, mad and pitiful) 9$en if his madness came to e$il, he shouldn(t 'e killed for something he couldn(t help, only locked up fore$er)
1nother part of her disagreed) 5hat if he escaped his keepers and set more fires2 +ore people #ould die) 1nd #hy did she think he #as mad2 +admen didn(t 'urn anything mages could use to track them) +admen #et themsel$es and talked to the air) They claimed to 'e gods and rocked in corners) They didn(t come and go unnoticed) They didn(t #atch #hat they(d done)
That #as a ne# idea, one she didn(t like) %id he #atch2 6o# could he2
1nd yet, if she had taken such care on a pro&ect, #ouldn(t she #ant to see it through2
That #as e$il) It #as e$il of the #orst kind) *uch e$il #ould sho# on his face) The mages #ould find him) There #as no #ay he could escape capture) Then he #ould get the traditional penalty for firesetters! 'urning) 6is e$il #ould 'e cleansed) Pro'a'ly right no# the magistrate(s mages spoke to people #ho had seen someone so empty of good it had frightened them)
5ith that thought to comfort her, %a&a hiked 'ack do#n to +ite Canal) *he hoped she #ould see this firesetter 'efore they 'urned him, so she #ould kno# pure e$il if she sa# it again)
On the canal she skated faster than she had 'efore, staff tucked into the crook of one arm, trying to lea$e the 'ad thoughts in her #ake) *he dre# closer to the canal(s center! slo#er skaters on the edge eyed her ner$ously as she passed) *he almost came to grief, s#ooping around the rim of Kadasep into Prospect Canal, 'ut 8uick sho$es of her staff against the ice kept her a#ay from those making the same turn) 1s "ancanor 6ouse dre# closer on her right, she sa# a familiar person skating to#ard her) %a&a couldn(t see her face at this distance, 'ut she kne# ia(s 'right hat and scar$es as #ell as she kne# her o#n) %a&a raised t#o fingers to her lips and 'le# the earsplitting #histle that "riar had spent an afternoon teaching her, then slid past "ancanor 6ouse to meet her #a$ing student) Other ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html skaters grimaced or made rude comments that %a&a ignored)
ia #as giggling as %a&a reached her) 0I see you(re feeling 'etter,0 she commented as %a&a turned and skated #ith her) 0Only please, don(t let ;ory hear you do that, or she(ll #ant to learn, too)0
%a&a shuddered) 0:i$e me credit for some sense)0 *he grimaced! her thighs #ere aching after a long skating session and her clim' to ;ossaryk 6ouse)
0<ou($e gotten so good at this40 ia e-claimed as they glided into the 'oat 'asin)
0I had a good teacher,0 %a&a said) 0*peaking of that, ho# go your studies2 I sa# you #ere reading a'out #ood magic the other night)0
ia 'eamed at %a&a) 0Isn(t it fascinating2 1rnen ga$e it to me) 6e assigns me pages to memori/e at home and I recite 'ack to him first thing in the morning) That #ay I #ork on the physical part at the shop during the day and do 'ook learning at home)0
0*o you like him,0 %a&a remarked, pleased) It seemed her con$ersation #ith 1rnen at the +ages( *ociety gathering had 'orne fruit)
06e(s really cle$er, once you can get him to talk) If it(s &ust the t#o of us, he chatters like ;ory, 'ut 'ring in someone else, and he 'arely speaks)0 ia shook her head, smiling) 01t first I thought he #as a sno',0 she admitted) 0"ut he(s &ust shy) 1nd I(m learning a lot from him)0
They meditated, changed clothes, and met the family at supper) 1fter#ard %a&a &oined them in the 'ook room, accepting Kol(s challenge to a game of chess) 1s they played, the t#ins lay on their 'ellies, ;ory in front of the hearth, ia 'ehind her) Their lips mo$ed as they memori/ed information from small, leather.'ound mage 'ooks) +ata/i #orked at ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html needlepoint) One of the family(s dogs lay stretched out 'et#een the t#ins, #hile the largest of the household cats draped herself across %a&a(s feet)
The 8uiet shattered as Frostpine s#ept in, carrying a drift of outdoor cold #ith him) 6e #ent immediately to one of the 'ig chairs 'eside the hearth and fell into it) ;ory scram'led to her feet and left the room)
Frostpine glanced at the fire! the logs, #hich had 'een crackling peacefully, roared into acti$e flame) %a&a set three more chunks of #ood on the 'la/e) 1s she 'rushed off her hands, she looked at her teacher and raised her eye'ro#s) 0%one,0 he replied to her silent 8uestion) 01rrested, the #hole pack en&oying the go$ernor(s hospitality) They don(t ha$e heat in the cells, either) Though I dou't they(ll 'e there long enough to really suffer) The go$ernor #ants this ended)0
0 o# that it(s done, #ill you let us kno# #hat(s kept you out until all hours20 +ata/i asked, choosing a fresh length of scarlet silk for her #ork) 0Or is it still secret20
0Check and mate,0 Kol told %a&a) *he grinned and shook her head) *he had a long #ay to go 'efore she mastered chess)
0I(ll tell you later,0 Frostpine said #ith a nod at the t#ins) 0For no#, you may re&oice that I am among you again)0
%a&a rolled her eyes) 0If you(re going to 'e saucy, I(m going upstairs,0 she told her teacher) *he relented enough to kiss his cheek) 0Congratulations,0 she #hispered) 0:ood #ork for an old man)0
*he #as preparing the #ashes she #ould need to set the glo$es on the iron forms #hen one of the maids knocked on her door) 09-cuse me, @iymese %a&a, 'ut 3a$$ot ,adradun is here and asks if he might see you) 6e says he kno#s he is late.he &ust came from his 'usiness.'ut asks if you #ould grant him the courtesy)0
%a&a corked the 'ottle she #as a'out to empty into a 'o#l) 0That(s fine) *ho# him up, please)0
0@iymese40 the maid cried, shocked) 01 man, in your 'edroom2 The impropriety40
%a&a raised her 'ro#s and #aited for the #oman to remem'er she #as not e-actly a Kugisko maiden) +ages #eren(t held to the rules of merchant propriety, e$en young ones) Tris had once remarked crossly that people thought mages had the morals of cats)
The maid looked do#n) 0@iymese, forgi$e me,0 she said 0I(ll 'ring 3a$$ot ,adradun right a#ay)0
%a&a picked up a fe# things and mo$ed her tools around, though it #asn(t necessary) *he al#ays kept her room neat) *he also lit more candles) 1s she put do#n the taper she(d used to light them, the maid sho#ed "en in)
0*hall I 'ring tea, 3a$$ot20 she asked him) 0Cider, pastry20
0 othing, thank you,0 "en replied) 0I #on(t stay long)0
The maid curtsied and left the room, lea$ing the door open an inch) %a&a noticed7 her mouth t#itched #ith a smile) It seemed the "ancanor ser$ants meant to look out for her reputation e$en if she didn(t) 6er amusement faded #hen she looked at "en.he seemed #eary) Part of that #as fire and candlelight) They cast his face in sharp relief, making its lines deeper, his e-pression harder)
0I(m sorry I didn(t come earlier,0 he confessed #ithout looking at her) 0I #anted to make sure you #ere all right 'efore this, 'ut the fire #asn(t out till da#n on +oonsday) I #as ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html helping #ith the $ictims until almost noon on *tarsday) *omeone did tell me you and your teacher #ere fine)0 6e looked at her #ith concern) 0<ou are, aren(t you20
0<es, of course #e are,0 %a&a said hurriedly, in the grip of a sudden #ild thought) 0"en, #ho hates you this much20
6e looked at her, his face oddly still) 05hy do you say that20
%a&a sat on her #orkstool to #ork the idea out aloud) 0<ou told me you sa# it on your #ay home) I 'et if you(d gone home you could ha$e #atched it from your upstairs #indo#s) I ha$e to think may'e these fires are 'eing set to hurt you) To, I don(t kno#, destroy your name in the city, to make people think your firefighting ideas don(t #ork) +ay'e e$en to drag you into danger)0
0%a&a, that(s a tremendous leap of logic,0 he murmured) 6e sat in one of her fireside chairs)
0I(m not so sure) 5ell, I(m a mage, and they teach us not to 'elie$e in coincidences, you see) <ou($e met this person, that(s my guess) Can you recall meeting someone #ho &ust seemed e$il to you2 *omeone #ho made your skin cra#l2 *ome you crossed20
09$il20 he asked)
0Only an e$il person #ould harm others to get at someone else,0 %a&a said flatly)
"en ran his fingers through his thinning curls) 0<ou honestly 'elie$e there are people #ho are either good or e$il20 he asked) 06o# old are you20
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0Fourteen,0 she said, fro#ning) 05hat has my age to do #ith this20
"en shook his head) 0This is the second time I($e heard you talk like a young person) ?sually I forget you aren(t my age) People aren(t that simple, %a&a)0
0Of course he(s e$il,0 she said, impatient #ith typical adult shillyshallying) 0,ook at #hat he does) Or may'e it(s a she.0 *he stopped, a'ruptly) +orrachane2 6is o#n mother2 Teraud(s #ife had said she #hipped her ser$ants) ) ) no) +orrachane ,adradun #ould ne$er do something that #ould mean cra#ling into houses or #alking icy, #inds#ept clifftop roads)
*o in$ol$ed #as she in thinking, then discarding, the possi'ility, that she had missed the start of #hat "en said no#) 0.someone tired of 'eing ignored, tired of others trampling on him) Perhaps some rich person treated him #ith contempt) 1t least, #ith ;ossaryk 6ouse, people #ill kno# he did something that no one #ill forget) 6e #ould 'e less, less e$il and more.'esieged)0
%a&a stared at him) 0It sounds like you(re on his side)0
0I(m e-hausted, %a&a, I can(t think straight)0 "en smiled ruefully) 0+other insisted I #ork late on the 'ooks to make up for my time at the fire) 1s if num'ers are more important than li$es) ) ) I(ll consider #hat you($e said) I certainly ha$e enemies, people #ho don(t #ant to hear #hat I tell them, 'ut I dou't $ery much that any of them #ould kill innocents)0 6e got up and #alked o$er to her #orkta'le, #here the li$ing metal glo$es stood on their iron 'ases) In the flickering candle. and firelight they seemed to mo$e)
0They need more #ork) Try them on if you like,0 %a&a suggested)
"en picked one up, #eighing it in his hand) 0%o I roll up my slee$es20
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html %a&a shook her head, the 'eaded ends of her many 'raids slapping her cheeks lightly) 0They(re made so you can yank them on in a hurry) They(ll 'e a little 'ig e$en no#, 'ecause I made allo#ance for your coat)0
"en slid on first one glo$e, then the other)
0I need a fe# more days to finish,0 %a&a admitted as she #atched "en ad&ust the fit) 0+y control o$er my magic(s still #eak, after ;ossaryk 6ouse)0
05as it hard, #alking in there20 "en #anted to kno#) 6e turned his hands 'ack and forth, fascinated 'y the play of light on their mirrored surfaces)
0Fire #alking, no,0 %a&a said, eyeing the glo$es) The metal(s edges had 'lended seamlessly, so it looked as if she had simply poured it o$er the forms) 0"ut holding it 'ack, #ith the #ind dri$ing it2 That took all I had) 1ctually, I didn(t think I had that much)0 1nd it #asn(t enough, she thought, her eyes stinging at the memory of the 'a'y #ho had died on her 'ack)
05hy hold it20 "en opened and closed each glo$e hand) 05hy not &ust tell it to stop2 To go out20
0That #orks #ith tiny fires, not 'ig ones)0 *he grimaced as she sa# the outline of hinges #hen he made a fist) *he had to fi- that) The glo$es #orked, 'ut as a crafts#oman she #anted them to look like cloth, and the 'ulge of iron hinges ruined it) 01s long as there #as fuel, that fire #anted it) The #ind ga$e it strength) The more it ate and the harder the #ind 'le#, the stronger it got) I #ish I could($e sent it some#here else or put it out, 'ut I couldn(t)0
"en picked up one of the hearth pokers, then one of %a&a(s rods) The glo$es grasped the thin rod as easily as the hea$y poker) %a&a #atched as he t#isted his hands to and fro) 6inging the #rists had 'een the most difficult part) They had turned out #ell)
0%oing a #hole suit #ill 'e hard,0 she said #ith regret) 0It(ll need an iron scaffolding, almost, #ith hinges and 'all and socket &oints) It(ll 'e hea$y) I(ll need all #inter to gro# enough li$ing metal, and there(s iron and 'rass to 'uy) 1nd I ha$en(t #orked out ho# you(ll see and 'reathe yet)0
6e stood in front of the hearth fire, mo$ing his arms inside the glo$es) o# he looked at her sidelong) 01re you gi$ing up on me, %a&a20
*he fro#ned, half distracted 'y planning) 0Of course not4 I(m &ust saying it(s going to take lots of #ork)0
0People do gi$e up on me,0 he said 8uietly, looking at the glo$es) 01t first they think I(m fine) They admire ho# hard I #ork, ho# I try to teach others, pre$ent as much harm as I can) ) ) ) "ut then they say I don(t kno# ho# to en&oy myself, that I don(t spend enough time #ith people) Then it(s I(m o'sessed, and they(re 'usy) They find other, easier companions)0 6e slid off a glo$e and angled it so the light of a 'ranch of candles illuminated the inside) 6e peered at it) 0It #ouldn(t surprise me if you decided this thing #as &ust too much effort)0
6is #ords confused her) 5hat #as he talking a'out2 *he had meant only to e-plain the pro&ect #ould take months, not #eeks! he needed that suit) "en seemed to mean something else, something that made her uncomforta'le, though she couldn(t say #hy) 0 o) I &ust don(t think you should look for results until spring)0 %a&a sat again on her #orkstool) 0%id 6eluda *alt talk to you2 1'out ;ossaryk 6ouse)0
1'out to put do#n the glo$e he held, "en fum'led and nearly dropped it) 6e put it on the ta'le and held the second glo$e up to the light) 6is hands #ere shaking)
0They #on(t 'reak if you drop them,0 %a&a pointed out) 0They(re up to a lot of #ork) They #on(t 'e of use to you other#ise)0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0They(re &ust so lo$ely it(s hard to think of them as strong,0 "en replied) 6e continued his inspection) 0<ou talked #ith 6eluda *alt20
0*he and Frostpine #ere #orking on something)0 *he #asn(t sure if she could tell him more than that, e$en if the counterfeiters #ere captured) 01nd I met her at the +ages( *ociety party) *he hadn(t seen the report a'out the 'oardinghouse fire, the one you told the mages #as set) %id you tell them2 I couldn(t remem'er if you had or if you hadn(t gotten a chance)0
0I pity this firesetter,0 "en said, smiling at %a&a) 0If 6eluda *alt takes an interest, he should hang himself no#, or he(ll surely 'urn later)0
0Is she good20 %a&a asked)
0*he(s one of the 'est in the #hole empire,0 "en told her) 0Certificate and ad$anced certificate from the uni$ersity at ,ights'ridge, cro#n honors 'y the 'asketload.I(m impressed)0 3eluctantly he put the second glo$e on the ta'le) 05hen #ill these 'e ready20
0I should 'e done 'y Firesday)0 %a&a looked "en o$er, making rough estimates of his height, shoulder 'readth, #aist, legs, and arms) 0*hould I 'ring them to your #arehouse *unsday afternoon20
01ctually, 5atersday is 'etter) Come to the house in the afternoon, around one,0 "en suggested)
%a&a murmured, 05atersday is fine)0 *he gra''ed a slate and 'egan to #rite do#n num'ers) Only the ma&or #eight.'earing struts of the iron form need 'e hea$y) Perhaps she needn(t use thin iron rods to support the metal at all, 'ut #ire ca'les or e$en chain mesh) ) )
0I(d 'est go,0 she heard "en say) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
*he nodded a'sently) 0The maid #ill let you out)0 *he glanced at his head) If she hung the #eight from his shoulders, she might create a helm that #as also a long sack, a cloaklike 'ag filled #ith air) That #ould sol$e the 'reathing pro'lem, if only for short periods) 5hat a'out li$ing metal coated o$er a fine mesh2 There #as still the $ision pro'lem to settle, 'ut the suit appeared to 'e emerging from a tangle of half thoughts and pro'lems)
0<ou #on(t let me do#n, #ill you, %a&a20 he asked)
*he smiled 8uickly at him, still lost in her plans) 6e #ould understand her liking for him #as true #hen she created his suit) 6e &ust didn(t kno# that mages a'o$e all understood #hat it #as like to 'e o'sessed) *he #as as fi-ed on her magic.most of the people she cared a'out #ere as fi-ed on their magic.as he #as on fire) 0I try not to let my friends do#n,0 she told him)
5hen she thought to look up from her notes again, he #as gone) *he didn(t remem'er that he hadn(t said if he(d talked to the magistrate(s mages)
Chapter 13
O$er the ne-t t#o days %a&a continued her staff classes #ith ;ory, #ho 'egan to grasp the idea of #aiting emptiness that #ould open the door to her po#er) 5hen 'reakfast #as o$er %a&a continued #ork on her gift &e#elry and on her plans for the li$ing metal suit) 1s the days ended she #ould go for a nice, long skate to air out her mind)
The first day she timed her return to meet ia under 9$erall "ridge as the younger girl came home from +aster Camoc(s) The ne-t day she reached "ancanor 6ouse as +orrachane dropped ia off) It seemed that she had 0&ust happened0 to 'e dri$ing past Camoc(s as ia left for the day)
0I feel so sorry for her,0 ia confided as she and %a&a clim'ed the stairs to the schoolroom) They stood aside as the t#o youngest "ancanors, free to play outside after their lessons, raced 'y yelling at the tops of their lungs) Their harassed nursemaid follo#ed, murmuring apologies as she tried to catch her charges)
5hen the older girls could hear again, ia continued, 0*he misses her grandchildren) *he ne$er sees the families of her other t#o sons, and ) ) )0
0*he 'lames "en,0 %a&a said drily, nodding to the young "ancanors( tutor as he left the schoolroom)
0I #ish she #ouldn(t,0 ia admitted, and sighed) 0*he(s so dreadful to him and her ser$ants at the same time she(s good to ;ory and me)0
0That(s #hat ;ory says,0 %a&a told her as she closed the schoolroom door) 0 o#, let(s 'egin)0
They settled to their meditation) ia reached the ne-t step, pulling all of her magic into a small o'&ect.she had chosen a pine knot.as %a&a had once fitted her po#er into the striking head of one of her fa$orite hammers) *upper follo#ed, then an e$ening in the 'ook room #ith the "ancanors and Frostpine)
On Firesday %a&a left the 'ook room early) 6er grip on her po#er #as strong at last) It #as time to finish the glo$es) *he mi-ed t#o #ashes, each 'lended from different her's, po#ders, and oils, then thinned #ith 'oiling #ater) One she applied inside the glo$es, the other outside) 1fter that #as done, she hung them out the #indo# o$ernight) In the morning, after her session #ith ;ory, %a&a 'rought the glo$es in) 1 final polish inside and out #ith a soft cloth, and her creations #ere finished)
5atersday morning dragged! she #anted to go to ,adradun 6ouse) *he #anted to see ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html "en(s face #hen he tried the glo$es) The "ancanors and Frostpine #ent to temple7 %a&a #orshipped at her personal Trader shrine) For the first time in years other thoughts distracted her during prayers for her family and ancestors) *he lo$ed it #hen she created something people could use, not simply admire) This #as the first time she had made something that might sa$e li$es) *he #anted "en to ha$e it 'efore the ne-t fire 'roke out)
+idday came and #ent) %a&a finally set out for ,adradun 6ouse)
"en opened the door so 8uickly after she rang the 'ell that she had to think he(d 'een #aiting for her to arri$e &ust as impatiently as she had #aited for the hour set for her $isit) 1ny odd feelings she(d had after their last, strange con$ersation e$aporated as she noted his 'la/ing indigo eyes and eager face) 0%a&a, you came4 Come in, come in40
*he o'eyed #ith a grin, smelling fresh 'ees#a-, lemon oil, and #ool, the smells of a #ell. kept amornese house) "en disposed of her coat, hat, and scarf #hile she carefully #iped her 'oots on the coarse mat) *he didn(t #ant +orrachane to get annoyed #ith her son 'ecause his guests left tracks on her perfect floors)
0+other(s at a meeting.these merchants ha$e to do some 'usiness e$ery day, I think,0 he told %a&a as he led her to his study) 1 pot of tea and a plate of cakes #aited on his desk) 6e poured the tea out like a good host, 'ut his hands trem'led7 he #as that eager to try the glo$es) %a&a took them from the satchel and offered them to him)
6e slid them onto his arms #ithout a #ord, opened his small sto$e and thrust one glo$ed hand inside, scooping up coals) 6e dumped them, gra''ed a second handful, and s8uee/ed) The coals 'roke apart in his metal.clad fingers)
01nd) ) ) 20 %a&a asked)
6e looked up at her, the sto$e(s heat turning his cheeks a fe$erish crimson) 0I may as #ell 'e holding sand, or salt) 6o# hot a fire could they #ithstand20 6e #ithdre# one arm and dug in the fiery coals #ith the other, stirring them #ith a gleaming finger, sho$ing them ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html together in a pile)
05ell, the li$ing metal came a'out in a forest fire) I suppose may'e if the go$ernor(s palace #as to 'urn, they might get #arm)0
"en snorted) 0:o$ernor(s palace2 6e 'uilds in stone, like the rest of the no'ility) 6e(s no fool) I($e 'een trying to con$ince +other to re'uild in stone) *he says #ood is good enough for her neigh'ors, it(s good enough for us)0 6e shut the sto$e) 0I kno# I(m 'eing rude, 'ut) ) ) #ould you mind if I tried these in the kitchen hearth2 It(s a 'igger fire) <ou can stay here.I #on(t 'e long)0 6e didn(t e$en #ait for %a&a(s ans#er, 'ut left the study at a trot)
%a&a smiled, shook her head, and tried one of the cookies.they #ere $ery good) *o #as the tea) *he hoped that "en hadn(t dipped into +orrachane(s finest supplies) Though the #oman did her 'est to 'e polite to someone #ho #as ;ory(s and ia(s friend, she al#ays made %a&a feel as if she must ha$e cheated someho# to get her medallion) %a&a had the feeling +orrachane #ouldn(t like kno#ing "en had gi$en her the 'est tea and cakes)
"ored after a fe# minutes( #ait #ith no sign of him, she got up to look around the room) 1 touch of the sto$e told her it #asn(t as 'adly made as the one in his #arehouse office) 6is 'ooks interested her for a moment, as did his pen.and.ink dra#ings and knickknacks) *he tried to keep her attention on those things, 'ut time stretched) They #eren(t $ery interesting) %a&a found herself standing 'efore the shel$es half hidden in the shado#s 'ehind his desk) There #as the skeleton hand #ith its molten gold ring) ,ooking at it, %a&a felt the hair stand on the 'ack of her neck) 5hat if it had come from "en(s dead #ife2
*he shook her head) 5here had such a gruesome imagining come from2 That #as more the kind of nonsensical thing *andry or Tris might think) There #ould 'e something $ery #rong #ith "en for him to keep his dead #ife(s hand) The only thing that #as #rong #ith him #as that he li$ed #ith his dreadful mother, a mistake any #ido#er could make) That didn(t make him 'ad or cracked enough to keep a piece of his dead #ife on a shelf)
*he had stared at the hand too long) *he forced her eyes to other things! the partly melted soldier, the glass lump, pieces he said he sa$ed from fires he had 'eaten) 6er nostrils ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html t#itched! the odor of smoke #as stronger than it had 'een the first time she had seen these shel$es)
6er eyes mo$ed higher through the collection) The upper shel$es #ere empty, e-cept) ) ) %a&a 'linked) *he had thought the shelf on a le$el #ith her o#n face #as empty last time) <et here #ere three o'&ects) One looked like a half.'urned corner piece from a amornese outer door, car$ed #ith good luck signs) One #as a scorched glass 'o#l7 its contents smelled like 'urned sugar) The last #as a 'lackened female figure #ith a loop on the 'ack, as if it #ere a pendant) *il$er gleamed through cracked gilt) %a&a stared at it, memory stirring at the 'ack of her mind like that gleam of sil$er) *he had seen that figure around someone(s neck)
:oose'umps pro#led her arms and her spine) 5as she falling ill2 The stench of smoke #as thick around this shelf) It made her stomach lurch) That alone #as proof that she might 'e ill, 'ecause smoke ne$er made her 8ueasy)
*he 'acked a#ay from the shel$es and smashed her thigh into one of the sharp corners on "en(s desk) %a&a yelped and 'ent o$er, gra''ing the hurt muscle, all other thoughts 'anished in that #hite.hot 'urst of pain) I hit it on e-actly the #rong place, she thought, e-asperated, as her head cleared)
"en strode 'ack in and gra''ed %a&a in a hug that lifted her off her feet) 0They(re incredi'le40 he cried, putting her do#n at last) 6e still #ore the glo$es) 0I($e ne$er seen anything like them) o #onder they ga$e you the medallion at fourteen40
*he #anted to correct him, to say she(d actually 'een thirteen, 'ut it #asn(t important) 6is delight in her creation #as important) 0I(m glad you like them)0
"en gra''ed her face, the metal glo$es flesh.#arm against her skin) 9nthusiastically he kissed her first on one cheek, then the other, 'efore he let her go) 0Is a #hole suit really so much trou'le20 he asked)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 1ny reluctance she felt a'out the suit e$aporated) 6e did so much for others! she could do this for him) 0I started my calculations,0 she reassured him) 0I ha$e the air pro'lem sol$ed, at least for short periods) There(s still ho# you(ll see, 'ut #e ha$e all #inter to thrash that out) If you(ll come 'y "ancanor 6ouse on your #ay home a couple of nights ne-t #eek, I(ll take all the measurements I need)0
0<es, of course I(ll come) I ne$er thought I(d 'e grateful for our long #inters,0 "en said #ith a grin) 0 o# tell me, ho# did you do all this2 Please, I(d lo$e to kno#)0
They #ere still talking an hour later #hen the front door slammed) +orrachane had returned) %a&a managed to lea$e #ithout talking to the #oman 'eyond the usual polite e-changes) Once outside, she hea$ed a sigh of relief) "en #as a good man, may'e a great one, 'ut she didn(t like 'eing near him and +orrachane at the same time) *omething #asn(t right there) *he #ished she could talk to "en a'out his mother) It #as strange to think that e$en though she felt they #ere friends, she didn(t feel a'le to discuss +orrachane #ith him) It ran contrary to her last four years, spent #ith friends she could and did say anything to) It made her feel sad and lonely)
ia #ould 'e home 'y no#) %a&a hurried her steps) +ay'e they could go skating)
o# that ;ory could 'lock most of %a&a(s strikes #ithout #atching her, they 'egan the #ork of controlling her po#er) ;ory en$isioned a &ar like those in #hich spices #ere stored, trying to dra# her po#er into it as %a&a circled her) 9ach time she tapped ;ory gently #ith the staff, the younger girl #as distracted and lost control of her magic) *he #as cross enough to gro#l and stamp on the floor #hen the house clock chimed)
0Calm do#n,0 %a&a ordered, shaking her gently 'y one thin shoulder) 0<ou thought you(d ne$er kno# #hen I #as a'out to hit you either)0 3emem'ering her talk #ith "en, she added, 05e($e got all #inter)0
;ory sighed as %a&a opened their protecti$e circle) 0Olennika says you must 'e a #onderful teacher, 'ecause I(m learning really #ell,0 she said) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
5armth crept into %a&a(s cheeks) *he had de$eloped a hearty respect for ;ory(s teacher that one night in the great kitchen) 0*he did20
0I(m glad you t#o think I(m doing #ell)0 ;ory grum'led, leaning her staff against the #all) 0I don(t notice anything different)0
0That(s #hy you(re the student, and #e(re the teachers,0 %a&a said in her loftiest tone)
01nd I thought full mages #ere so #onderful they didn(t need to tease their students,0 ;ory retorted #ith a sniff)
0Tell that to Frostpine,0 %a&a suggested) 06e(s 'een teasing me for years)0
0It(s &ust that ia does so #ell,0 ;ory said) 0I see her getting 'etter) *he(s turning into a lamp that glo#s all the time, only I don(t think anyone notices)0
0Only those #ho see magic can,0 %a&a pointed out) 0<ou(re not used to her getting ahead of you20
0I didn(t say it #as a nice #ay for me to feel,0 grum'led ;ory)
+emory suddenly kicked %a&a) In their second year at 5inding Circle, the four of them had taken classes in anatomy under 5ater temple healers) Time after time she had #atched Tris and "riar ans#er 8uestions! they al#ays kne# the ans#ers) *andry hadn(t cared a'out 'eing second 'est, 'ut %a&a had)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0%on(t #orry a'out ho# #ell ia does,0 she told ;ory more kindly) 0<ou picked a kind of meditation that(s more complicated) I don(t kno# if I #ould ha$e made as much progress in the same time you ha$e, if I hadn(t learned the easier #ay first)0
;ory only shrugged, her mouth set in an unhappy line)
%a&a scram'led for something to 'righten the younger girl(s spirits, and found it) 05ould you like to try an attack.defense com'ination for staff fighting2 I think #e ha$e time)0
;ory(s eyes lit) 0 ot magic20
%a&a grinned) 0;ust com'at)0
;ory gra''ed the staff she(d put aside)
1fter 'reakfast %a&a returned to Teraud(s shop and lost herself in plain #ork #ith no issues of magic to distract her) It #as rela-ing not to ha$e to think of anything 'ut iron as she heated and hammered) 5hen they stopped for midday her muscles #ere pleasantly #arm, #ell e-ercised and tingling) O$er the meal e$eryone #anted to kno# a'out the ;ossaryk 6ouse fire) %a&a told them as much as she could #ithout going into the grim details) 5hen the &ourneymen tried to press her, Teraud changed the su'&ect) 6e caught %a&a(s grateful look and #inked)
Once the &ourneymen and apprentices had left the ta'le, Teraud leaned 'ack in his chair and fi-ed %a&a #ith his deep.set eyes) 0I hear dat fire #as set)0
*he looked do#n) *he #asn(t sure if she ought to speak of that to anyone other than 6eluda or "en)
0T#o killer fires on 1lakut, after months of no fires 'igger dan my forge, e-cept ,adradun(s #arehouse)0 Teraud shook his head) 0*o either the firesprites came 'ack from holidays, or #e got a fire'ug) I ain(t ne$er seen no fire.sprites) I seen a fire'ug, though) "oy t#el$e years old, couldn(t stop, #hate$er they done to him) %ey finally 'urned him after he did a fire killed fi$e people)0
%a&a shuddered) 5hen she #as nine, she had seen a firesetter 'urned ali$e) *he(d had nightmares for #eeks) *he couldn(t think of a #orse death)
0I(ll pray the gods dat la#keepers catch dis one soon,0 Teraud said, getting to his feet #ith a sigh) 0 othin( scarier than a fire'ug) othin()0
0I(ll pray, too,0 %a&a assured him)
%a&a skated home) *he #as too late to meet ia! the skies #ere dark, the lamplighters 'usy at their #ork, and shado#s lay o$er the canal ice) %a&a stum'led three times on une$en spots, 'ut managed not to fall each time) *he #as proud of herself as she glided into the 'asin at "ancanor 6ouse) ,ike ;ory and ia, she had come a good #ay in a short time)
Frostpine #as in 1nyussa(s kitchen, 'asking in front of the large hearth as he idly made links of steel #ire for mail) ia sat across from him, dutifully car$ing 'uttons)
05ould you mind if I came20 Frostpine asked #hen ia stood to follo# %a&a) 0I #on(t 'e in the #ay)0
%a&a put her hands on her hips) 0I could ha$e used your help #hen I started this,0 she pointed out, pertur'ed) %id he #ant to take o$er ia(s teaching2 6ad he seen things %a&a had done #rong2 If he #anted to take o$er, shouldn(t she 'e glad that an e-perienced mage ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #anted to step in2
*top that, replied her sensi'le self) If he thought you had done 'adly, he #ould ha$e mentioned it the night you sa# him meditate #ith her)
0 o, you couldn(t ha$e used my help earlier,0 Frostpine said coolly) 05hen you four #ere gi$en medallions, it meant you had permission to fum'le your #ay to a teaching style, &ust as the rest of us did) It #as also understood that you kne# enough a'out magic to do so successfully) +ost #ho #ear it ne$er ha$e their teachers close enough to o$ersee #hen they find their first students, you kno#)0
0That seems careless,0 %a&a informed him)
0+agic so often is,0 Frostpine reminded her)
%a&a sighed) 6e had to 'e telling the truth a'out teaching.he ne$er lied to her) 0The schoolroom(s cold,0 she pointed out)
0 o, it isn(t,0 1nyussa said) *he #as 'asting a roast) 0I sent a footman up to 'uild the fire #hen 3a$$ikki ia came home)0
%a&a shook her head at the grinning Frostpine) 0Come on if you(re coming, then,0 she said, letting ia lead the #ay)
Once their protections #ere set, %a&a and ia returned to their #ork as ia tucked her magic into her pine knot) Frostpine slipped into his o#n po#er, keeping it in the small, tight 'all it normally occupied inside his chest) 6is attention #as turned in#ard! he(d simply #anted to meditate) %a&a, relie$ed, concentrated on ia) Tonight only a dou'le handful of tendrils escaped the younger girl7 she pulled each 'ack 8uickly, her face serene) %a&a en&oyed ia(s 8uiet and Frostpine(s solidity so much that she &umped #hen the clock ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html struck)
0"eautiful,0 Frostpine said once ia had gone) 0<ou($e 'rought her along #ell) <ou ha$e a knack for teaching)0
%a&a felt #armth in her cheeks that had nothing to do #ith the hearth fire) 0<ou really think so20 she asked shyly)
6e hugged her #ith one arm as they #ent do#nstairs) 0<ou(re patient and steady,0 he said) 0 ia feels your confidence in her) It gi$es her confidence in herself)0
01nd ;ory20 %a&a asked, uncertain) 0%id you #ant to look in on that20
Frostpine shook his head, his mane and 'eard flopping) 0Too early, too cold, and that girl is much too #ide a#ake at that hour) "esides, old *kyfire kne# #hat he #as doing #hen he taught you fighting meditation)0
They had finished supper and gone into the 'ook room #hen a maid came to say 3a$$ot ,adradun had come to call on @iymese %a&a) Once more %a&a took "en up to her room7 once again "en refused tea or anything to eat)
05ere you #orking late20 %a&a asked as she 'egan to measure his upper arms, shoulders, neck, head, and #aist #ith a cord)
"en nodded) 0+other #ants an in$entory of e$ery fur 'efore ,ongnight ta-es are le$ied) 5e ha$en(t gotten the last shipment yet, 'ut she still #ants me to start the count)0
"et#een measuring and #riting measurements do#n, %a&a sneaked looks at his face) 6e ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #as pale and s#eaty) 0Can(t #e offer you something to eat20 she asked)
"en shook his head) 0+y mother keeps supper for me) If I don(t eat e$erything, she says I(m #asting food)0
%a&a felt rage 'oil in her 'elly) 0%oes she e$er ha$e anything good to say of you20 she cried) Then she co$ered her mouth) Only #hen she #as sure of her hold on her temper did she take her hand from her lips) 0I(m sorry) I had no right to say that) I apologi/e)0
For a long moment he #as silent) Finally he murmured, 0It(s a strange friendship #e ha$e, isn(t it20
%a&a stared at him, not sure #hat he meant) It #as an odd thing to say, #hen she thought their friendship #as almost like the ones she had #ith "riar, Tris, and *andry)
"en patted her shoulder) 0I(d 'etter go) *hall I come tomorro#2 Or the ne-t day) I ha$e 'rigade training tomorro# morning and afternoon) *he(ll make me stay till midnight to make up the #ork) The day after tomorro#, then)0 6e hesitated, then asked, 0%o you kno# if the magistrate(s mages ha$e anyone they suspect of the ;ossaryk fire20
%a&a shook her head) 0%o you20
0 o) They 8uestioned me, 'ut I($e heard nothing) I #ould tell you if I had,0 "en assured her) 05ell, that(s the magistrate(s people for you.all eager to get information, and entirely mysterious a'out #hat they do #ith it)0
6e left %a&a unsettled and uneasy, though she couldn(t say #hy) It(s not for you to 8uestion his life, she told herself as she put a#ay her measuring cord) <ou can(t ask a hero to li$e like an ordinary man, to re'el against a cold mother or to marry and ha$e a family again)
"ut he #as her friend7 he(d said as much himself, in a peculiar #ay) In %a&a(s #orld friends #anted their friends to 'e happy, and %a&a kne# "en #asn(t)
6e does so much for others, she thought, lighting a stick of incense at her small Trader shrine) *urely he(s o#ed something for all he(s paid out)
+oonsday #as like *tarsday, e-cept that "en didn(t $isit) %a&a #ent to 'ed #ith the household, though it seemed as if she tossed and turned for hours 'efore she finally slept)
*he #as in partial darkness) 1round her danced the ghosts of flames, pale orange against shado#s) The reek of 'urning #ood, hair, and flesh filled her nose) *omething clicked and rattled in the dark, coming closer)
%a&a struggled, 'ut she couldn(t mo$e) The thing that rattled cra#led up her 'ody and onto her face) It #as a skeleton hand, the metal ring on one finger ice.cold on her nose)
%a&a sat up #ith a gasp) "raids that had dropped across her face as she slept fell a#ay) *he gra''ed them) 6ere #as a gold piece that she had missed #hen she remo$ed the decorations from her hair 'efore 'ed) 5ith a shaky chuckle at her foolishness, she took it off, and put it on her 'edside ta'le)
o# she #as afraid to sleep) Instead she #ent to a #indo# and opened the shutters to the icy night) 1 full moon shone o$er sno#.draped roofs) On the city streets the lamps #ere pale ri$als to the moonlight) %a&a hoisted herself onto the 'road sill. amornese #alls #ere thick.and #rapped her arms around her knees) Things #ere clearer up here in the cold) The fire of emotions al#ays distorted #hat she sa#) In the free/ing air she could see #ithout the heat of affection or admiration to 'lur her thoughts, making them unclear)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html *he thought a'out "en(s collection of tokens) 6e 'rought them a#ay from fires #here he(d done good, he(d said, or that #as the sense of it) ?nless she #as mistaken, though, his recent additions #ere from fires he could only stop from spreading! the 'oardinghouse, the confectioner(s shop, and ;ossaryk 6ouse) In his shoes, she #ould 'e happy ne$er to 'e reminded of those fires) 5ere she "en ,adradun, the 'oardinghouse and ;ossaryk fires #ould look like personal failures) The confectioner(s shop, #hen his ra# firefighters had done so poorly, #ould 'e maddening)
Teraud #as uncomforta'le #ith "en(s crusade against fire) Teraud she kne# as #ell as any piece of iron she had e$er #orked) 6e #as true in e$ery fi'er, not a spot of rust on him, and Teraud didn(t like #hat "en did) *urely Teraud sa# that "en #as Kugisko(s 'est defense against #hat he(d called a fire'ug)
5hat did 6eluda *alt think of "en2 The magistrate(s mage had impressed %a&a) 6o# did she see Kugisko(s firefighter2 5hat did Frostpine make of "en2 +ay'e she ought to find out) *omething #as not right here) *he didn(t kno# #hat it #as, 'ut she could feel it like a faulty #eld)
Perhaps I misunderstood, she thought as she closed the shutters) +ay'e he chooses a token #hen he(s learned something from a fire) That has to 'e it) 6e(s a good man, a real hero) I shouldn(t let nightmares make me cra/y.and perhaps I(d 'etter lea$e the piro/hi #ith &am and fruit alone too) 3ich desserts pro'a'ly had more to do #ith the nightmare than anything else)
On *tarsday, "en came to the house #ell after supper) %a&a escorted him up to her room and 'egan the rest of her measurements for his #aist, hips, legs, ankles, and feet)
0I #on(t see you for a #hile.t#o #eeks at least,0 he said as she measured and #rote do#n num'ers) 0The last fur shipment of the year comes in through I/molka) +other has asked that I meet it and escort it 'ack)0
%a&a stared at him, surprised) 0<ou tra$el in #inter20 she asked) 0"ut you could 'e caught ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html in a storm at any moment)0
"en smiled) 0It(s not as 'ad as you think) The empire keeps #ayhouses e$ery t#enty miles along the merchants roads.it(s ne$er far to shelter) 1nd #e al#ays #ork like this) The 'est time to trade furs is late autumn and early #inter, #hen the pelts are at their finest)0
%a&a shook her head as she continued to measure) 0+o$e your legs a 'it apart20 she asked) 0I don(t mean to 'e rude, 'ut I need thigh measurements)0
01l#ays the last moment you #ant your old teacher #alking in,0 Frostpine said) %a&a &umped at the une-pected sound of his $oice, and $ery nearly measured "en in an area that #ould ha$e shocked them 'oth) 05e ne$er really got properly introduced at ;ossaryk 6ouse,0 Frostpine continued as he came o$er to them) 0I(m Frostpine, and you are the Kugisko miracle #orker)0
0 o miracle #orker,0 "en said glumly as he clasped Frostpine(s hand) 0;ossaryk 6ouse #as a disaster from start to finish) It(s a miracle #e sa$ed any, mostly due to you and %a&a)0
01h, 'ut it #as your organi/ation that sa$ed the other houses and kept the $ictims from dying of e-posure)0 Frostpine leaned against %a&a(s #orkta'le)
06a$e the magistrates turned up any information a'out #ho set the fire20 "en asked) 0I kno# 6eluda *alt is a friend of yours)0
0If they ha$e, they(re keeping it to themsel$es,0 Frostpine ans#ered) 0They &ust asked #hat I sa#) I hear you studied #ith Pa#el :odsforge) 5e($e 'een corresponding for years) 5hat(s he like in person20
%a&a continued to measure, listening to the men talk a'out :odsforge) *he #as glad that Frostpine had come to gi$e "en a proper adult con$ersation.she got the feeling "en rarely ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html talked to people for sheer en&oyment.'ut she #as also concerned) 5hy had Frostpine come here, tonight2 6e could ha$e $isited "en at the #arehouse, or in$ited him for tea)
5hile Frostpine #as the most easygoing of the 5inding Circle teachers, he made sure that he met any ne# person in %a&a(s life) Once a Fire temple no$ice had 'egun to meet %a&a accidentally on her #ay home from the forge) 1fter a fe# #eeks of meetings he had persuaded her to #alk through pri$ate areas of the temple city, #here he stole a fe# kisses) 5hat might ha$e come after that %a&a didn(t kno#) The kisses #ere interesting, 'ut she didn(t like it #hen the no$ice(s hands strayed to her 'ody) *he #as still trying to decide #hat to do on the day that they turned do#n a side path and ran into Frostpine) 6e asked for an introduction) Then he asked other things as the three of them strolled through the gardens! #hat the 'oy studied, #here his family came from, if he meant to take $o#s, ho# long had he 'een at 5inding Circle, #ho his friends #ere)
%a&a ne$er sa# the no$ice again e-cept in the training yards or the dining hall) *he kne# that something had passed 'et#een him and Frostpine as they talked, 'ut she had ne$er figured out #hat) *he didn(t get 8uite the same feeling as Frostpine talked #ith "en no#, 'ut she still didn(t kno# #hy he #as there)
+easuring "en, she noticed #orrisome things) 6e trem'led slightly) It #as almost in$isi'le, 'ut as she #rapped her measuring cord around his 'ody she felt it) 5hen she touched one of his hands, it #as clammy) 6e had a faint sour odor, as if he hadn(t 'athed in a couple of days) The lines around his mouth #ere deeper than e$er) That might 'e the angle from #hich she looked at him and the flickering light) 6e looked like a man #ho #as 'eing hounded 'y /yerui, a hungry ghost.or more likely, a man #ho #as 'eing #orked to death) 5hy did +orrachane dri$e him so2
0I told %a&a I(m off to I/molka to pick up a fur shipment,0 "en e-plained as %a&a measured his feet) 0The #eather.mages claim #e(ll only get light sno#s during that time, 'ut of course you ha$e to treat their predictions #ith caution)0
05eather(s nearly impossi'le to predict for longer than a fe# days,0 Frostpine agreed, though he and %a&a kne# a #eather.mage #hose predictions for the ne-t month #ere al#ays right) 0I assume you carry storm.#arning charms though)0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0 othing 'ut the 'est for ,adradun,0 "en replied) 0:ood for half a day(s notice of storms) I don(t kno# ho# +other can let them out of her sight, they #ere so e-pensi$e, 'ut she al#ays makes me carry them for the last cara$an of the year)0
"ecause she doesn(t #ant to lose her precious furs, %a&a thought grumpily as she gathered her cord, slate, and chalk, and got to her feet)
01ll done20 "en asked)
0;ust one more thing,0 %a&a promised) *he got on a stool and measured the height and #idth of his eye sockets, from one temple to the other) 0In case I #ork out ho# you(ll 'e a'le to see,0 she e-plained as she stepped do#n) 6is eyes #ere 'loodshot, his skin putty. colored) ,ike his hands, his face #as clammy)
0I look for#ard to this construction,0 Frostpine admitted) 0%a&a, you should #rite a paper for the +ages( *ociety #hen you(re done.they lo$e details of unusual #orkings) ,ights'ridge and 5inding Circle #ill #ant copies, too)0
%a&a snorted) *he didn(t need to impress mages she didn(t kno#)
0<ou #on(t help her20 asked "en, surprised) 0I assumed) ) ) 1s you say, the #ork is unusual) *he ran into trou'le #ith those glo$es)0
%a&a ducked her head, #anting to protest, They came out all right in the end4 *he #as surprised that "en had made a typical adult mistake, thinking she couldn(t manage #ithout an older person(s aid) *he thought he kne# her 'etter)
0Oh, she miscalculated, 'ut that(s to 'e e-pected,0 Frostpine replied) 0*he(s the only mage in the #orld #ho has this li$ing metal) It means she has to in$ent magic for it as she goes) I ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html can ad$ise, 'ut the only kind of assistant she needs is one to hold things steady #hile she #orks)0
%a&a flapped a hand at him, grateful for and em'arrassed 'y the praise)
0"esides,0 added Frostpine, 06eluda says she(ll #ant my help in a fe# other matters for the magistrate(s court this #inter) *he seems to think I(ll turn magistrate(s mage at my stage of life) I &ust hope that 'et#een us #e(ll catch the fello# #ho(s setting these fires)0
0<ou(ll do us great ser$ice if you can,0 "en replied) 6e looked at %a&a) 0I must go) I(ll call on you #hen I(m 'ack)0 6e kissed her, right cheek, left cheek) 0I(ll see myself out)0 To Frostpine he said, 0It #as an honor)0
01 pleasure for me,0 Frostpine replied) 0I like meeting %a&a(s friends) *he encounters the most interesting people)0
Once he had gone, Frostpine picked up an iron glo$e form, turning it o$er in his hands) 0<our friend doesn(t look #ell)0
0 o, he doesn(t,0 %a&a agreed) 0"et#een fires, and training, and that mother of his, I don(t kno# #hen he sleeps)0
0Kol(s heard a rumor, put a'out 'y ,adradun(s mother, that you(re looking for a rich hus'and, and "en is your mark)0 %a&a gasped #ith indignation) Frostpine raised a hand to stop her protest) 0I kno# you, don(t forget) *o do Kol and +ata/i) "ut there are men #ho in$ol$e themsel$es #ith young girls, girls younger than you, I(m ashamed to say) 1nd merchant families often marry daughters to men "en(s age and older, 'ecause they can afford a #ife and family) I had #ondered if ,adradun might 'e looking at you)0
%a&a stared at Frostpine) Then the humor of it struck her) 0+e and "en20 she asked, ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html amused) 0 e$er mind that he(s old.0
09arly thirties is not old40 protested Frostpine)
0Old, and a #ido#er, and.really, Frostpine40 *he chuckled)
Frostpine grinned) 01ll right, I kne# I #as #rong almost right off, 'ut I had to make sure) <ou(re #ise for your age, 'ut you aren(t e-perienced in #hat goes on 'et#een men and #omen)0
05hile you ha$e too much e-perience,0 %a&a pointed out) 0One of us has to 'e restrained)0 6e(d managed to make her feel #eepy! he #as looking out for her like a father or a 'rother)
0I($e heard no complaints a'out my conduct,0 Frostpine informed her #ickedly) +ore seriously he added, 05hen I find someone to share my 'ed, I try to ensure that no one gets hurt or lied to) It(s another kind of friendship, though not #hat I(d recommend to someone &ust 'eginning to find out #hat lo$e is)0
%a&a gra''ed a fistful of his 'eard and tugged gently 0*ince I(m not starting that sort of thing, particularly #ith "en, you can rela-, oh #atchful teacher)0
Frostpine stretched, like the panther she sometimes imagined he #as) 0I don(t think he(s interested in your 'ody or your heart) "ut) ) ) 0 6e com'ed his fingers through his 'eard) 0%a&a, something(s not right there,0 he said at last) There #as concern in his dark eyes) 0I don(t kno# #hat it is, 'ut it #orries me)0
0I think so too, sometimes,0 %a&a admitted) 0"ut he(s complicated, Frostpine, and his mother."ookkeeper, don(t log this against me, 'ut I think his mother is a monster) 1nd more than half cracked, if she(s talking that #ay a'out me and him)0
Frostpine hugged %a&a to his side) 0+ay'e it(s &ust as #ell he(s going a#ay for a #hile) Come do#n to the kitchen) 1nyussa #ants $ictims for some pastry e-periments)0
Chapter 1B
5earing the glo$es to help him think, he arri$ed at something that #ould 'e not a lesson 'ut a test, and chose 1irgi Island for it) 5hen he(d presented his plans for firefighter training, their council decided that he asked too much in funds, people to train, and training time) 5hen his demands #ere more reasona'le, they told "en, they #ould 'e happy to hear him again) They sounded like his mother) 1irgi Island had to learn that lessons #ere al#ays far more e-pensi$e than #as preparation for the future) Their council had to learn that it #as folly to turn "ennat ,adradun and his hard.earned e-pertise from their doors)
6e left home an hour and a half 'efore sunrise and #alked to Threadneedle Canal, #here he donned his skates) 1 hard #ind cut into those parts of his face not co$ered 'y scar$es) To a$oid it he kept to the #alls of first Threadneedle, then Kunsel Canal) 6e held a lantern on a pole &ust ahead of him to light his #ay) 1 sense for pe''ly ice let him skate #ithout accident) The glo$es, slung on his 'ack in a 'ag, #ould do him no good if he fell, cracked his head, and fro/e to death) 1irgi Island #ouldn(t learn this necessary lesson)
1t least the #ind kept la#keepers and #atchmen in their shelters) The cre#s #ho le$eled canals and mo$ed sno# #ere still locked up for the night) o one sa# him glide 'et#een islands)
6e(d #anted to do this on 5atersday, as soon as she(d left him #ith the glo$es) It had taken iron control to keep from rushing straight out to try them) 6e had to 'e careful) 6e #anted to set any fire, #ithout planning, &ust to #atch the sheep scram'le and 'leat for their li$es) That #ould ne$er do) The glo$es meant he had to plan more carefully, not less) Cloth, hair, e$en skin couldn(t 'e tracked 'y mages if they 'urned, 'ut magic left traces) The more po#erful the magic, the 'etter chance that a trace #ould remain) 1ny surface he touched #ith the glo$es must 'e completely destroyed 'y the fire)
6e(d #aited and planned for four, nearly fi$e, mortal days, though he(d thought he #ould e-plode #ith impatience) The trip to I/molka ga$e him a reason to 'e a#ay) 6e arranged to meet his escort at the *uroth :ate the hour after da#n) If he timed #hat he did e-actly, e$eryone #ould 'elie$e he #as on the road #hen his ne#est creation unfolded) It meant he couldn(t #atch, 'ut no plan #as perfect)
In I/molka, perhaps, he could e-periment #ith the glo$es and fire 'efore he came home)
The city(s clocks struck the hour 'efore da#n) 6e stopped at the second stair that led from 1irgi to Kunsel Canal and un'uckled his skates) The staff at 1sinding "athhouse #ouldn(t stir until da#n! he had to 'e on the ice #hen they 'egan their day) 6is pri/e #ould heat as they 'egan to sho$el #ood onto the night(s em'ers, 'uilding the fires to heat the huge pools o$er the furnaces) Once the fires #ere roaring, his gift #ould open, its clay outer layer shattered 'y heat, its thick leather #rappings drying until they 'urned) 5hen they did, his surprise #ould e-plode) The merchant #ho had sold him fi$e pounds of the ne# in$ention called 0'oom.dust0 thought "en #as a farmer, looking for a 8uick #ay to clear stu''orn tree stumps from his land) In a #ay "en had not lied! this 'oom.dust #ould clear 8uite a large piece of land)
The lock on the door through #hich #ood #as carried to the cellar #as easy to open) 6e had a set of master keys, granted to him 'y the go$ernor(s council #hen they(d agreed to let him start training programs) 5ith them he could enter all pu'lic 'uildings.the 'athhouses #ere run 'y the city, not the island, council)
Inside the cellar, he closed his lantern and put it do#n, then #aited for his eyes to ad&ust) :ratings in the huge furnace released dull orange light, enough to see 'y) 6e found the main furnace door, t#o sla's of iron #ith thick iron handles) 1ttendants used hea$y glo$es and iron pry 'ars le$ered under the handles to drag the doors open) 9$en #ith the fire at its lo#est the metal #as hot enough to cook on) "en didn(t use the tools! they #ere no#here in sight) The point in any case #as to try out his glo$es)
6e took them from his sack and slid them on) They fit perfectly o$er his knitted glo$es and the hea$y slee$es of his coat) :ripping the iron handle that opened one furnace door, "en pulled) 6e(d counted on his si/e and strength to make up for the lack of a pry 'ar) They ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html did, though he needed 'oth hands and #renched a muscle in his 'ack) *lo#ly the iron door, taller than he #as, s#ung open)
1 desert of em'ers lay in the furnace, heat rippling o$er them) 3eaching into his sack, he 'rought out his de$ice, a glo'e t#ice as 'ig as his head) There #as no need to make this one so it #ould take fore$er to 'urn, gi$ing him hours to get clear) The furnace #ould hatch this egg for him soon) 6e kissed the dry clay surface and pitched the 'all deep into the heart of the glo#ing em'ers) 6e tossed the sack and the lantern in after it)
O$erhead a door slammed) @oices echoed against the tiled surfaces of the 'athhouse proper) "en thrust the open furnace door shut, hanging onto it desperately at the last until he eased it to) 1 slam #ould 'ring the sleepy attendants do#n here on the run)
6e stuffed the metal glo$es do#n the front of his coat and clim'ed out of the cellar) The attendants entered at the far side of the 'uilding.he had #atched their morning routine for t#o #eeks that fall) 6e dou'ted they #ould hear as he used the a-e to smash the lock from the outside) If this entrance sur$i$ed #hat #as to come, the la#keepers #ould think someone had 'roken in to sleep #arm)
6e ran to the canal and strapped on his skates, fingers trem'ling as he secured the 'uckles) The clay #as getting harder and drier on the em'ers) The attendants #ould 'e on their #ay to the #ood stores, to stoke the furnace to #akefulness) Time #as running out7 the eastern sky #as sho#ing red)
6e lunged onto the ice) Three strokes and he #ent spra#ling, the price of skating #ith his mind on other things) 6e took a 'reath and forced himself to stand carefully) 6e(d fallen 'eside a #ood pile) Cuickly he cut off his 'oot co$ers, pulled them out of his skate straps, 'alled them around his knitted glo$es, and thrust them under a fe# logs) 6e al#ays carried a $ial of oil and flint and steel in his pockets! he poured the oil o$er the logs that concealed his clothes, then set it to 'urn) Then he kept his eyes on the ice and skated off slo#ly)
ear ;oice Point he turned to #atch the eastern sky) Those #ho liked to take steam 'efore #ork #ould 'e lining up at the 'athhouse doors) *ome might already 'e inside) "en sighed) It #as hard to &udge ho# long each de$ice took to do its &o') "lack po#der 'oom.dust #as ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html particularly unrelia'le, though effecti$e #hen it finally #orked)
6e heard a muffled thump, then a 'ooming roar) 1 geyser of #ater, fire, #ood, and #ho kne# #hat else 'le# into the sky) "en(s 'reath caught in his chest as oily 'lack smoke and fountaining #ater soared a'o$e the 'uildings that stood 'et#een him and the 'athhouse) It #as 'eautiful) 6e shook #ith the need to go 'ack) 6o# much #ould 'e left2 6o# many #ould 'e ali$e2
6e 'it his lo#er lip until it 'led) 6is eyes stung7 he #as s#eating ferociously) 6e must not do it) 6e had to follo# his plan) 6e could not 'e seen here)
*omeho# he forced himself to turn and skate on) 6e and his escort must 'e out of the city 'efore #ord reached *uroth :ate of the disaster on 1irgi Island)
On the day "en left, %a&a practiced com'at meditation #ith ;ory and puttered a'out after her 'ath, repairing &e#elry for +ata/i(s friends and mulling o$er the li$ing metal suit) *he #as inspecting a triple chain like a #hite gold #aterfall #hen she heard loud $oices 'elo#) Curious, she #ent to the ser$ants( 'ack stair, closest to the noise)
01ll those old fur thro#s, and I mean all) %on(t argue anymore, you put me out of patience)0 That #as +ata/i, sounding unusually crisp) 0Tea, kettles) <anna preser$e us, I($e ne$er seen such a thing, ne$er) 1loe 'alm, all #e can spare) %on(t stint) +uslin and linen for 'andages) +ake up 'eds in the co# loft and the storage rooms . #e can take t#enty people if they don(t mind cro#ding) 6alf of *tifflace *treet is in flames)0
%a&a pelted do#nstairs) +ata/i stood in the hall to the slush room, hands to her temples, as ser$ants hurried to do her 'idding) +aids 'ustled to and fro, 'uilding piles on either side of their mistress! the chest of medicines that +ata/i kept for emergencies, cheap tin mugs, 'o#ls, and ta'le#are, and 'ottles of spirits used as stimulants and soothers in open crates) Footmen emerged from a storeroom #ith rolls of can$as used for shelters o$er their shoulders7 a house'oy follo#ed #ith a collection of long tent poles)
%a&a looked at +ata/i) 05hat happened20 she asked) 0Can I help20
+ata/i(s dark eyes #ere haunted) 0I #as $isiting one of Kol(s aunts) *he li$es on the other side of Kadasep) 5e #ere to go shopping) 5e) ) ) 0 +ata/i(s lips trem'led) *he put her hand o$er them, trying to compose herself) +aids arri$ed #ith more supplies7 the footmen carried them outside) 05e heard the fire 'ells, of course,0 +ata/i said) 0There(s.there(s a 'athhouse on 1irgi Island, a 'ig one, #here *tifflace *treet and "ar'/an *treet come together) They said the furnace e-ploded.it(s &ust a crater no#) The #hole 'lock around it is 'urning)0
%a&a clenched her hands) *he didn(t #ant to do this again, 'ut) ) ) surely it #ould 'e 'etter than ;ossaryk) 1nd may'e she could send the fire some#here.into #hat #as left of the 'athhouse, that might #ork)
0%a&a2 1re you all right20 asked +ata/i)
%a&a rested a hand on +ata/i(s shoulder) 0If there(s fire, may'e I can help,0 she reminded her hostess) 0%o #e kno# #here Frostpine is20
03ight here)0 6e came from the kitchen, tying his crimson ha'it o$er 'reeches and shirt) 0+ata/i, #e need horses)0
"y the time Frostpine and %a&a reached the fire /one, the 'la/es #ere contained inside the streets around the destroyed 'athhouse) +ost #ere out, ha$ing consumed e$ery house near the center of the destruction) 3ather than fight them, no# that no one or nothing else could 'e sa$ed, %a&a and Frostpine let them alone) Instead they &oined the $olunteers #ho cared for the sur$i$ors and mo$ed them as 8uickly as possi'le onto sleighs that carried them to hospitals or families #ho #ould take them in) %a&a and Frostpine la'ored until mid. afternoon, #hen the last $ictims ali$e #ere taken a#ay) o# the #agons for the dead arri$ed) The 'odies had 'een placed in one street under pieces of can$as) The thought of ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html loading them on #agons made %a&a(s eyes fill #ith tears) *he tried not to look relie$ed #hen the la#keepers ordered them home) They said others #ould finish up)
They didn(t lea$e immediately) Instead they #alked to the deep 'lack gouge in the earth that #as all that remained of the 'athhouse)
0*hurri defend us,0 Frostpine #hispered, taking the sight in) 0%oes this look familiar to you20
%a&a nodded) In her first summer at 5inding Circle, pirates had attacked the temple city and neigh'oring *ummersea) They 'rought #ith them a ne#, terri'le #eapon, a su'stance packed in 'aked clay 'alls and lit #ith fuses) 5here$er the 'oomstones and the 'lack po#der they carried hit, they e-ploded) Their mark #as a distincti$e sun'urst pattern in 'lackened ground and scorched #ood)
0+ay'e the furnace 'le# up, 'ut it #as helped along,0 Frostpine said grimly) 0This #asn(t an accident)0 6e #ent to the nearest la#keeper and spoke to her) 1s %a&a #aited for him, something caught her eye) 1 freak of the e-plosion had dri$en a triangle of gla/ed tile like an arro#head into a chunk of #ood! it #as em'edded there) *he tried to pry it loose, until a thought intruded! 5as she doing as "en did, taking mementoes of a fire2
*he released the tile as if it #ere a $iper, #iping her fingers on her coat) 6er skin cra#led) 6o# could "en do that2 6o# could he do it e$en after a fire #here he(d sa$ed li$es and homes2 It #as like hoarding pieces of 'ad luck)
1t least he(s not here for this, she thought dully) It #ould 'reak his heart)
Frostpine returned) 0,et(s go,0 he told %a&a, #rapping an arm around her shoulders) 0*omeplace #here fire isn(t the enemy)0
The ne-t day, Firesday, %a&a could not stay still! if she did, the image of ro#s of the co$ered dead haunted her) *he couldn(t e$en concentrate on the li$ing metal suit) 1t last she decided to skate to 1lakut Island to $isit the fancy stores on 6ollyskyt 5ay) *he had forgotten the confectioner(s shop, or the hole #here it had stood, #as there) *eeing the charred gap ruined her desire to look at other smiths( &e#elry) Instead she skated to "a/niu/ Island) There she #andered the open air markets on *arah *treet, 'uying her midday from dumpling and grilled meat carts, #ashing it do#n #ith cider) *he 'ought notepaper to #rite letters on, then ne# 8uill pens to #rite #ith, and a packet of roasted chestnuts to eat #hile she #rote)
*he e$en reached 9$erall "ridge in time to race ia home! she lost) 5hen ia teased her as they glided into the 'oat 'asin, %a&a replied loftily that ia had taken unfair ad$antage of her, 'ecause she #as laden do#n #ith parcels) *he #ould ha$e added more, 'ut the sight of the refugee children housed 'y the "ancanors stopped her) They had gone still 'eside a sno# fort they 'uilt near the alley) %a&a looked at the packet of chestnuts, still #arm in her hand, then offered it to them) One 'oy accepted it, ne$er taking his eyes off her, then ran 'ack to his friends) %a&a and ia remo$ed their skates in silence) Once they(d left their outdoor gear in the slush room, they #ent upstairs to meditate)
1fter they finished, %a&a #ent to her room) 1 maid found her there) 0@iymese,0 she said, 'o''ing a curtsey, 0@iymese *alt has come, and re8uests a moment of your time) *he is in the front parlor)0
0%oesn(t she #ant Frostpine20 %a&a asked, confused) 06e(s at Teraud(s)0
The girl shook her head) 0@iymese *alt re8uested you)0
%a&a sighed and #ent do#nstairs) The front parlor #as not a room for a 'ig girl #ho #as most comforta'le in a smithy) The delicately car$ed and painted furnishings #ere cushioned in 'right yello# and #hite striped silk7 porcelain and crystal figures #ere on ta'les and shel$es e$ery#here) The #indo#s #ere paned in costly glass, and protected 'y gold and #hite 'rocade curtains)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 6eluda *alt sat in one dainty chair, looking like a market #oman in the empress(s sitting room) 6er go#n #as sensi'le 'lack #ool, old.fashioned, #ith long slee$es) 1 #hite 'louse #ith a round collar rose a'o$e its neckline) The $eil on her stra#like dyed 'londe hair #as solid, sensi'le #ool like her go#n, 'lack, #ith a tiny #hite em'roidered 'order) The tea glass in her soot.streaked hands looked simply ridiculous) 1t her side #as a large leather 'ag that %a&a supposed contained her mage kit) It looked &ust as out of place as 6eluda did)
0%on(t they use proper mugs around here20 she demanded of %a&a)
5ary as she felt, %a&a had to smile at that) 0 o more than they must,0 she told her guest) 0It makes their teeth hurt, or something)0
6eluda set her glass on the ta'le ne-t to her) 0%a&a, I ha$e ne#s, and some 8uestions) This concerns the e-plosion and fire on 1irgi Island)0
0I sa#,0 %a&a said grimly) 0They told you Frostpine and I think they used 'oom.dust20
0They did) I didn(t get to the site until this morning.I #as out past midnight o$er a dou'le murder in "lackfly "og,0 6eluda e-plained, and sighed) 05hy the idiots didn(t &ust pick up the hus'and right a#ay) ) ) it(s usually the hus'and, or the lo$er)0 *he drummed her fingers on the arm of her chair) 0 e$er mind) The thing is, I($e had a chance to go o$er the area) +ost traces of the crime.of the criminal.are destroyed in e-plosions and fires, of course) "ut some traces are too strong to 'e #iped clean 'y fire) I found traces of your magic)0
%a&a felt as if her spirit had stepped 'ack to lea$e her 'ody as a seated shell) Traces of her po#er2 *he and Frostpine hadn(t e$en tried to stop the fires) 1ll they had done #as muscle #ork, not magic)
6eluda finished her tea and poured herself another glass) 0*ome of my colleagues #anted to look at you and Frostpine) The sheep.'rains thought that since 'lack po#der comes from the south, and you t#o are from the south, and the most suspicious fires 'egan after your ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html arri$al, #ell4 The matter #as sol$ed) They #ere going to 'ring you in for 8uestioning)0
%a&a #asn(t that detached from her 'ody! she felt her skin creep) ot e$en la#.a'iding citi/ens heard the phrase 0'rought in for 8uestioning0 comforta'ly) ?nless they had a mage skilled in interrogation spells.such mages #ere usually e-pensi$e to hire.la#keepers used crude, painful means to 8uestion people)
0%on(t #orry) They(ll 'e good little co# pats for no#)0 6eluda smiled, a flinty look in her eyes) 0They don(t understand character as I do)0 *he sipped her tea) 0I #ant you to take a mage(s look at something, though)0 *he reached into her open 'ag #ith 'oth hands and pulled out a hea$y o'&ect #rapped in silk magically treated to protect its contents) :ently she put the o'&ect on the ta'le 'et#een her and %a&a and opened the silk to re$eal a cur$ed, t#isted iron 'ar co$ered in soot)
%a&a did not #ant to touch it) *he already kne# she #ouldn(t like #hat she learned) It #as fire.'listered, its shape #arped! e$erything a'out it made her t#itch)
*he looked up to find kindness in 6eluda(s eyes, 0If I had another #ay to do this, I #ould,0 the #oman told her 8uietly)
%a&a lifted her right hand and held it o$er the iron) *he #as trem'ling) 0+ust I touch it20 she asked) 6eluda nodded)
%a&a laid her plain hand on the iron 'ar) It #as solid.no #onder 6eluda had needed 'oth hands to lift it) 1s she #rapped her fingers around it, %a&a #as slammed #ith feelings) *he #as the 'ar) @iolent force rammed her from 'ehind, 'lo#ing her off the $ast iron shield she #as #elded to) Fire raced in her #ake) *he plunged into cold sno# that hissed and shrank from her)
"iting her lo#er lip, %a&a released the iron) *ometimes she felt a thing 'earing do#n on her like a storm &ust o$er the hori/on) *he sensed that no#) If she turned the full #eight of her po#er on this piece, cur$ed and t#isted half around 'y an incredi'le 'urst of heat, her ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html life #ould change) *he could put it off) *he could) *he could 'e safe a day more, a month more) *ooner or later, the accounting demanded in this metal 'ar #ould come due and she #ould ha$e to pay it, 'ut she did not ha$e to do that today)
01re you done20 6eluda in8uired)
%a&a shook her head and set her right hand on it) Then she fle-ed her left hand, feeling the 'rass that coated it grip her flesh) *he reached out, seeing the hand as a stranger might! 'right golden metal, dark 'ro#n skin, trem'ling fingers) *he laid her metal palm on the t#isted 'ar, and clenched 'oth hands around it)
*he #as inside the iron and on the inside of her o#n skin) *omeho# her hands #ere 'igger) They had strange 'umps in the &oints) o, they #eren(t hers, e-actly) There #as a man in her skin, a 'ig man) 6e strained to pull the iron 'ar, his s#eat oiling her skin from the inside)
%idn(t he understand a'out the iron stick, the 'ent one that men used to open the furnace door at her 'ack2 5hy didn(t he use that instead of hands2 The crooked, hea$y 'ar #as a 8uicker, easier #ay to help her do her &o')
6e dragged, and dragged, and dragged, until she did as she #as supposed to) *he dre# on the massi$e iron door that shielded her from the fire on the other side, pulling it until the shield mo$ed, letting a #ash of heat pass her) *he felt the heat inside the furnace, steady and calm, as it al#ays #as during the coldest hours) The fire didn(t fool her) *he kne# ho# 8uickly it could roar up #hen men tossed #ood onto it)
The hands that #ere her and not her let go, lea$ing a taste of her 'rass skin on the iron handle)
%a&a plunged into the furnace of her po#er, dra#ing strength to reach to that image of her 'rass hands) One of them held a large round thing) That hand tossed the round thing into the furnace) Then 'oth 'rass hands gripped %a&a.the.furnace.door.handle, pushing her and ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html the iron door at her 'ack slo#ly into place, 'et#een the fire and cold air) %a&a(s 'rass hands released her iron self and $anished)
1s the iron handle, she didn(t ha$e long to #ait until her people came to open the door at her 'ack) They ne$er gra''ed her #ith their #eak hands! she #ould ha$e seared them to the 'one) Instead they used the crooked pry 'ar to le$er her and her door open)
They thre# #ood past her, into the heat, then 'egan to close the doors against the rapidly gro#ing 'la/e) There #as a th#ap that made her entire #orld shudder) 1 $ery hard thrust knocked her clean off her door and t#isted her around on herself) *he 'lasted through a man(s 'ody) On she fle#, into the open air and cold sno#)
6eluda #as talking as %a&a pulled free of the iron) %a&a 'arely heard) *he tried to moisten her lips #ith her tongue, 'ut it too #as dry) *he 'lindly felt for a tea glass)
0,et me,0 6eluda said) Picking up %a&a(s glass, she muttered in amornese) *he #ent to the door and flung it open to re$eal the maid #ho sat there #aiting for any re8uest) 0:et me some proper mugs, and a cloth soaked in cold #ater)0
%a&a heard those #ords as if they #ere spoken at a distance) 6er face #as num') 1 chasm had opened in her 'elly7 she s#ayed on its edge) In her mind she sa# "en as he knelt 'efore his sto$e, sifting em'ers in a glo$ed hand) *he sa# a 'lack 'one hand #ith a gold ring, and a half.melted figure of a local goddess) 0 ot.0 she croaked)
06ush,0 ordered 6eluda) 0I don(t #ant anyone to o$erhear)0 5hen the maid returned #ith a tray, the magistrate(s mage took it) 0"ack to the kitchen,0 she ordered) 0%on(t come #ithin a #eek of this room, understand20
6eluda closed the door and set the tray on a ta'le) 5ith a hand mo$ement she thre# a magical 'arrier o$er the door) Then she took the #et, folded cloth and laid it across the 'ack of %a&a(s neck) The coolness made %a&a shudder, and straighten) *he had 'een sitting folded o$er, as if kicked in the stomach) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
6eluda poured tea into 'oth mugs) 06ere)0 *he thrust %a&a(s mug into her hands and folded the girl(s fingers around it) 0It(s not s#eetened)0
%a&a sipped carefully) 6ot and strong, the tea 'urned its #ay do#n to that chasm in her 'elly) *he took another sip, then a third, and a fourth) 1t last she put the mug do#n and shifted the cloth on her neck, holding the ends against the pulse points under her ears) ,ike the tea it helped to clear her head, 'ut neither cloth nor tea stopped the 8ui$er of her lips or the sting in her eyes)
0I don(t understand,0 she told the #oman) 0It.it(s iron, and metal can(t lie to me, 'ut.it makes no sense)0
0I sa# the glo$es here,0 6eluda e-plained) 0<ou smith.mages, you(d no more start a fire to destroy than you #ould 'eat a dog to make him $icious) 9ither I am #ell past my game and I ne$er spotted you as a danger, or something you made left the mark of your magic on the furnace door) If that piece hadn(t 'lo#n clear, #e might ne$er ha$e picked up the trace of your po#er) Of your glo$es, used 'y the person you made them for)0
0 o,0 %a&a said #oodenly) *he refused to 'elie$e it)
0I 'egan to #onder at ;ossaryk 6ouse,0 6eluda continued, her $oice infle-i'le) 0The fire that came after ,adradun #as slighted 'y the island(s council) "urning one of their houses. #e #ould ha$e 8uestioned ,adradun at the $ery least) 6e #as careful) "urning the home of one of their mistresses) ) ) tricky thinking) In my #ork, coincidences are suspicious) 1nd ,adradun said he agreed #ith you that fires #ere 'eing set) 6e had to say that, 'ecause you had already told me) Other#ise I dou't he(d ha$e dra#n the magistrates( attention to it) ,adradun kno#s e$ery inch of the city) 6e had the go$ernor(s lea$e to e-plore as he trained his 'rigades) 1nd after a long summer #ith no 'ig fires, a ,adradun #arehouse 'urns) The "a/niu/ mages slipped up there) They should ha$e 8uestioned him, and they didn(t)0
*o much didn(t make sense, %a&a thought) That collection of 'lackened, foul ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html mementoes) ) ) 0*omeone tired of 'eing ignored,0 he(d said during a $ery odd con$ersation) 01re you gi$ing up on me20 he(d asked)
0I #on(t 'elie$e it,0 she insisted, trying to sound forceful) 06e(s a hero) 6e(d ne$er 'urn a houseful of people 'ecause he #as angry #ith someone 'arely connected to them)0
0I(m thinking as he thinks,0 6eluda replied gently) 0<ou learn ho# to do that, you($e 'een at this as long as I ha$e) %on(t look at him as a friend) ,ook at him for #ho he is, +orrachane ,adradun(s son) Killers like "ennat, they(re sad #hen they(re little, #hen someone knocks them a'out like toys, 'ut not #hen they gro# up) The only #ay #e learn ho# adults act is from the adults #ho raise us) The children of monsters 'ecome monstrous, too)0
*he leaned for#ard and held %a&a(s eyes #ith her o#n as she took %a&a(s hands in her dry ones) 0+orrachane #as fined ten times 'y the island council for 'eating ser$ants) 6er younger sons fled the city as soon as they #ere a'le7 her hus'and died young, pro'a'ly shrieked to death) 1nd "ennat2 The first time in his life he got kindness and attention #as #hen his family died in an accidental fire) The second time #as #hen people he trained sa$ed li$es in another fire) 1nd so it goes, 'urning after 'urning) People are sa$ed, houses are sa$ed) Councils hear him #ith respect) 6e isn(t +orrachane ,adradun(s idiot 'urden of a son.she called him that in front of a room full of people.he isn(t that #hen something 'urns) 9-cept he does his &o' too #ell) 6e(s gotten rid of too many fire ha/ards) People get accustomed to his #ork, and the num'er of 'ig fires drops off) 3espect, attention.he only gets those if the fires get #orse) If there are no fires, #ell, if he starts one, and sa$es e$ery'ody, there(s no harm done, practically)
0*o he sets a fire) Then a 'igger fire ne-t time, then a 'igger one) People die) 1nd he is gi$en a tool that #ill let him shape huge fires)0 6eluda stopped) Fum'ling in a pocket, she pulled out a handkerchief and thrust it at %a&a)
Only then did %a&a reali/e that tears ran do#n her face in steady streams) 0<ou don(t kno#,0 she #hispered) 9$en in her o#n ears she sounded #eak)
0I think I do,0 6eluda replied 8uietly) *he pointed to the t#isted iron handle) 0Tell me I(m ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html #rong) Tell me he didn(t use your glo$es to pitch something loaded #ith 'lack po#der 'oom.dust into the furnace, something to protect the 'oom.dust for half an hour or so) 5hen the morning(s 'usiness started, his creation e-ploded, taking the entire furnace #ith it) Thirty.three dead right no#, from the 'athhouse and the homes around it that 'urned) *i-ty.eight are in hospitals all around the city) *ome #on(t li$e) It(s his handi#ork, isn(t it20 *he leaned 'ack in her chair and laced her hands o$er her stomach)
06e(s my friend,0 %a&a told her)
06e(s the fire(s friend,0 #as the 'rutal reply) 0It(s the only thing he lo$es)0
%a&a #iped her face, then ran a #arm hand o$er the linen) 5hen she returned the handkerchief to 6eluda, it #as dry) 06e did it,0 %a&a said) 06e used my glo$es.glo$es I made to help people.he used them to 'lo# people to pieces and 'urn them ali$e)0 1 tear rolled do#n her cheek) *he s#iped it a#ay #ith an impatient hand) 0I made something good, something 'right, and he, he dirtied it) This piece of iron tore through a man(s 'ody #hen the furnace e-ploded) I li$ed that)0 *he had to stop, and drink her tea, and eat a cookie, and #ipe her eyes on her slee$e again) Through it all 6eluda *alt #aited, drinking her o#n tea, her eyes not lea$ing %a&a)
1s she poured fresh tea, %a&a thought of something she had felt through her glo$es) 0"ut he #asn(t &ust doing a &o' that #ould yield something he #anted) 6e liked it) 6e #as all, all giggly inside) ,ike a nasty little 'oy putting a nail on his sister(s chair)0
0They like e-citement, criminals of this stripe,0 replied the magistrate(s mage) 0%anger, the risk of arrest, all your senses a#ake.it(s like dragonsalt, or 'liss leaf, or #ake paste) 1t first a taste is enough) +ay'e the second taste is as good, 'ut the third isn(t) <ou need more) 1nd more after that) 9-citement(s a drug)0
06o# could I not kno#20 %a&a asked)
0"ecause for all you(re an accredited mage at fourteen, #ith the kind of po#er that most ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html mages #histle for, you(re still human,0 6eluda informed her) 0I didn(t suspect till ;ossaryk 6ouse, and I($e 'een at this game forty years) "laming yourself is natural enough, 'ut silly) "lame +orrachane) *he made him #hat he is) 1nd 'lame him) 6e kno#s #hat he does is #rong, or he(d &ust 'urn the first thing he sees) 6e picks, he #orks out a plan, and he goes to a lot of trou'le not to get caught) 6e could stop) 6e doesn(t #ant to)0 *he #atched %a&a think a'out this, then asked, 05ill you testify against him at the magistrate(s court2 5ill you tell the &udges #hat your po#er has &ust told you.0 she pointed to the t#isted iron.0and #hat you ha$e o'ser$ed20
%a&a got up and #ent o$er to the #indo#, leaning her face against its icy panes) People passed 'y on "lyth *treet outside the open gates, laughing and talking) 06e keeps mementoes,0 she said, hating herself for the 'etrayal) 0In his study, at home, 'ehind his desk) 6e said he took them from fires #here he accomplished something) I 'elie$ed him, e-cept) ) ) 0 %a&a hesitated)
09-cept20 6eluda prodded)
0I(m almost positi$e three are from the fires I kno# of,0 %a&a said) The pane on #hich she leaned had gone #arm) *he shifted to another, taking comfort from the chill of the glass on her skin)
6eluda got up and 'egan to pace, dodging furniture and knickknacks) 0I didn(t kno# that) 5e ha$e him) 5e ha$e him) 5e(ll need time to #ork the proper spells.0
06e(s gone for t#o #eeks,0 %a&a told her) 0+ore, he said, if the #eather isn(t good)0
0I kno# he(s gone,0 6eluda said) 0I(m using the time to 'uild the case against him)0 *he re#rapped the iron 'ar and placed it in her leather satchel, then straightened and looked at %a&a) 0<ou may discuss this #ith Frostpine, if you like, 'ut please, no one else) <ou kno# ho# gossip spreads)0
%a&a nodded) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
0*hould I ha$e you s#ear.20 6eluda asked, then shook her head) 0<ou(ll hold your tongue) I($e left messages at the southern gates and ,adradun 6ouse, that I #ould like a #ord #hen he comes 'ack) 1ll $ery ordinary, nothing to #orry a'out) If you see him 'eforehand, don(t say anything) 6is mother is a po#erful and #ealthy #oman) I #ouldn(t put it past her to help him escape, if only to preser$e the family name) 5e must 'e $ery careful)0
0I #ill,0 %a&a #hispered)
6eluda came o$er to rest a hand on her shoulder) 0I(m sorry,0 she said) 0Talk it out #ith Frostpine, 'ut make sure no one else hears)0 *he lifted her satchel #ith a grimace) 0I(ll get you #ord as I can)0 *he left #ithout saying good'ye)
Chapter 1D
It #as the most ridiculous thing) "en and his escort reached the first inn on the imperial road shortly after dusk) They set out at da#n the ne-t day, only to encounter their cara$an an hour(s ride from the #aystation)
0<ou #ouldn(t 'elie$e it,0 the foreman told "en as they all headed 'ack to Kugisko) 0The roads to the #est are nearly #ide open.the mildest #inter anyone can remem'er) 5e only had to dig oursel$es out once, at that turn near Thistledo#n, #here the #ind(s so 'ad)0
0I can(t say I(m heart'roken,0 "en forced himself to reply casually) 0<ou sa$ed me a trip)0 1nd the chance to e-periment in I/molka, #here he didn(t need to 'e so careful) 6e fumed a'out that, 'ut he also considered his ne-t Kugisko lesson) *hip8uarter Island appealed to him, 'ut there #ere other places as good, if not 'etter)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 6e #ondered ho# many had died in the 'athhouse fire) 5ithout him to direct the firefighters, he kne# they #ould ha$e lost plenty of the surrounding 'uildings and their residents as #ell) The e-citement of that spout of flame and smoke had faded so 8uickly, and he hadn(t seen any of the results up close) 6e(d stop 'y the remains in a day or so, 'ut it #ouldn(t 'e the same) 6e needed something else) *omething #here he could sho# them all #hat he #as made of)
They spent the night in the #aystation outside Kugisko(s #alls) one of the ,adradun riders mentioned it, 'ut all of them looked for#ard to a last night of 8uiet 'efore they dealt #ith +orrachane) 1t *uroth :ate the ne-t morning they #a$ed to the guards and #ould ha$e ridden on through.there #as no line, today 'eing 5atersday.'ut for the sergeant #ho ran up to "en #a$ing a paper) 0@iymese 6eluda *alt asked me to gi$e you this #hen you returned,0 she said, offering it to "en) 0It #as left &ust yesterday) If she(d #aited a day, she could ha$e spoken to you herself40 *he #a$ed them on cheerfully)
6eluda *alt) *omething cold 'le# across the 'ack of "en(s neck as he opened the unsealed note) Its contents #ere innocent enough!
3a$$ot ,adradun, I ha$e one or t#o 8uestions #ith regard to your o'ser$ations of the 'oarding.house fire and the fire at ;ossaryk 6ouse) I #ould appreciate it if you #ould contact me upon your return, #hen it is con$enient) The go$ernor has asked me to attend to these matters, and I #ill 'e your eternal ser$ant if you could help me handle the go$ernor) . 6eluda *alt
5ell4 he thought, pleased) 1 mage #ho didn(t think her spells #ould sho# her e$erything she had to kno#, that #as unusual in his 'ook) *he had also gi$en him an opportunity, the chance to lead her in$estigation in the #rong direction)
6alf distracted 'y his plans, "en escorted the cara$an to the #arehouse and #atched them unload until he got 'ored) 6e tossed the key to his foreman #ith orders to lock up and return it the ne-t day, then rode home) It #as only mid.morning7 not only #ere the streets fairly empty still, 'ut his mother #ould 'e at temple, lea$ing him rare time alone) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Once he reached ,adradun 6ouse, he tended his horse, cursing his mother(s refusal to keep e$en one ser$ant there on 5atersday) Inside the house #as dark and silent) +orrachane ne$er left so much as a single lamp lit #hen they #ere out) "en stopped in the kitchen to gather a fe# coals in a carry.dish, so he could light his office lamps and 'uild a fire in his sto$e)
1s careful as he #as, #ith only some orange coals for light, he 'anged into a hall#ay ta'le) 6e cursed! the edge had struck his hip, sending a 'olt of pain through his leg)
1 slight rustle and thud greeted his curse)
05ho(s there20 he called)
*ilence) "en stepped 8uietly into the main sitting room and lit a lamp from his coals, then took his grandfather(s s#ord from the 'rackets o$er the icy hearth) "lade in one hand, lamp in the other, 'reath steaming in the chilly air, he #alked do#n the hall to his study, lightly, so no floor'oards #ould s8ueak)
6is study #as empty, though he #as sure the sound had come from there) 6e #ent 'ack to search the other rooms off the hall #ithout success) "othered still.he kne# #hat he(d heard, and it #asn(t mice.he searched the house, checking their &e#el 'o-es and +orrachane(s supposedly secret caches of money) othing #as missing) 6e found no one)
6is heart still chattered as he set the s#ord in its place and returned to his study, lamp in hand) Inside he opened the shutters, started a fire, then looked around) There #as a folded sheet of paper on his desk, identical to the one in his coat pocket) On the outside of the note he sa# a note in his mother(s hard hand! 5hat is this2 5hy does this #oman #ant to speak to you2
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html "en opened the paper #ith a finger) It #as the same note.polite, 'usinesslike.that the sergeant had gi$en him) 6e let it close and looked at his shel$es and desk) 6is mother had come here already, he kne# that7 she did it e$ery time he #ent a#ay) 0*traightening,0 she called it) 6e called it poking her nose into his correspondence, dra#ings, and 'ooks, making sure he didn(t plan to escape her) It #as an insult he(d come to li$e #ith, 'ut he #as getting tired of it, and tired of her)
6e checked his memento shel$es last) *he ne$er touched those, at least) *he said they #ere disgusting, that she #ouldn(t dirty her hands #ith them, 'ut "en kne# #hy she let them 'e) They frightened her) 6e liked that)
6e smiled no#, remem'ering her fear, until the smile fro/e on his mouth) 1t least three items had 'een mo$ed) 6is #ife(s hand! he(d searched the ashes for hours to collect the remains, 'ut in the end, he couldn(t 'ear to let all of her go into her gra$e) 6e(d #ired the 'ones together himself, #eeping as he(d done it) ?ntouched, the #ire #as enough to hold the hand upright and outstretched) *hift it, and some 'ones #ould 'e knocked out of line) The tips of three fingers had fallen o$er 'ack#ard)
1 lump of crystal, riddled #ith cracks, had 'een replaced cur$ed side up) 6e disliked the cur$ed side) 1nd the half.melted figure of <orgiry, taken from the neck of the maid #ho had sa$ed t#o infants, had 'een mo$ed)
*omeone had 'een searching his mementoes) *omeone #ho, in all likelihood, carried an in$isi'ility charm) *omeone #ho had taken nothing, #ho had only looked) 1nd no# "en had t#o notes from 6eluda *alt.*alt the suspicious, *alt the cle$er, *alt the 'est) The cold draft across his neck #as suddenly a north#ester off the *yth)
5ell)
1s usual, he #as ready for #hate$er the gods thre# at him) 6is plans for this day #ere long prepared) The time had come to 'urn a#ay his old life)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 6is chief regret #as that he #ould ne$er see that li$ing metal suit, ne$er #alk into an inferno as %a&a could) 1t least he had the glo$es) 6e #ould take care of them and use them to further his understanding of fire)
9$erything #as ready 'y the time his mother returned from @rohain(s temple) 0<ou40 +orrachane snapped #hen she sa# him) 05hy are you 'ack so soon2 6o# e$en you could 'ungle so easy a thing as a simple escort trip.0
0*hut up,0 he said, cutting his mother off for perhaps the first time in her life)
06o# dare you interrupt me20 +orrachane(s mouth #as flat #ith rage, her eyes poisonous)
"en shrugged) 0I kno#, +other) I(m surprised myself) o# that I($e done it, though, it doesn(t seem that difficult) It(s ne$er too late to learn, so they say)0
5atersday afternoon %a&a #as $irtually alone in the house) ia had gone to $isit +orrachane) +ost of the adult refugees #ere meeting #ith the 1irgi Island council to discuss #hat to do ne-t) 9idart and Peigi "ancanor #ere 'uilding sno# forts in the courtyard #ith the refugee children) The ser$ants #ho had offered to #ork that day #ere scattered o$er the large house) ;ory #as at Potcracker(s kitchen, trying to impro$e her mastery o$er ste#s, #hile +ata/i and Kol paid calls on friends, and Frostpine and 1nyussa $isited a #inter fair) That left %a&a in the 'ook.room, reading amornese history)
0%a&a20 ia stood in the door#ay, pale under her 'right red cap) 0I think something(s #rong at ,adradun 6ouse) 1unt +orrachane al#ays e-pects me at this hour and lets me in, 'ut she hasn(t, and.and.I kno# I(m not supposed to do anything #ith my magic outside protections till you say I can, 'ut I spread it out, my magic2 I think there(s a fire in the cellar)0
%a&a raced to the slush room for her coat) ia follo#ed) Together they ran up the alley to ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html ,adradun 6ouse) "ehind them came the t#o youngest "ancanors and their playmates, curious a'out #hat #as going on)
%a&a and ia halted at the ten.foot #ooden fence that guarded ,adradun 6ouse from the rear) 1'o$e it %a&a sa# the roofs of the e-tensions that included the same lesser 'uildings as did "ancanor and ;ossaryk 6ouses, and the shuttered #indo#s of the top t#o stories of the main house)
ia said #onderingly, 0The garret shutters are open)0
1 look up told %a&a that ia #as right) From the darkness 'ehind the open shutters, there #ere no #indo#s to 'lock the #ind from coming in)
%a&a sent her magic rolling o$er the 'ig house, and felt the fire in the cellar and kitchen immediately) *he gra''ed it, trying to hold it, only to sense other 'la/es, in the cellar on the far side of the house, and in the #estern e-tension) Those she sei/ed as #ell) 1ll of them fought her control)
0 ia4 The rest of you40 %a&a ordered, inspecting the rear gate, 0find the alarm 'ells around here and start ringing them.ring e$ery one you see) Keep ringing them till a 'rigade comes4 :o40 *he and 6eluda kne# "en had set the 'athhouse fire) 5as it possi'le that another firesetter #as loose in Kugisko, one #ith a grudge against "en, as she once thought2 "ecause she kne# "en #as some#here 'et#een Kugisko and I/molka) This fire couldn(t 'e his #ork)
Those thoughts flashed through her mind in an instant) *he found the small door the ser$ants used to admit themsel$es and persuaded the metal latch to open) Inside the rear courtyard she sa# #hy those fires she gripped fought so hard) 9$ery cellar entry#ay gaped7 the doors under them #ould 'e a&ar, too) That #as #hy the garret shutters #ere open) 6e had turned the entire house into a chimney) This #as the #ork of someone #ho kne# fire) This #as "en(s doing)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 5atersday, she thought as she ran onto the co$ered rear porch) 6e picked 5atersday, #hen there might not 'e a 'rigade any#here close, 'ecause the ser$ants are off) *he 'eat on the door) 5as +orrachane or #ere any of the ser$ants home2
ear'y she heard 'right, urgent peals from the fire alarm 'ells that hung at the nearest street corners) 1 fe# moments later she heard another 'ell ring in the distance)
There #as no time to 'e polite) *he released the fire in the #estern e-tension and ga$e that part of her attention to the door) *ei/ing the nails and the hinges, she yanked) The metal fle# out of the #ood, dodging her politely)
0O#40 someone cried 'ehind her) %a&a pulled ia aside as the 'oards that formed the door fell onto the porch) The girl #as nursing a cut along one cheek'one! she had 'een scored 'y a nail)
0I told you to summon fire 'rigades40 %a&a told her) 0:et out of here40 In the part of her that gripped the 'iggest fires, under and in the kitchen, she felt an errant flame disco$er a trail of oil) *trengthened, it raced along to find a storehouse of full oil &ars, pulling other flames #ith it) 0 ia, you can(t come in40 %a&a gripped the flames hard and tight, holding them from a 'ounty of oil 'y less than a foot)
ia(s face dripped s#eat, 'ut her eyes #ere steady) 0<ou can(t search alone.you(ll ne$er find her in time,0 she said) 0It(s an a#fully 'ig house) I kno# the inside)0
%a&a groped for something ia #ould understand) 0I don(t think #e(ll find her ali$e) "en ,adradun did this) 6e(s as mad as a ra'id rat) *he(s pro'a'ly dead)0
05e(re #asting time,0 ia insisted)
%a&a dre# 'reath to argue, and felt her hold on the cellar fire trem'le) *he tightened it) If it ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html reached the oil.she couldn(t let it reach the oil) 0,et(s go,0 she said) 06old your scarf o$er your nose and mouth.#et it, if you get the chance) Feel a door 'efore you open it) If it(s hot, don(t open it)0
The girl nodded, pulled her scarf up o$er her nose and mouth, and plunged into the house, %a&a 'ehind her) They searched room after room, #ith the e-ception of the kitchen, #here smoke rolled out of the cracks around the doors) ,ike the cellar fire %a&a gripped it #ith her po#er7 it #asn(t going anyplace, 'ut it #as foolish to stick their heads in there)
01unt +orrachane40 cried ia) 01unt +orrachane40 6er courage made %a&a feel small) *he kne# ia #as terrified, 'ut she had forced herself to come in to sa$e a #oman she pitied)
Once they(d checked the ground floor, they ran upstairs) 06er 'edroom(s here,0 ia said, running to a closed door) *he yanked it open) 01unt +orra.0
%a&a stopped 'eside her) +orrachane #as on the 'ed, 'ut she #ould not 'e lea$ing #ith them) *he #ould 'eat no more ser$ants, torment no more sons)
ia fainted) %a&a 'arely caught her in time to keep the younger girl from cracking her head) *he managed to drag ia into the hall and to slam the door on that dreadful sight) Then she #ent to an ornamental &ar on a hall ta'le and $omited until nothing came through her ra# throat or streaming nose)
%a&a(s grip on her concentration #a$ered! the cellar and kitchen fires surged ahead a handful of inches) For a full minute she trem'led on the $erge of releasing them to #ipe a#ay that room and the 'ody in it) Only the kno#ledge that a fire might spread to the neigh'oring homes stopped her)
*he knelt 'eside the younger girl) 0 ia,0 %a&a said, patting the girl(s ashen cheeks) 0 ia, please, #e ha$e to get out)0 5as "en still here or had he fled2 *urely he(d escaped)
ia groaned! she #as coming to) %a&a #ished she had smelling salts to hasten the process) o dou't +orrachane kept.
*he stopped that thought #here it #as) othing could make her go 'ack into that room) Instead she slung one of ia(s arms o$er her shoulders and stood, dragging the half. conscious girl to her feet) The 'la/e in the cellar #as getting 'igger, searching for cracks in her control)
*he hauled ia do#n the 'ack stair, s#eating so hard the drops pattered onto the #ooden steps) +ore tendrils of the cellar fire escaped her grip, straining greedily for those oil &ars) *he released the fires in the #ing opposite them) 6er 8uickest escape #ould 'e the #ay they(d entered, #hich took them past the kitchen) *he #ould need all her strength to hold that and the fire in the cellar &ust 'elo# it)
*omething changed! ia had control o$er her feet) *he trem'led, 'ut she took most of her #eight off %a&a) 3elie$ed, %a&a forgot to #atch #here she #as going) *he tripped and #ent spra#ling on the ground floor, yanking her support a#ay from ia) The other girl dropped to her knees #ith a yelp)
%a&a(s attention 'roke as she fell) 1 rope of flame #rapped itself around a &ar of oil 'elo#) It shattered7 the cellar fire roared)
Terrified, %a&a sho$ed it and the rest of the fire into the earth under the house, do#n through a crack in the underlying rock) Follo#ing the crack, the 'la/e roared into an underground cham'er filled #ith the unfro/en *yth) The #ater surged up into the crack, turning to steam as it hit the fire and 'oiling its #ay to the cellar) 1ll it needed #as the slender path the fire had made! the #ater(s force enlarged it fast)
%a&a heard a rum'le in the ground) It gre# like an onrushing tidal #a$e)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 03un40 she yelled, scram'ling to her feet) *he hauled ia up) Together they raced do#n the hall to the slush room) They charged out through the ruined door &ust as the underground part of the lake shot through the crack in the cellar floor) %a&a released fires #ith a gasp of gratitude as the icy *yth sprayed into the cellar, then rammed through its ceiling into the kitchen) *team from the doused fire 'lasted #ith it, smashing the ground floor ceiling, then that on each floor, all the #ay up through the roof)
In the rear courtyard hands gra''ed %a&a and ia as they stum'led into the open) Firefighters had come) %a&a sagged! she didn(t need to hold any fires) o# people mo$ed 'ack, taking the girls #ith them, as #ater dropped from the fountain &etting into the sky) It #ould turn to ice, %a&a kne#, 'ut it #ould also douse the fires)
*omeone gra''ed her arm) *he looked up into Kol(s face) 05hat did you hit20 he cried, pointing to the fountain of #ater)
%a&a grinned at him, foolish #ith relief) 0That(s a $ery strong lake you ha$e out there,0 she said)
0,et(s take them home and call a healer,0 Kol told someone)
06o# did you get here20 ia asked +ata/i as her mother helped her 'ack do#n the alley)
05e heard the alarm 'ells,0 +ata/i said) 05e #ere &ust lea$ing your grandmother(s)0
They returned to "ancanor 6ouse, #here +ata/i s calm ga$e #ay) *he #rapped her arms around ia, #eeping, telling her ne$er to frighten her mother like that again) Kol #ent for a healer as +ata/i #rapped ia and %a&a in 'lankets and installed them on the 'ook room sofa) "oth girls 'egan to cough! +ata/i fetched ;ory(s lung.clearing potion and ruthlessly made them drink it) 1s they hacked and spat into a matched pair of crystal dishes, +ata/i took the youngest "ancanors and the refugee children to raid the kitchen, a re#ard for their #ork at ringing the alarms)
1s her lungs cleared, %a&a retreated into a 'u''le of muted sounds and sights) 6eluda #as right) "en #as a monster) %a&a hadn(t 8uite 'elie$ed7 she(d thought there must 'e an e-planation, someho#, until she sa# +orrachane) ?ntil she felt that 'la/e, #ith enough &ars of oil there to turn the district into a firestorm) 1s soon as she pulled herself together, she had to find a la#keeper) *he must talk #ith 6eluda) "en had gotten #ind of her suspicions, 'ut ho#2 It didn(t matter) 6e(d #orked it out, destroyed his home, and fled) 6e(d 'e miles a#ay, free of e$erything 'ut his fires) 6e could 'e found) 1s long as he had those glo$es, %a&a #ould track him) 6e must return to settle his de'ts)
Through her num'ness she registered that a healer touched her) 6is po#er spread through her and through ia in a gentle e-amination)
0*hock,0 he said #hen he finished) 0<ou must ha$e 'een 8uite frightened)0 ia could only shi$er and nod)
%a&a stirred) *he o#ed ia something) 0*he didn(t sho# it,0 %a&a croaked, trying to sit up straight) *he ga$e ia a tiny smile) 0I said that you(d find your courage)0
0".'.'ut I d.d.didn(t,0 protested ia) 0I #.#.#as t.t.terrified)0
0Then you(re #ise,0 the healer said #ith appro$al) 0Only a fool isn(t afraid inside a 'urning house)0 To %a&a he said, 0<our 'ody #ill 'e fine, 'ut something 'urdens your spirit) 5hate$er haunts you, tell someone a'out it)0 6e looked up as Kol came in) 0I(ll lea$e a throat soother for these t#o, 'ut.0
ia(s eyes, 'loodshot from smoke, popped #ide open)
*he gra''ed %a&a(s arm) 0;ory40 she cried and coughed) The healer laid a hand on her throat7 ia(s $oice emerged as a rasp) 0%a&a, ;ory(s in trou'le40
The t#ins had that 'ond7 %a&a kne# it) 6er num'ness $anished) *he tossed a#ay her 'lanket and raced upstairs, knocking the healer, Kol, and e$en +ata/i out of her #ay) 6er scrying mirror lay on her #orkta'le) %a&a gra''ed it and stared into its depths) *he sa# nothing)
*lo#ly she took a 'reath, counting) *he imagined #orry, fear, and grief rising from her skin like steam) *he had to let them go) They #ould return, 'ut for no# they #ere in her #ay) Only #hen she #as steady did she open her eyes and 'reathe onto the mirror(s surface)
1 'lurred image rose from its depths and cleared! Olennika Potcracker(s soup kitchen) 9$ery set of dou'le doors that led into the hospital #as open7 smoke roiled through them and along the ceiling) ;ory and the rest of the staff sho$ed the long ta'les aside to clear a path for the streams of sick and hurt #ho escaped the hospital through the kitchen) Olennika Potcracker stood at the door to the cellar storerooms, her face co$ered #ith s#eat) %a&a kne# she had to 'e holding 'ack fire) o# ;ory #as at the #ater trough that ran along the rear #all of the kitchen, filling 'uckets and 'o#ls as people 'rought them to her)
"en #alked in, a toddler on each hip) 6e handed them to a kitchen maid, turned, and plunged 'ack through a smoky door#ay) 6e #ore the li$ing metal glo$es)
%a&a thrust her mirror into her 'elt pouch and left her room) +ata/i #aited in the hall) 0;ory20 she #hispered, her eyes #ide, her face ashen)
%a&a rested a hand on +ata/i(s arm) 0:et Frostpine) 6e and 1nyussa #ent to some #inter fair) Call the charity ladies together) People #ith sleighs, 'lankets, e$erything) <orgiry 6ospital is on fire)0
+ata/i rattled do#n the stairs in %a&a(s #ake) %a&a e-plained to no one else, 'ut raced 'ack through the house, to the slush room and her skates) *he gra''ed t#o coats and put them on, then added glo$es, scar$es, and a knitted cap) *he #ould need all her magical strength #hen she got to "lackfly "og.she couldn(t afford to #arm herself on the #ay) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
0%a&a,0 ia croaked from the door#ay) *he offered a 'ottle of ;ory (s lung.clearing mi-ture in a hand that shook as if she had palsy)
%a&a took the 'ottle #ith a nod of thanks and tucked it into a tunic pocket) Then she gra''ed her skates and #ent outside)
*he couldn(t reach the fire in time to halt it) *ilently she prayed that other mages #ho could help #ere already on their #ay) The hospital and kitchen people had a 'etter chance than the $ictims of ;ossaryk 6ouse! the fire protections she had seen gleaming on the kitchen #alls and ceiling #ere strong) They might keep the fire 'ack) That #as in the hands of the gods and #hate$er mages got there soon)
6er concern #as "en) 6e #as playing hero, #ith no one to kno# that he #as the creator of their misery) *he didn(t understand #hy he(d done this.did he #ant one last disaster 'efore he mo$ed on2.'ut she meant to ask #hen she found him)
Feeling like an o$erstuffed doll in her layers, she #ent outside) People stood in the rear courtyard, #arming themsel$es at a fire as others came and #ent, patrolling the neigh'orhood to ensure that no other houses 'urned) The cro#d parted silently 'efore %a&a as she strode do#n to the 'oat 'asin and sat to 'uckle on her skates)
*he 'arely noticed them, her mind fi-ed on the route she must take) If she follo#ed Prospect Canal under Craik "ridge and around the cur$e of "a/niu/, that #ould 'ring her onto ;ung Canal) From there it #as a straight skate through the fro/en intersection of the 5hirligig to the hospital) *he didn(t kno# if she had the stamina and strength on skates to make it, 'ut she had to try) "en o#ed Kugisko a de't of appalling si/e) 1ll her life she had 'elie$ed that e$eryone paid #hat #as o#ed, though some re8uired help to 'alance the 'ooks) *he had to help "en pay up)
*he stood and glided across the 'asin #ith a single push) *he tripped at its edge, falling onto her 'ack) From there she could see that the sky o$erhead #as darkening) *he had ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html forgotten the early nightfall in this mis'egotten country) 5ith a gro#l she lurched to her feet, then ripped the mitten and glo$e from her right hand) *he #ould ha$e to use some magic after all) 3eaching to#ard the #atchers( fire, she t#itched her fingers) 1 glo'e of flame rose from it and came to sit in her palm) 6olding it up as a lamp, she skated into Prospect Canal)
5ord of the hospital fire #as not out) People skated here at a leisurely pace, ser$ants on the #ay home for the most part) %a&a glided into the stream of skaters) +ost sa# her flame glo'e and got out of the #ay) %a&a noticed them no more than she had the people in the courtyard) Instead she stroked for#ard, 'reathing deeply to calm her rattled ner$es) 1 fall on the ice had not e-actly gi$en her confidence for this)
*he pushed harder, mo$ing into the center of the canal #here people raced) On the raised streets along the canal(s sides, people #ere lighting outdoor lamps) Inside the open shutters of #ealthy homes, candle. and lamp.light glo#ed) 6ere on the ice more and more people carried lanterns) This #as the proper use of fire, #ith proper respect and proper fear) "en had per$erted it)
6er pulse speeded up, her 'reath came faster) o) *he couldn(t think a'out this) If she #as to help anyone in "lackfly "og, she had to skate and only that) *he #ould deal #ith the rest there) In the meantime, 9$erall "ridge loomed ahead of her) ,amplighters crossed it, their o#n glo'es of light shining in an arch o$er the canal) %a&a raised her fire enough to re$eal the ice ahead of her feet, and deepened the stroke of her legs and skates) On she sped, the night air 'iting the e-posed skin around her eyes, the *yth(s mild #ind cold and ra# #ith moisture) 1t least her lamp kept her unglo$ed hand #arm)
Other skaters #ere 'lurs as she passed) The ice hissed as skates cut into it7 laughter and talk met her s#addled ears as muffled noise) %a&a leaned for#ard slightly and tucked her free arm 'ehind her 'ack as the racers did, shaping her 'ody to slice the air like a #ell. honed knife) This #as #onderful) It #as like flying) *he could ha$e done it fore$er.e-cept that &ust ahead Prospect Canal ended 'et#een t#o 'ridges and the flat eastern side of 1irgi Island) *he #as good enough on the straighta#ay, 'ut if she attempted the turn under Craik "ridge as e-perienced skaters did, she might not li$e to see "lackfly "og) 3eluctantly she slo#ed) *he didn(t notice #hen t#o fast skaters tum'led and #ent spinning across the canal on their 'acks, startled 'y the sight of a 'ig, thickly ro'ed southerner #ith a glo'e of fire in her hand)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html *he passed under Craik "ridge, #ea$ing among skaters #ho came from three directions) 1s she eased into ;ung Canal the stream of humanity thickened) +o$ing onto the open ice, %a&a looked up and sa# #hy) 1head, #here the ?patka 3i$er split to 'ecome Kugisko(s canals, the sky #as orange) The roof and garret of <orgiry 6ospital #ere in flames)
%a&a thrust hard against the ice, yelling for those ahead to clear the #ay) +any #ere sightseers, 'ut others too #ere skating hard to 'ring help) On the street that rimmed "a/niu/ Island and on 3ider *treet, the edge of the Pearl Coast, large and small sleighs alike #ere in motion, racing to#ard the hospital, their normally musical 'ells setting up an urgent clatter)
%a&a lo#ered her head and stroked harder) 6er thighs, knees, and ankles set up a first, #arning thro') ,ater, she told them) Punish me later)
9$en #ith more people 'ound for the fire, ;ung Canal #as so #ide that there #as plenty of room at the center) Those fe# skaters coming to#ard %a&a eased a#ay from the girl #ith the fire in her hand) *he locked her free arm 'ehind her and pushed off in long, steady strokes, cold air free/ing the hairs in her nose) 1n icy thread of it #ound through a crack in her scarf to sear her $omit.and.smoke.scoured throat) *he clenched her lips rather than slo# to ad&ust her scarf and la'ored to 'reathe through her nose) 5hen her hat 'le# a#ay, she let it go)
1t the intersection called the 5hirligig she struck a ripple in the ice) "efore she could fall, hands caught her free arm and supported the outstretched one, lifting her clear of the 'umpy stretch) T#o skaters, s#athed like %a&a in scar$es, carried her onto smooth ice and set her do#n easily) They #ere gone, speeding to#ard the hospital, 'efore she could gasp her thanks) o# %a&a called her fire glo'e in through her palm, using it at last to #arm herself and to ease her thro''ing legs) <orgiry 6ospital #as all the 'eacon she needed! the entire top floor #as in flames)
I 'et they stored things in the garret, she thought grimly as she #o$e through the skaters as fast as she dared) ice, dry things that #ould 'urn) I 'et he #ent straight up there)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 3ather than 'attle onlookers, she skated #ide around them, headed for the soup kitchen(s dock) *he glided in 'et#een sleighs and people #ith hand.to#ed sleds as they lined up on the ice) These picked up as many people from the hospital as they could carry at the dock, and took them to safety)
*il$ery light shone) %a&a shaded her eyes) 1 mage of some kind crouched on the muddy ground under the dock) +agic radiated a#ay from her, into the ice) 1 melted puddle of #ater on the surface, slippery as grease to skater and sleigh, fro/e) The mage #as a #eather.#orker, dra#ing cold from the ground into the ice around the dock) 6ot as the near'y fire #as, the ice #ould remain safely fro/en for the sleighs)
5atching the mage, %a&a hit one of the dock(s piers shoulder.first) 1t least I #as almost at #alking speed, %a&a thought, grinding her teeth against pain) 9$en through all her layers of clothing, it hurt) 5orse, she heard the ice.mage cackle #ith amusement)
*he didn(t linger) Instead she stripped off her skates, slung them around her neck, and clim'ed a ladder to the dock) 1 dou'le line of people stretched 'et#een it and the kitchen, handing the sick, in&ured, and young to the #aiting sleighs)
;ory stood 'eside the open kitchen door) ,ike e$ery #orker in this line she had a #et length of the muslin normally used to strain cheese #rapped o$er her mouth and nose to strain out smoke) *he yelped #hen %a&a hugged her from 'ehind, then gasped #ith relief as %a&a pulled off the scar$es that hid her face) 0I don(t suppose you(d #ant to get yourself to safety20 %a&a asked her)
;ory coughed) 0I(m safe right here,0 she insisted) 03a$$ot ,adradun(s still e$acuating the nursery.#e need e$ery hand to get the little ones out)0 *he took the scar$es %a&a offered her and #rapped one around the shrieking, coughing, half.dressed infant that someone passed to her from inside the 'uilding) ;ory ga$e %a&a(s other scar$es to the #orkers on either side7 they draped the ne-t t#o children in them) %a&a remo$ed her outer coats and handed them o$er)
03a$$ot ,adradun(s dead,0 shouted a man, gi$ing ;ory a last infant) 0They said the roof &ust ca$ed in on the nursery40 ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
;ory(s eyes flooded and spilled o$er, tears cutting through the ash and soot on her face) 1utomatically she gra''ed the ne-t patient to come out, a man #ith only one leg, and #rapped him in one of %a&a(s coats 'efore passing him on do#n to the sleighs)
0Potcracker(s still inside20 %a&a asked)
0*he(s holding the fire,0 ;ory croaked) 0*omeho# it got into the cellar storerooms, and the oil &ars 'le# out the 'ack of the kitchen)0
0Try to stay ali$e,0 %a&a told ;ory) *he plunged into the kitchen thinking, someho# it got there, my eye) "en likes to mi- oil and fires)
Chapter 1E
Olennika stood 'efore a #all of flame #here the 'ack of the kitchen had 'een) The dark. haired mage looked em'attled) 6er 'lack hair tum'led #ildly from its pins) 6er so'er go#n #as ripped, charred 'y de'ris, and smeared #ith soot) *#eat coursed do#n her face) 6er 'lack eyes #ere serene, her hands clasped lightly in front of her) 1'out to yell in her ear.the roar of falling 'eams, fire, and screaming people #as deafening.%a&a remem'ered a #ay to talk that #ouldn(t distract Olennika from her 'arriers on the fire 'elo#) *he placed her hand lightly on the cook.mage(s arm)
1s she(d hoped, their shared 'ond #ith fire made it possi'le to speak) %o you need help2 asked %a&a)
Olennika smiled crookedly) I(m fine.I must hold this so they ha$e another e-it for the patients, she replied) <ou(ll #aste time if you try and hold the fire inside the hospital) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html There(s too much) <ou(ll 'e o$er#helmed)
3emem'ering ;ossaryk 6ouse, %a&a shuddered) *he(d do it again if necessary, 'ut it #as like sur$i$ing a tidal #a$e) *he didn(t #ant to ha$e to try it t#ice)
Olennika picked up her thoughts) *o you learned you can(t 'eat e$erything, she thought, her inner $oice as #ry as her speaking $oice) *o you found you(re human) 6o# sad) ,isten to me, girl.mage.as soon as they don(t need this e-it anymore, I am lea$ing) I kno# #hen I(m against something 'igger than me)
I can help, %a&a replied) There are patients still inside) I(ll see if.
5ait, Olennika said #hen %a&a #ould ha$e let go) There is a thing) ) ) if you(re not afraid)
5hat2 %a&a asked)
Olennika(s thought flickered, as if she herself dou'ted) Then she told %a&a, On the far side of the hospital, straight through that door on my left, there(s a locked #ing) The mad ones are there) +ost are docile) 5e drug them nearly all of the time until the healers see if they can 'e helped) o one(s tried to get them out)
%a&a faltered) ,ike most people she #as afraid of insanity) *he sa# mad folk e$ery#here, those #hose families #ere too poor for e-pensi$e healing that #ould 'ring them happier li$es, or those #ho simply couldn(t 'e helped)
It(s all right, Olennika told her) <ou might try the second floor.
%a&a #as afraid, 'ut she kne# #hat ,ark and *andry #ould do) *traight across the ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 'uilding from here2 she asked)
Through the door) Olennika pointed to it) They(ll o'ey simple commands) *imple, mind) I 're# the drug myself and I made it that #ay)
%a&a nodded, then ran for the door they(d discussed and the hall 'eyond) ,arge #ards opened off either side of the hall, disgorging escapees) *he #as shocked at ho# many people #ere still inside, 'ut at least those #ho could mo$e #ere there to help those in trou'le) *he dodged t#o girls supporting a $ery old man and caught a toddler #hen the #oman #ho carried him dropped the child)
0I(d forgotten they #ere so hea$y,0 the gray.haired #oman said and coughed ferociously) 06e(s the last of the little ones) *ome fello# named ,adradun #ent in for more, and the roof ca$ed on him) 5e(ll get no more 'a'ies out)0 *he accepted the child from %a&a and continued on her #ay)
%a&a used her senses to check the fire) The garret and the fourth floor #ere gone, and most of the third) 1 full story lay 'et#een this floor and the 'la/e.that #as 'ad) *he had to hurry)
1t the end of the hall she found a large dou'le door #ith hea$y iron dead'olts to secure it) 1'o$e the 'olts she noticed a small #indo# #ith a sliding shutter) %a&a opened it and peered inside) +ost of those she could see sat on cots, #eeping) *he pro#led) 1 man #ith $ery short dark hair, seeing her face, attacked the door, trying to gra' her through the peephole) 0:et us out40 he screamed, then coughed) 0Out, get us out40
*o the drug doesn(t #ork for all of them, %a&a thought grimly) *he #restled the 'olts out of the locks, thinking 'ad thoughts a'out the #orkers #ho hadn(t tried to mo$e these people) Then she felt guilty7 she had hesitated at the thought of dealing #ith cra/y people in a firestorm herself) :ra''ing 'oth doors, she yanked.them 'ack)
The man #ho had yelled at her tried to sho$e 'y) %a&a gra''ed his arm and hung on) 0If ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html you(re a#ake enough to kno# you(re in trou'le, you(re a#ake enough to help me,0 she snapped)
0The 8uestioners.the go$ernor(s 8uestioners.they(ll come for me,0 he insisted, fighting her grip) 0They don(t dare let me go free #ith #hat I kno#) They(ll pry my secrets from my mind and they(ll kill me)0
%a&a thought fast) 0Pretend you(re a healer,0 she told him) 0They #on(t notice you40 *he took a green #orker(s ro'e hanging on the #all outside the #ard and thre# it at him, then let him go and marched into the room) There #ere thirty 'eds) +ost of the occupants #ere the sitting.and.#eeping sort) 0Come on,0 %a&a said, dragging the closest to her feet) 05alk out of here) Follo# the others)0
The man stared at her #ide.eyed, #ringing his hands)
0:o40 %a&a cried, sho$ing him at the door) 05alk out of here40 *he did the same #ith the ne-t patient, and the ne-t) The fourth #as curled up on his 'ed) 6e did nothing #hen %a&a shook him)
06e #on(t 'udge,0 said the man #ho feared the go$ernor(s 8uestioners) 6e stood 'eside %a&a, the #orker(s ro'e sagging on his 'ony frame) 06e(s that #ay most of the time) They put a diaper on him) 1nd the others are still here)0
%a&a looked 'ack) The three patients she had ordered to lea$e stood at the door, huddled together, 'e#ildered) *he looked at her companion)
0,ead them like horses20 he suggested)
%a&a gra''ed a sheet from an empty 'ed and cut it in strips #ith her 'elt knife) 05hy aren(t you like them20 she #anted to kno#) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
6e shrugged) 0It doesn(t #ork the same for e$eryone) I(m not mad enough, I think) That helps)0
Common sense from a madman, %a&a thought desperately) This day &ust gets #orse 'y the minute)
*omething on the floor o$erhead caught fire! she felt the surge as the 'la/e fed, and the sigh of nails as they melted) %a&a thrust a #ad of linen strips at her companion) 0Tie them together 'y one hand,0 she ordered, going to the ne-t 'ed) 0,ike a string of horses) :et as many as you can, and lead them out) 6urry40 *he gra''ed the young man in the ne-t 'ed 'y his #rist and tied one end of a strip to him) 0:et up,0 she ordered) 6e o'eyed) *he sei/ed the old #oman in the ne-t 'ed and pulled her to her feet, then tied one of her #rists to the young man(s) To#ing them along, she added three more to her string)
The ne-t, a middle.aged man #ith a head sha$ed 'ald, thre# himself at %a&a, shrieking) 6e cla#ed her cheek #ith ragged nails, then got his hands around her throat) %a&a let go of her string of docile patients and ran him into the #all, slamming him against it as she called heat from the fire a'o$e into her skin) 6e didn(t notice) *he rammed him again and called for more heat until he screamed and let go, #a$ing 'urned hands) 6e ran from the room) %a&a gasped, coughed, and propped herself against the #all as she sent the heat she(d used 'ack into the inferno o$erhead) *he couldn(t #orry a'out that fello# running loose) On the second floor, she felt the ceiling gi$e #ay) It hit the ceiling o$er her head7 the #all under her palm #armed) The tim'ers o$erhead groaned under the #eight of 'urning #alls and roof) *moke leaked through the cracks)
%a&a roped fi$e more patients into her string and dragged them into the corridor) From the rolling smoke that filled it came her green.ro'ed madman) *omeone had gi$en him a soaked cloth to hold o$er his nose and mouth) %a&a passed him her string of patients and plunged 'ack into the #ard)
*he had four more roped together #hen the 'eams a'o$e them moaned a second, longer time) *moke shot do#n in streams through cracks that 'roadened as the ceiling 'egan to tear loose from the #alls) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
There #as no time) *he gra''ed t#o more docile patients, one in each hand, and to#ed them to the #all along #ith her string of people) 5ith one gigantic pull of her magic she yanked all the nails in the #all to her right from their moorings) They shot across the #ard like arro#s)
5ith a magical sho$e %a&a thrust 'oth the iron grating on the sole #indo# and the metal in the shutters o$er it into the night) *he turned, still clutching her patients, and rammed herself 'ack.first into the #all) Planks and cross'eams dropped free like rotten teeth) %a&a dragged her si- people through the tangle of lum'er into the night(s cold, then to#ed them to#ard the ring of guardsmen #ho held the cro#d 'ack)
6earing #ood crack 'ehind her, she turned, still clutching her linen rope and t#o patients( #rists) In a slo# 'urst of flames, smoke and em'ers, the ground floor #alls collapsed) The madmen(s #ard fell in) *he thought she heard screams from those she(d 'een forced to lea$e 'ehind, 'ut told herself fiercely that #as &ust the fire(s roar of triumph) It had #on)
People #ere tugging her hands) *he &erked a#ay, then reali/ed they #ore the green ro'es of hospital #orkers) *he let them take charge of her patients)
1 second roar! the central part of the hospital collapsed) 1 third! the soup kitchen) %a&a scra''led in her 'elt pouch, coughing, and 'rought out her mirror) *he pressed it to her forehead, trying to 'reathe slo#ly) 5hat of Olennika2 ;ory2
*heer e-haustion made her calm enough to summon an image) 5hen she did, her knees #ent straight to &elly) %o#n in the muddy slush of the open ground she #ent, not caring in the least) In the mirror Frostpine helped Olennika to drink from a long.handled ladle) The cook.mage #as #rapped in a 'lanket7 as far as %a&a could see, Olennika had fled once her clothes 'urned off) Olennika looked terri'le, 'ut she #as ali$e) "eside them ;ory 'ent o$er, coughing) *omeone thrust a 'ottle at her! ia) +ata/i and Kol #ere near'y, helping people into the "ancanors( sleigh)
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 3elief poured o$er %a&a) For a moment she s#ayed, #anting to cry)
"ut she had #ork to do yet) :rimly she felt in her pockets until she found the 'ottle ia had gi$en her at the house) 6er stomach rolled in protest as she eyed it, then tried to re&ect its contents #hen %a&a gulped them do#n) T#o minutes later she #as coughing and $omiting, her stomach in re$olt against the strong.tasting fluid, her lungs e-pelling their latest load of soot.'lack phlegm)
5hen she #as done, she lurched to her feet and #alked to#ard the 'la/ing hospital) 1 guard yelled for her to come 'ack, 'ut it #as a scarecro#.thin figure in a flapping green ro'e #ho ran up and sei/ed her arm)
0They say I(m mad,0 the man cried) 0<ou(re not e$en locked up40
%a&a gently pried his hand from her flesh) 0<ou(re right, 'ut not like you think you are,0 she said)
The man 'linked) 6is eyes #ere large and pale, the color impossi'le to guess in the flame. lit dark, fringed 'y long, hea$y 'lack lashes) 6e looked like a madman, or a prophet, she thought) 0That made my head hurt,0 he complained)
0I(m sorry) 1n account has come due) %e'ts must 'e settled,0 %a&a told him) 0I(ll 'e fine)0 *he patted his shoulder and continued her #alk into the hospital(s inferno) Once more she #as reminded of pi&ule fakol, the fearful Trader afterlife for those #ho did not pay #hat they o#ed) "en pro'a'ly deser$ed to spend eternity in pi&ule fakol, 'ut %a&a could not help him escape #hat he o#ed in this life if it meant he #ould 'urn fore$er) If she did not stop him no#, the "ookkeeper might also log the deaths "en made #ith her creations to her account)
5ith no one else to #orry her, she let her magic flo# out to open a tunnel through the fire) 5ithin moments her non.*andry clothes had 'urned a#ay) 6er mirror she tucked into the 'reast'and her friend had made) *he #asn(t sure ho# long e$en *andry(s #ork could last! ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html fire#alking in a small 'oardinghouse #as one thing, the holocaust of the hospital and soup kitchen another) For dignity(s sake she hoped she #ould keep her clothes, 'ut the important thing #as to find "en)
6e could ha$e died #hen the nursery roof collapsed, as she had 'een told, 'ut she dou'ted it) 1t first she had thought that he(d slaughtered his mother, then chosen to kill himself 'y rescuing children from the hospital he(d set a'la/e) *he didn(t feel that #ay no#) 6e(d lea$e a 'olt.hole for himself) "en didn(t #ant to die) 6e #anted to 'uild more fires, not to 'ecome one)
6er path took her into the heart of the inferno) "eams fell all around her7 #alls ca$ed in) *he had to 'e careful not to get struck.a cracked head #ould kill her.'ut the fire itself #arned her #hen a large o'&ect #as a'out to fall)
In the center of the 'la/e she stopped) *he held her left hand palm up and let the magic in its li$ing metal pour from her fingers like a #aterfall, seeking anything like itself) It rolled through the 'urning hospital and the ground 'eneath it, 8uesting like a hound) There, a'out a 8uarter of a mile a#ay) *he pulled the li$ing metal(s po#er into a ri''on that stretched 'et#een her left hand and the glo$es she had made) Follo#ing it 'rought her to a trapdoor in a 'urning storeroom) It #as open! she looked do#n and sa# a ladder)
3aising a hand, she called a piece of fire to light her steps) 5ith her free hand she gripped the ladder as she descended) *he came to le$el ground a'out fifteen feet 'elo# the storeroom)
*he padded along on 'are feet! her 'oots and stockings had 'urned as she #alked through the hospital inferno) *he kept one hand cupped o$er the fire seed that lit her #ay) 6e #ould get as little #arning of her arri$al as possi'le) 5hile she could track him if he kept her glo$es.and he #ould ne$er gi$e them up, e$en if he guessed she could follo# him through them.she #ould rather finish this no#) That he(d 'etrayed her #as 'ad, 'ut she(d 'een 'etrayed 'efore) *he could sur$i$e it) *he could not allo# him to use her #ork to ruin more li$es)
The tunnel 'egan to rise) *oon she heard mo$ement, and soft humming) The hum stopped ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html as he coughed 'riefly, then spat) %a&a sucked her light into herself) 1 cold draft rolled do#n the tunnel! she #as near the surface) On she #ent, the earth icy under her 'are feet) *he sent #armth into them to #ard off frost'ite)
The tunnel flattened, then opened into a small #ooden shed) 6e sat on a 'ench &ust outside, checking the fit of a pair of skates 'y the light of a lantern hung on a hook 'y the door) *he #atched as he re'uckled his right skate) 5ith the lamp 'et#een them, he couldn(t see past its light into the shack)
6e #ore the fur.lined, em'roidered coat of a cari'ou herdsman from the north, as #ell as a 'lond #ig in the herdsmen(s style) 1 fat pack rested 'eside him) *he #ondered if he(d kept it ready some#here 'efore this, or if he(d packed after his mother(s murder)
6e still #ore the li$ing metal glo$es) It seemed he couldn(t 'ear to take them off any sooner than he must)
6e(d ha$e to conceal them to flee Kugisko, 'ut he #ould #ait until the last minute to remo$e them)
*he sighed) 6e &erked around, shading his eyes to see past the lamp) 0%a&a,0 he #hispered) 0Of course) Of course you #ould come) Fire is your element)0
If she #as going to talk nonsense #ith a madman, she preferred her scarecro# in his 'orro#ed ro'e) 6e at least had a heart) 0<ou aren(t lea$ing, "en,0 she informed him) 0<ou ha$e accounts to settle) Time to pay #hat you o#e)0
0+oney.gru''ing Trader talk,0 he retorted scornfully) 0<ou(re a'o$e that)0
0I am a Trader and proud of it,0 she reminded him) 05e kno# that some accounts are #ritten in 'lood and can 'e paid only in that) <ou ha$e 'lood de'ts to settle)0 ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
0I o#e no one anything,0 he snapped) 0I did them a fa$or) I sla$ed to teach them ho# serious fire #as) 5hen they #ere too stupid to learn, I ga$e them lessons that #ould stick)0 6e sei/ed his pack, and ran the fe# steps to the canal, 'alancing on his skates) %a&a let him reach the ice) *he e$en let him set the pack on his shoulders) 6e #as three yards a#ay #hen she sent heat into his skates) They immediately sank an inch deep into the ice! "en #ent spra#ling) %a&a #alked to#ard him, trying not to slip as ice melted around her o#n 'are feet)
"en scram'led onto his knees and lunged up again) This time she sent a harder 'urst of heat into the metal skates, fusing them together) %o#n "en fell) 5hen he pushed himself up to see #hat had happened, she reached for the po#er in the li$ing metal glo$es and smacked her palms together) The glo$es fused, shackling "en(s arms from fingertip to el'o#)
6e fell again, then rolled onto his side to stare at her as she approached) The #ig #as falling off! he(d cut his red curls short to make it fit 'etter) 0%a&a, please,0 "en said) 6e(d gone dead #hite, the shado#s cast 'y the great fire rippling o$er his pale skin) 0<ou can(t do this) <ou(re my friend)0
There #as nothing she could say to that) Instead she looked to#ard the hospital.they #eren(t that far from the soup kitchen dock) People #ere still there) *he took out her mirror and fed it enough heat to make it shine 'rightly) 3aising it, she flashed it at the cro#d)
0%o you kno# #hat happens if I(m accused of deli'erately setting fires20 he asked, as if he thought she still might 'elie$e his innocence) 0%o you2 They(ll 'urn me ali$e)0
*omeone in the cro#d #a$ed a torch o$erhead, once, t#ice) %a&a responded #ith t#o 8uick flashes of her mirror) 1 sleigh turned from the dock and dro$e to#ard them)
%a&a looked at "en) 0I kno# they #ill,0 she told him) 01nd I #ill 'e there, to pay off my account to you)0 ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Kugiskans #asted no time in 'ringing an arsonist to trial, not one #ho had killed o$er 1D0 people and in&ured hundreds more) Four #eeks after the destruction of <orgiry(s 6ospital, %a&a stood 'efore three magistrates and a packed hearing room to tell of her friendship #ith "ennat ,adradun, from their first encounter to their last meeting on the ice off "lackfly "og) *he listened as 6eluda spoke of her disco$ery of the garret #orkroom #here "en had created his de$ices, and heard the tales of people at the hospital, 'athhouse, and ;ossaryk 6ouse)
Throughout it all "en sat in an iron cage, 'uilt to protect him from the $engeance of those he had harmed) 6e stared 'lankly at his hands #ithout e$er looking at anyone)
o one dou'ted ho# the magistrates #ould decide, and they surprised no one! e-ecution 'y fire) amornese la# dictated that a criminal(s e-ecution take place on the site of his greatest crime) The healers and directors of the hospital refused to allo# it! as #orshippers of <orgiry they #ould permit no murder, e$en one appro$ed 'y the state, on ground &ust reconsecrated to life) "ennat ,adradun #ould 'urn to death the #eek 'efore ,ongnight, at the 1irgi Island 'athhouse)
ia insisted on going #ith %a&a, though her lips trem'led as she announced it! she felt that someone ought to #itness for +orrachane) %a&a #ent 'ecause she had promised "en she #ould face #hat she had done 'y capturing him) Frostpine came #ithout saying #hy) 6e didn(t need to7 %a&a kne# he(d come to help her) 3oom had 'een sa$ed for them at the front of the e-ecution ground) 5hen they arri$ed, they found their space #as shared 'y Olennika Potcracker and ;ory, the councils of the islands #ho had suffered "en(s fires, and the families of the slain) 6eluda and the magistrates( mages, #earing 'lack coats #ith gold and sil$er trim, stood at a right angle to their group) "efore them #as the stake, its large 'ase of stacked #ood and kindling topped 'y a platform) Opposite %a&a(s group, on the far side of the stake, #aited the go$ernor, the city council, and the officials #ho ser$ed the courts and the la#keepers) "eyond those three 'anks of #itnesses stood the cro#ds! those #ho had come to see &ustice, or &ust to #atch a horri'le spectacle) They #ere oddly 8uiet as they #aited)
*oon they heard the 'eat of a drum, som'er and hard) ?p the stairs that led to the canal ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html came the e-ecution party) "en, in a rough sacking ro'e, #as flanked 'y the 'lack.ro'ed priests of @rohain, #ho o$ersa# e$ery e-ecution, and their attendant la#keepers) 1 condemned prisoner could ha$e a priest of his o#n faith, 'ut "en had chosen none) 6e stared at the ground as he shuffled for#ard) The loudest sounds #ere the drum, the flap of cloth in the hard #ind, and the clank of the shackles secured to "en(s #rists, ankles, and neck)
The priests helped him up the steps to the platform) They chained him to the stake, then clim'ed do#n) "en stared across the sea of people as if his thoughts #ere years a#ay)
The drum #ent silent) 1 herald read "en(s name, his crimes, and his sentence) Then the priests of @rohain 'rought their torches) They thrust them 'et#een gaps in the logs into oil. soaked kindling) The kindling 'la/ed)
For a long time nothing changed) "en stood e-pressionless) "elo# him the logs caught, and 'egan to 'urn) They ga$e off little smoke, %a&a reali/ed! he #ould not 'e allo#ed to suffocate 'efore the fire reached his flesh)
6is image 8ui$ered as her eyes filled #ith tears) *he suddenly remem'ered the "en she had kno#n at first, a rare non.mage #ho understood fire as she did, someone as eager and ali$e as any mem'er of her foster.family)
"en shifted, suddenly, as if he #ere uncomforta'le) 6e lifted first one foot, then the other) The first darts of flame slid through the 'oards of the platform) %a&a(s eyes spilled o$er and continued to spill) This #as the la# he(d 'roken, the death he(d gi$en so many) *urely it #as right, to gi$e him that same death2
*uddenly flames ran up his sacking ro'e) "en flinched aside, trying to crush the fire out on the pillar) 6is shackles #ere too tight) 6is face #orked) In a moment he #ould scream)
*he couldn(t do this) *he couldn(t) *he didn(t care a'out the la#) %a&a &ammed her po#er deep into the ground, past 'edrock, into the #hite.hot flo# of molten rock and metal ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 'elo#) *he summoned a single, o$erpo#ering, 'urst of heat and thre# it all into the fire) ,et the amornese punish her, she thought) *he couldn(t #atch him slo#ly 'urn to death)
Then she sa# it) The sil$er fire of directed magic roared out of Frostpine and Olennika) It rushed in a sil$er thread from ;ory) ,ogs, platform, man, and stake turned into an immense, roaring column of flame that shot thirty feet into the air) For a moment it #as so hot %a&a(s face felt tight7 she smelled 'urned hair close 'y) The column lasted only a 'reath of time) Then it $anished, out of fuel) 1 fe# 'lack flakes drifted o$er the spot #here Kugisko had decreed "en #ould die) *moke rose in discouraged #isps from the freshly charred ground #here the stake had 'een)
%a&a looked at 6eluda *alt, defiant, e-pecting the mage to 'e furious) Instead 6eluda stood #ith a hand o$er her eyes, shaking her head) %a&a couldn(t 'e sure if 6eluda #as disappointed or resigned) 1fter a moment it occurred to her 6eluda might 'e 'oth)
*omeone in the go$ernor(s party #as more than disappointed or resigned) 1 man #ho #ore the gold sun'urst of a commander on his sil$er.trimmed 'lack la#keeper(s coat ad$anced to#ard %a&a(s side of the s8uare, his face dark #ith rage) 6e 'eckoned to a group of la#keepers) 0I #ant.0 he 'egan furiously)
6eluda stepped in front of him and put her hand on his chest) *he said something7 no one heard #hat it #as) The la#keeper commander glared do#n at her and opened his mouth) o sound emerged from it7 she spoke again, 8uietly)
Frostpine tugged on %a&a(s arm) 0,et(s go,0 he said, 'eckoning to ia, Olennika, and ;ory) 06eluda #ill settle him) It(s not like their cursed sentence #asn(t carried out)0
Fi$e months later, #ord came to "ancanor 6ouse that the southern mountain passes #ere open) 1 #eek after that, 6eluda, Kol, and +ata/i accompanied Frostpine, %a&a, their mounts, and three packhorses across "a/niu/ Island and o$er Kyrsty "ridge, all the #ay to the construction site for <orgiry(s ne# hospital and soup kitchen) 5hile 'uilding had only started a month 'efore, carpenters and masons risking the occasional late sno# or ice storm ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html to 'egin the ne# pro&ect, preparations had 'een under#ay all #inter) +ata/i and Kol had 'een in the forefront of the fund.raising, #ith donations from their o#n fortune so large they had shamed fello# rich Kugiskans into granting large sums) ,ess #ealthy families of the merchant and la'oring classes had donated cloth, pottery, cooking gear, her's and oil for medicines, e$en food) %a&a had sold plenty of &e#elry and gi$en the money to the ne# hospital) *he, Frostpine, and Teraud had la'ored all #inter on 'olts, door latches, hooks, and endless supplies of nails, as had many other smiths) Carpenters set aside #ood7 #ea$ers made 'lankets and sheets7 her'alists and healers compiled medicines 'y the $atload)
o# the tra$elers, Kol, and +ata/i sat on their horses, looking at the 'usy scene 'efore them) +asons la'ored in cellars and on ground floor hearths as carpenters framed the inner #ards and outer #alls) The soup kitchen #as in 'usiness already) Olennika presided o$er a line of cauldrons from #hich e-8uisite smells drifted) ;ory, #earing a single plain go#n like her teacher, her skirts and petticoats hanging &ust an inch 'elo# her knees, dumped an armload of chopped turnips into a kettle and #alked o$er to them, her calf.high 'oots s8uelching ankle.deep into 'lack mud #ith each step)
0<ou(re supposed to use those 'oard #alk#ays, you kno#,0 her father pointed out) 0That(s #hy they laid them do#n, after all) It(s not called "lackfly "og for nothing)0
0Oh, Papa, it takes fore$er to get any#here that #ay,0 ;ory complained) *he stopped 'eside %a&a(s horse, a hand on %a&a(s 'ooted ankle) They had said their important good'yes #hile trading staff 'lo#s that morning, 'ut %a&a had #anted to see her in her element, in the life she #as making for herself) To %a&a ;ory said, 0<ou 'etrayed me) <ou turned my meditation o$er to her)0 *he pointed an accusing finger at 6eluda *alt, #ho only grinned #olfishly do#n at her)
01nd she can gi$e you a fight #ith a staff,0 %a&a told her cheerfully) 0*he(ll keep you hum'le)0 Trader, log it, she thought, I(m starting to talk like Frostpine)
;ory grinned 'ack, teeth flashing against creamy 'ro#n skin) 0I ha$e Olennika for that,0 she said) 0I don(t think I can stand t#o hum'ling teachers)0
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 01ll I kno# is, you(ll need them,0 retorted %a&a)
0Come 'ack soon,0 ;ory said 8uietly) 05e(ll really miss you)0 *he glanced at the top of a frame #all! ia straddled it) *he #as dressed like her t#in in a short go#n and 'oots, e-cept that her sensi'le dress #as maroon, and ;ory(s #as 'lue) 1s 1rnen, seated opposite ia, drilled openings through t#o connected 'eams, ia thrust pegs into them and hammered them in) 5ithout looking a#ay from her #ork, she raised her mallet and #a$ed it, then dro$e the latest peg home) T#o #eeks after 1rnen got his mages( certificate, he had opened his o#n shop, taking o$er ia(s meditation as #ell as her carpentry instruction #ith Camoc(s and ia(s appro$al)
0I(ll come 'ack #hen I can,0 promised %a&a) *he had said her good'yes to ia as #ell, talking #ith her until late the night 'efore)
01nd ia #ill #rite,0 said ;ory) 0*he(s 'etter at it than I am)0
Olennika(s $oice echoed o$er the clatter of hammers on #ood, nails, and stone) 0If they aren(t going to dismount and help, tell them to go a#ay, ;orality)0 *he had a cro#. harshness to her tone no#, a lasting reminder of the night #hen she had kept her part of the hospital safe until e$eryone #ho could escape #as gone) 0Those flat'reads #on(t put themsel$es to 'ake40
;ory looked at the 'undled.up Frostpine) 05hen he comes out of his cocoon, tell him I said good'ye,0 she said cheekily) *he trudged 'ack to Olennika through the mud, ignoring the plank paths)
0<ou can come out,0 +ata/i told Frostpine) 6e sat in multiple layers of ha'its and clothes, a hea$y fur hat on his 'ald cro#n, t#o pairs of glo$es on his hands) 0"reathe some air,0 urged +ata/i) 0It(s good for you)0
Frostpine s#i$eled his head to glare at her from his layers like an irate o#l) 0That air is cold, #et, and mo$ing,0 he informed her) ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
0That(s the green #ind of the *yth,0 Kol said #ith a smile) 0*mell it) %amp earth, gro#ing things.spring is on its #ay)0
0On its #ay, may'e) 6ere, no,0 grum'led Frostpine) 0I lo$e you 'oth dearly, 'ut I am going to find some real spring) The kind that(s actually #arm)0
+ata/i leaned o$er and kissed %a&a(s cheek) Kol rode o$er to do the same) 0Thank you for our girls,0 Kol told her) 0For setting them on their proper road)0
%a&a smiled shyly at 'oth of them) 0That(s #hat Traders do.#e find roads, and #e follo# them) Trader and "ookkeeper keep your 'alances high and your de'ts lo#)0
*he looked at 6eluda, #ho said, 0If the t#o of you e$er get tired of this smithing nonsense, I could make fair magistrate(s mages of you)0
%a&a chuckled and shook her head) 0I think the smithing nonsense is in our 'lood)0 *he reached across the gap 'et#een them and poked Frostpine #ith the end of her Trader(s staff) 0Come on, old o#l,0 she told him) 0I(ll find you the #ay to springtime)0
0:ods 'e thanked,0 Frostpine replied #ith feeling) They set their horses for#ard on the road south)
1CK O5,9%:+9 T*
5ith heartfelt thanks to my good geometer, 3ichard +cCaffery 3o'inson, #ho maps #ith ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html such style and accuracy =unlike the author>, to my lo$ely and 'esieged editri- Kate 9gan, #ho 'ears so patiently those frantic calls 'egging indulgence for yet another delay, to my agent Craig, my hus'and Tim, and my friend 3a8uel, #ho supply me #ith 'adly needed grounding) I don(t think readers al#ays kno# ho# much people other than the #riter add to 'ooks in terms of ideas, fi-es, corrections, additions, and general #et.'lanketing for authorly hysteria, and they should) @ery fe# 'ooks are made strictly 'y the efforts of one person, e$en if that person is the only one getting paid)
OT9*
Calendar used in most lands in #hich these 'ooks are set, including ma&or holidays)
;anuary 5olf +oon
Fe'ruary *torm +oon
+arch Carp +oon *un'orn =spring e8uino->
1pril *eed +oon
+ay :oose +oon 5ild ight ="eltane>
;une 3ose +oon
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html +idsummer =summer solstice>
;uly +ead +oon
1ugust 5ort +oon
*eptem'er "arley +oon Cold'orn =autumn e8uino->
Octo'er "lood +oon %ead(s ight =6allo#een>
o$em'er *no# +oon
%ecem'er 6earth +oon ,ongnight =#inter solstice>
%ays of the #eek!
*unsday
+oonsday
*tarsday
9arthsday
1irsday
Firesday
5atersday
1"O?T F?3
I kno# the use and mention of fur in this 'ook is going to dra# ho#ls of dismay from animal lo$ers, and in our time, I ho#l #ith them) =I #ear leather 'ecause at least the co# gets eaten.#e do use e$erything, and I am a carni$ore)> These days in the #estern #orld there are so many su'stitutes to keep us #arm that I prefer that the fur remain on the person #hose skin it is)
"?T)
+y #orlds are set in times and places #here those alternati$es aren(t a$aila'le) They are set in times $ery like our +iddle 1ges, and in those times, those #ho could afford it #ore fur to keep #arm =and #ithout things like central heating, insulation, and storm.proofed #indo#s, people got a lot colder a lot 8uicker>) Keep in mind that this is fiction 'ased on human history, and that not e$eryone 'elie$es and prefers the same things as the author)
1"O?T T69 1?T6O3
T1+O31 PI93C9 is a full.time #riter #hose fantasy 'ooks include The Circle of +agic, The Circle Opens, The *ong of the ,ioness, The Immortals, and The Protector of the *mall 8uartets) *he says of her 'eginnings as an author that 0after disco$ering fantasy and science fiction in the se$enth grade, I #as hooked on #riting) I tried to #rite the same kind of stories I read, e-cept #ith teenaged girl heroes.not too many of those around in the 1HE0s)0
In her Circle of +agic 8uartet, +s) Pierce introduced the four unforgetta'le mages.in. training #ho are no# four years older in The Circle Opens.*andry, "riar, %a&a, and Tris) *he 'egan the ne# 8uartet at the urging of her many readers, #ho encouraged her through letters and e.mails to e-plore the mages( li$es further) *he chose their ne-t turning point to 'e #hen they each ac8uire their first students in magecraft)
+s) Pierce li$es in e# <ork City #ith her hus'and, their three cats =*crap, Pee 5ee, and Ferret>, t#o parakeets =Iorak and the ;unior "irdman>, and a 0floating population of rescued #ildlife)0 6er 5e' site address is http!JJ###)sff)netJpeopleJTamora)Pierce)
OT693 "OOK* "< T1+O31
T69 CI3C,9 OF +1:IC C?13T9T
*andry(s "ook
ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html Tns(s "ook
%a&a(s "ook
"riar(s "ook
T69 CI3C,9 OP9 * C?13T9T
+agic *teps
*treet +agic
Cold Fire
T69 *O : OF T69 ,IO 9** C?13T9T
1lanna
In the 6ands of the :oddess
The 5oman 5ho 3ides ,ike a +an
,ioness 3ampant
T69 I++O3T1,* C?13T9T
5ild +agic
5olf.*peaker
9mperor +age
The 3ealms of the :ods
T69 P3OT9CTO3 OF T69 *+1,, C?13T9T
First Test
Page
*8uire ,ady Knight
About this Title

This e"ook #as created using 3eader5orksKPu'lisher A)0, produced 'y O$er%ri$e, Inc) For more information a'out 3eader5orks, please $isit us on the 5e' at###)o$erdri$e)comJreader#orks

Tamora Pierce - Circle Opens - 3 - Cold Fire

Enviado por

Dados do documento

Direitos autorais

Formatos disponíveis

Compartilhar este documento

Compartilhar ou incorporar documento

Opções de compartilhamento

Você considera este documento útil?

Este conteúdo é inapropriado?

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

Tamora Pierce - Circle Opens - 3 - Cold Fire

Enviado por

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.

html Cold Fire The Circle Opens 03 Tamora Pierce

In the city ofKugisko, in amorn!

0One,0 counted ia, 0t#o, three)0

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

05ell,0 ia said, determinedly cheerful) 0,et(s try again)0

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

05ood,0 %a&a said, shaking her head in disgust)

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html openhearted family)

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ia shook her head)

;ory replied, 0*he #on(t go near a hearth) *he(s afraid of fire)0

The house clock chimed the hour)

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

0<ou got scorched,0 she said, pointing to it)

%a&a raised her eye'ro#s in a silent 8uestion)

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

0 o, they don(t,0 agreed %a&a)

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

0It(s a fake,0 he said)

%a&a #as indignant) 01nd #ouldn(t I tell.0 she 'egan to say)

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

0<ou(re sure you can catch him20 %a&a asked)

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

Frostpine raised hea$y 'ro#s) 0<ou think20

0*he(s an am'ient mage20 Frostpine asked)

%a&a shook her head) 0I ha$e no idea)0

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

0I hear you had a fire in the alley today,0 Frostpine remarked)

0*o this fello#, "en.20 asked Frostpine)

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html 0"ennat ,adradun,0 Kol supplied)

0,adradun did the island a fa$or,0 remarked Frostpine)

Frostpine raised his hea$y 'ro#s) 0The fire.mage20

0 o# #ill you say #hat you #ere doing20 ;ory demanded)

0;orality, manners,0 #arned +ata/i)

%a&a looked at Frostpine) 0<ou could start,0 she offered)

0"ut I told you,0 ;ory 'egan)

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

0Thank you,0 %a&a told her) 0;ory(s #hat #e call an.0

ABC Amber LIT Converter http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

0+y turn,0 ;ory said, 'ouncing up and do#n)

0*hip.'uilders20 ia asked, her face 'rightening a little)

,ooking at %a&a, Kol asked, 05hat comes ne-t20

0Oh, splendid,0 moaned ;ory) ((+ore lessons)0 %a&a ignored her)

0Papa,0 cried the girls, rolling their eyes in e-asperation)

;ory replied, 0he #on(t go near a hearth) he(s afraid of fire)0