Artemis Invaded Read Online Free PDF

came to her family’s holding, out some distance from the village itself. She swarmed up a tree. Those dots on the road would be Terrell, Griffin, and the mounts. They would need to thread through the village, so she still had time, although wending through memories had slowed her feet.
    Sending Sand Shadow an image to wait for her—her family’s livestock would not be acclimated to the scent of a puma as were the animals who resided near Shepherd’s Call—Adara loped down the hillside to the sprawling farmhouse she barely remembered as “home.” A sheepdog barked, more in warning than in threat. At the dog’s summons, a figure stepped out the back door to see what had roused the creature. For a moment, Adara didn’t know him, then he turned slightly and the lines of cheek and jaw were familiar.
    â€œHey, there, Hektor,” she greeted her youngest brother. “You’ve grown again.”
    Hektor—now, Adara scrabbled through her memory, seventeen?—knew her right away. “Adara!”
    His pleasure at seeing her was so obvious that Adara felt ashamed of her snake pit mind. This was the brother born after she had gone to live with Bruin, yet he treated her arrival as a cause for celebration.
    Hektor stuck his head inside the door. “Mom! Dad! Adara’s come at last!”
    The patter of feet on wooden floorboards, a flooding out, arms and hugs and kisses. Her mother, Neenay Weaver, grabbing her, holding her as if she were still five, and not half a head again taller.
    â€œWe’d heard something of what happened in Spirit Bay, even before your letter came. We heard you were involved. Willowee’s father brought news, turned his boat right around as soon as rumor reached him at one of the river ports.”
    Adara’s father, Akilles, tall and lean like her, hair dark as her own, though showing silver now. (Had that all come on since the wedding?) Wordless except for the hug he gave her and the brightness of tears in his eyes. Sister Nikole, baby on her hip, a toddler by the hand, grin brightening her face. Little Elektra, budding into womanhood, unsure in her young woman’s dignity whether to join in or stand back. Orion, holding his Willowee by the hand.
    When the tumult ebbed, Adara asked her mother, “I wrote that I am traveling with two friends. We have three horses and a mule as well. Is there room for us?”
    â€œPlenty.” Neenay gave a casual wave of her hand. “You know we built a cottage for Nikole and Stanis when the babies came. None of us could sleep for all the fussing. We just finished a cottage for Orion and Willowee…”
    Adara noticed for the first time that her brother’s wife was rounding out in front.
    â€œFolks in Ridgewood are saying we should rename the area Weaverville,” Hektor cut in with a chuckle.
    â€œSo there’s plenty of room in the main house for you and your friends. We had good moisture last winter, so you can put your animals to pasture. There’s space in the stables, too. Your choice.”
    Elektra said, “Did you bring the kitten?”
    Adara smiled. “Cat now and a big one, too. Yes. Sand Shadow is with me, but she’s staying out in the hills for now. Her scent frightens livestock who don’t know her.”
    Elektra’s eyes asked a question she was too uncertain to ask. Adara answered it.
    â€œWould you like to greet her? She’s been wondering if anyone remembers her. She remembers all of you with great fondness.”
    â€œCan I? See her, I mean? And do you really know what she remembers?”
    Adara felt that alienating uncertainty again, determinedly pushed it away. “I don’t know everything she thinks, but we’ve been practicing. I know enough to know she remembers her visit here and being fussed over. She understands that she’d scare all the hens and cows, so she’s fine with staying in the hills, but I’m