AutumnQuest Read Online Free PDF Page B

now I began to wonder.
    Still, I knew that I had to go after Breyard. There wasn’t enough time to go home to Barrowfield first. And how pleased our parents would be if I succeeded. When, I corrected myself; when.
    Lost in thought, imagining the joyful family reunion, a knock on the door startled me, and Isol came in.
    “The wagon has arrived. Are you ready?”
    I stood up. “Out front in the usual place?”
    Isol nodded. “Here. I had this prepared for your journey.” She handed me a large pouch. “It should keep you until supper at the house.”
    I left the cell, a little uncomfortable under her scrutiny.
    “Donavah?” I turned and faced her. “I do hope everything works out. For the best, I mean.”
    I smiled at her. “Thank you, Isol. I’m quite sure it will.” Doubt assailed my heart, but I ignored it. It had become important to me to look calm and collected, no matter how torn up I felt inside. As if the pretence would make it real.
    Just outside the main entrance, I found the wagon heaped with sacks and crates. I was apparently to be delivered to the retreat house along with supplies. I made sure my trunk hadn’t been forgotten, then clambered onto the seat. A stiff, old man climbed aboard next to me, picked up the reins, and clucked the horses into motion.
    The weather couldn’t have been better for a trip in an open wagon. It was warm for an Autumn day, but definitely not hot. Puffy clouds hung in the bright blue sky, and a fresh breeze mussed my hair a bit.
    As we took to the road, I took a deep breath. Since coming back to Roylinn at the end of Summer, I hadn’t spent as much time outdoors as I’d been accustomed to over the break, but I’d been so absorbed in my studies that I hadn’t noticed. Now the smell of the mown hayfields brought back memories of rest-day family picnics when Breyard and I were little.
    Before long, we passed into the cool shade of the woods that lay just south of Roylinn. The dappled green light shining through the leaves overhead made the yellow leaves that had fallen look like a golden carpet on the forest floor. I tried to relax.
    “Your first time to the retreat house, eh?” The driver’s voice startled me out of my reverie.
    “Oh, um, yes. I’m only fifteen—not, well, senior enough, you know.”
    “You’ll like it. Nice and quiet, it is.”
    “You’ve been there a lot?”
    He looked at me in surprise, then started chuckling. “Been there a lot? Indeed, my girl, for I’m the cook.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, a little embarrassed.
    “No apology needed. You couldn’t have known. But you need any extra food or anything, you let me know. Growing thing like you—need to eat hearty.”
    I just nodded vaguely. The pouch Isol had given me sat at my feet, and even though I didn’t feel hungry, I picked it up to see what was inside. I gasped in delight to find a large bunch of grapes. Wherever had she found these this late in the season, even in the academy’s long-lived gardens? The first burst of juicy sweetness in my mouth brought back my appetite in a rush.
    I shared the grapes with the driver, who told me his name was Kibee. I also ate a bread roll, saving the rest of the food for lunch.
    Before long, we’d left the woods and were back among the open fields. When we passed through villages, Kibee was greeted fondly by the inhabitants. The children especially seemed excited to see him, and they ran alongside and behind the wagon shouting at us and laughing. As we left the first village, I found out why: Kibee stood up, turned around, and threw several handfuls of sweets at the children, who scrambled to get as much as they could. Then Kibee sat down and handed me a piece of candy wrapped in greased paper.
    “Make these just for the young-uns. They don’t see much in the way of treats, they don’t. And their parents are all grateful. I figure if ever I need a favor, I only need to ask.”
    I nodded my head in agreement as I sucked the