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Stravina. She wasn't certain how her own flesh and blood might react to
someone of Leesil's unusual ancestry.
"Whatever you're making smells wonderful, " Leesil said.
Chap yipped in agreement, which earned him a pat on the back from Wynn. The
sage looked happier than Magiere had seen her in some while. The hut was warm
and dry, and the scent of lentil stew was mouthwatering.
"Supper for all, though we'll need to stretch it a bit, " Bieja answered, and
after a moment's hard appraisal of Leesil's hair, she turned to gather more
things from her shelves. "Then I think you have much to tell me. "
Magiere took a deep breath.
She hauled the bench to the table for Leesil and herself, and they were all
soon enjoying the luxury of well-seasoned stew, some late pears, and a loaf of
black forest bread. Wynn made small noises of contentment as she ate. Magiere
realized the meal was not far from the food served back at the sage's guild.
Only halfway through the meal, a loud belch came from under the table,
followed by the licking of chops. Chap had finished before anyone else.
The closeness around the fireside table wore away Magiere's first impressions
upon stepping into the hut. She'd barely finished a few spoonfuls when Leesil
pushed his emptied bowl back.
"So, what exactly was that mob about back there?" he asked of Aunt Bieja.
Magiere stopped eating and stared at him.
"Magiere hasn't told you?" Bieja asked. "About why she left?"
"She wasn't happy here... wasn't well liked because of her father. But she
didn't mention anyone trying to run her off with pitchforks. "
Magiere dropped her spoon into the bowl, shifting on the bench. "Leesil "
"No, I want to know what's going on. "
Wynn's attention swung back and forth around the table as she tried to follow
the conversation. However, Bieja's glare was purely for Leesil.
"Auntie, " Magiere said, hoping Leesil would remain quiet, "we've come to
find answers about my mother... and my father. And there's much to tell you "
"I can see that for myself, girl, " Bieja answered, and folded her hands upon
the table.
"I'm not sure where to start, " Magiere continued. "For now, we need to know
what you know. Things you might not have told me. Little things that seemed
not to matter might help. Especially about my father... anything from the
first time you ever saw him. "
Magiere waited as her aunt pondered for a moment.
"Perhaps family matters are best left to family, " she finally said.
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"No. " Magiere settled her hand on Leesil's forearm. "They are part of
this.... It's not just me anymore. "
Again, Bieja hesitated. "There were three of them. "
"What?"
"I told you... your father took your mother when he first came here as lord
of the fief, but three of them came that first night. Two noble... but the
last was a masked thing in a char-colored robe. He's the one who maimed Adryan
with no more than a slap. "
"Adryan's face?" Magiere asked. "His scars... no one would talk about it. "
"You can blame that on Yoan, " Bieja growled. "Along with the rest of the hog
swill poured out over the years. Oh, some truth was well known enough, but he
said we'd best keep quiet or invite more misery. And all else that followed, I
was forced to obey. " She shook her head and mumbled something under her
breath. "Adryan tried to protect your mother. They were betrothed at least he
thought so. "
Magiere sat silent, chilled inside even near the fire. Through the childhood
suffering, the one person she had trusted was Bieja, but her aunt had kept
secrets.
"What do you meanforced?"she asked. "I've never seen you give in to anyone's
wishes unless they fit with your own. "
"I lived in fear for Magelia, " Bieja said. "My sister was my only companion,
and they took her. Sometimes servants came and told us stories of her walking
in the courtyard, heavy with child, but she was never allowed out, and we
weren't allowed in. I tried many times, sneaking as close as I could, but
never saw her and got beaten down twice by patrolling guards. The rest
concerning your father you already know. One night, one of those noblemen who
took Magelia came to me. His shirt was stained with blood when he brought you
within hours of your birth, as well as the armor, the amulets, and that sword.
He said they were gifts from your father. He also brought Magelia's blue dress
for you. That frightened me more than anything else. The next day, a
man-at-arms brought your mother's body down for me to bury, and that was the
last we saw of anyone from the keep. I guess they left in the night, though we
didn't know it for a while. Not for certain until the next lord assigned to
this fief arrived a half moon later. "
Bieja closed her eyes a moment.
"I tried to hide you at first and managed for a time. When Yoan found out, he
wanted you exposed, cast out in the woods to die for fear of what ill-fortune
you'd bring down on the village. I used your sword to hold him off, and told
him the village might face worse if we killed a noble's child, forsaken or
not. I would have said anything to save you, but fear is the only thing these
fools understand. So Yoan and the others let you be for the most part. But you [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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