Blood Witch Read Online Free PDF Page A

well anymore. It's possible he merely
feels normal."
    Alaysha could feel
the confusion puddling in.
    "Are you saying my
father is ill?"
    "I'm saying he
would be ill."
    "If you weren't
feeding him this elixir of medicine."
    "Theron has told
me Yuri's heart is weak."
    "Theron?"
    "The shaman. He
tends to Yuri with his drafts, and I tend to him with mine." Saxa
shrugged. "Who knows which is helping or hurting, but until I can
find a medicine to strengthen his heart, this potion will have to
do. He has no idea. He just believes I am a better cook than
Bodiccia."
    Alaysha thought of
the giant of a woman who did all of Yuri's food preparation on
campaign. She pictured the twist of men's teeth around the woman's
forearm and the way she coddled Yuri with the most succulent of
meals. Yuri trusted no one else to prepare food for him – except,
obviously, Saxa. She found it interesting that the only other cook
he trusted was actually drugging him without his knowledge, and
that the drug was very possibly keeping him alive.
    "Gael, too, ate of
the stew," she said.
    "Gael will feel
invigorated like you do." Saxa got up and took Alaysha by the arm.
"And since it seems you will not vomit out any more of my medicine,
I shall help you to the well."
    It wasn't an easy
task to rise again, but Alaysha did feel as though her legs were
more solid than a swelling river eroding its banks. She took to her
feet without swaying and her stomach didn't churn at the feel of
meat within. She met Saxa's eyes and nodded encouragingly.
    Gael stood beside
the well, when they'd made it that far, seeming oblivious to the
dozens of chickens rooting about his feet or the line of young
girls come to draw water.
    Alaysha noticed
the pile of bodies that had been there half a fortnight earlier
during Edulph's planned attack on Sarum had been cleared and that
the platform was loaded again with archers. They were dressed oddly
for a Sarum collection, with motley tunics and filthy breeks. For a
second, a flash of memory came to her and threatened to overtake
the hard work of walking so far, and she had to gulp for air.
    Saxa's voice
grounded her. "Do you feel well?"
    Alaysha nodded
weakly.
    "It's only your
body remembering its insult."
    Insult was a weak
word for what had been done to it, and with the curse of power came
that curse of long memory. She could easily imagine Drahl dancing
in front of her again, his sword wet with blood, the water from the
well rising in mist to quench the fire of pain in her belly.
Alaysha had to swallow hard to remind herself that fear was not
part of a warrior's code. That she needn't fear that which was
already done and survived.
    "I'm not sure my
body will ever let me forget," she said. "I just hope it hurts less
each time I remember."
    Saxa stopped
within feet of the well and twisted so her face was in full view.
"I can help with that."
    "With the pain or
the memory?"
    "Both."
    Alaysha threw a
glance at Gael who had crossed his arms to indicate his
impatience.
    "How do you know
so much?" Alaysha asked. "And how much does he know?"
    Saxa looked over
her shoulder at Gael. "He has the gift of war. I have the gift of
peace." She shrugged. "I just know, Alaysha. Don't ask how. My
father wanted to know the same thing, and I couldn't answer." Her
fingers were on Alaysha's hair and she felt her forehead swept
clean. "It's why he beat me."
    Alaysha didn't
know what to say at such a forthright and emotionless admission,
and when Saxa's face brightened and her tone shifted to a more
conversational one, any chance of saying more was gone.
    "Don't let him
work you too hard, Alaysha, he's a bear for duty." Saxa left with a
pat on Alaysha's back and a promise of a brew to help with what
ailed her.
    It seemed she
would have to make the last few steps to Gael by herself. He
neither put out a hand, nor took a step forward. His eyes, so much
like his sister's, were inscrutable. Alaysha easily recognized the
battle training of steely composure and knew he