At the Crossing Places Read Online Free PDF

with his mother fills me with hope in my quest for mine, and to hear Merlin cautioning Arthur about Sir Ulfius reminds me that things contain their own opposites. Where there is loyalty, there can also be betrayal. My whole life is changing, and in a way, my patient stone is showing me all the different parts of myself.
    When I looked up, I recognized her at once. She was limping and still a long way off.
    I ran down the hill and slithered to a stop right in front of her, in almost exactly the place where Winnie collided with me.
    â€œGatty!”
    Gatty looked at me. Her nose was red, her eyelids were orange, and she’d dragged her lower lip against her teeth so often that it was puffy and raw.
    â€œHow did you get here?”
    Gatty sighed and looked at her feet.
    â€œYou’ve walked here?”
    â€œMmmm,” murmured Gatty, as if she were mumbling in her sleep.
    â€œFrom Caldicot?”
    Gatty dragged her lower lip against her teeth again and closed her eyes.
    â€œBut how did you find the way?”
    â€œDidn’t,” muttered Gatty.
    â€œWhen did you leave, then?”
    â€œYesterday.”
    â€œYesterday!” I cried. “You slept in the forest?”
    â€œGot up a tree.”
    â€œThe wolves!”
    Gatty shrugged. “Wanted to see for myself, didn’t I.”
    â€œBut…”
    Gatty’s eyes were shining and turbulent, like the Little Lark in flood.
    â€œDoes Hum know?”
    Gatty shook her head. “No one,” she said.
    â€œThey’ll think you’ve been caught in one of Macsen’s snares. Or a wildman has carried you off into the forest.”
    Gatty brushed her sore eyelids and half-smiled.
    â€œWell, you can’t go back tonight,” I said.
    Gatty took a step toward me, but then she grasped her right knee and grimaced, so I put my left hand around her waist and helped her up the path. “I don’t know exactly what to do,” I said, more to myself than to Gatty. “Warm food…somewhere to sleep. I could ask Gubert…”
    â€œDon’t matter,” Gatty said in a numb voice.
    â€œNo,” I said uncertainly. “I’ll have to tell Lady Judith. Lord Stephen’s away at Knighton for the manor court, so I’d better tell Lady Judith.”
    Lady Judith was in the hall with Rowena and Izzie, embroidering a square for her wall hanging. As soon as she saw us, she rose and drew herself up to her full height, and eyed us fiercely, like an indignant bird when someone comes too close to her nest.
    I told Lady Judith that Gatty is our reeve’s daughter and that she’d walked from Caldicot, all the way; I explained how Gatty saved Sian when she went through the ice, and separated our bulls, and stopped the wolves from taking more than one of our sheep, and then I said she just wanted to see Holt for herself.
    I don’t know quite what Lady Judith was thinking, though, because her face was expressionless and she didn’t ask any questions.
    â€œWell!” she said, when I’d finished. “We can’t have one of Sir John’s tenants freezing to death.”
    â€œShe slept up a tree last night,” I said.
    â€œLike a bear cub,” Lady Judith said tartly. “And that’s what she looks like in all that hairy sacking. Izzie! Take this…what’s her name?”
    â€œGatty,” I said.
    â€œTake Gatty down to the kitchen. Tell Gubert to give her something. Then bring her back up here and find her a bolster.”
    â€œBut where will she sleep, my lady?” asked Izzie.
    â€œHere,” replied Lady Judith.
    â€œHere!” exclaimed Izzie, and she screwed up her face, and led Gatty out of the hall.
    Lady Judith looked at me and smiled grimly. “I see you inspire great loyalty, Arthur,” she said.
    â€œI didn’t know,” I mumbled. “I mean…”
    â€œLord Stephen is going to have to keep a close eye on you,” she