Age of Druids Read Online Free PDF Page B

all azuri fae were required to shave their heads. So her black hair was still much closer-cropped than was fashionable. Not that Joy had any use for fashions. She was learning to use her new status as a noblewoman to open doors that would have once been closed to her, but she had difficulty understanding the strange and inconvenient structures noble society adhered to.
     
    “I’m pleased to hear that,” Joy said. “Lady Druid Lisle asked me to look in on the boy. She herself is occupied with the important matters of the Druid Hall. He’s a delightful child, so of course, I was eager to agree.”
     
    “Indeed,” Muime said, her tone betraying that delightful wasn’t the word she might have chosen. She hesitated. “We weren’t expecting you. It’s disruptive for the children to have constant visits from home. I’m sure you understand, but the humans seem to have difficulty accepting the proper way of teaching children.”
     
    Joy nodded sympathetically. “I won’t stay long. I promise. I just need to be able to reassure her that he’s well and happy.” Her spirit vision showed her his immense aura approaching. “He’s coming,” she said.
     
    Muime turned, rustling her skirts as she moved. “Is he?” Even the most enlightened faeries who had accepted those with other azuri gifts had not yet grown accustomed to Joy’s spirit abilities. What was common in the slums of Zalia was rare and frightful in most of the Otherworld.
     
    Within a few heartbeats, Muime said, “Oh, you’re right. Here he comes.”
     
    “We’ll go for a walk,” Joy said. “It’s a lovely night.”
     
    Muime started with surprise. “He can’t leave the nursery,” she explained.
     
    Joy tutted the woman’s worry aside. “We won’t journey far. We just need a quiet place.”
     
    Jalail spoke up. “My lady, there is a small river just beyond the gates. You could sit with the boy and still be within sight of the nursery.”
     
    “That sounds perfect.” When Jago approached, Joy leaned down to draw him into a warm embrace. He was such a sweet child, precocious and quick-witted, but in his heart, a tender soul. Before Muime could object, Joy allowed Jalail to lead them away toward the sound of the flowing water. “How are you?” she asked the boy in English.
     
    “I’m very well,” he replied in the fae tongue. He took her hand, and they sat together. She sensed Jalail standing guard a short distance away.
     
    Although her English had improved, his command of the fae tongue far outstripped her talent with the human language, so she switched to her more comfortable native tongue. “And Princess Maiya?”
     
    “Good,” he said. “She wants to see you again.”
     
    Joy smiled at him. “I wish that were possible, but I am not allowed without her parents’ permission. It’s difficult enough to manage to visit you.”
     
    He paused. She sensed him studying her. “Your eyes are fine,” he said finally.
     
    Lowering her voice, Joy said, “Please, Jago. Please try again. I want to see. You gave me my voice back.”
     
    “I restored your eyes too,” he said softly. “They’re whole. I’ve told you before.”
     
    She bit her lip in frustration. It wasn’t the child’s fault. She shouldn’t even be here. He’d healed her throat after the Zalian Watchers had cut it, stealing her voice. He’d removed terrible scars. Aaron told her some had gone completely, and others were mere white lines. But in her own mind’s eye, she was still the disfigured monster she’d been for so long.
     
    Reaching into her pocket, she took out a wrapped sweet roll and handed it to him. “Takani says they’re your favourite.”
     
    “Ooh,” he said. “I love these. Thank you.” He smacked his lips as he ate the sticky treat. “Have they found my mama yet?” he asked.
     
    Her voice caught. She knew he’d ask, but she hated being the one to tell him no. “I’m sorry,” Joy said. “Munro took me to the human