Cry of the Newborn Read Online Free PDF Page B

asked Lucius. He had been a Land Warden himself in his early years, much to the delight of his father. The ability had gone before he was eight.
    'In a moment.' She smiled at the Ascendants. They were getting on for five years old now and their core abilities were developing well. No sign of a crossover yet, though. 'Gorian, you're the most likely. Want to try?'
    Gorian beamed at her, dropped a sneering look to his companions that Hesther didn't much like and walked over.
    'It doesn't make you better than them,' said Hesther. 'But this is more like when you put your hands on a sick animal. Do you understand?'
    Gorian nodded.
    'Good. So I don't want to see that look again, do you understand?' 'Yes,' said Gorian, almost inaudibly.
    It would have to do. 'All right. Now, put your hands on the tree trunk. You'll have to take your gloves off. Here, I'll hold them for you. Don't drop them in the snow. Tell me what you feel.'
    'It's cold and rough, Hesther,' said Gorian.
    There was a snorted giggle from behind. Gorian looked round.
    'Shush, Ossacer or you'll be next.'
    'He can't do it if I can't,' said Gorian.
    Hesther raised her eyebrows. 'He might, you know. He is a Pain Teller and if he can sense where people hurt he might be able to find where the trees are hurt.'
    'He can't.' Gorian was dismissive.
    Hesther frowned. 'Concentrate. Try and feel below the bark. Like you would if a dog was hurt and you wanted to find out where so the surgeon could help it.'
    Gorian was silent for a moment. His little hands, white with the cold, searched the bark. She saw him squeeze his eyes shut as they had been taught, to help their concentration. She smiled, love for her sister's child warming her. He, like all of them, was exhibiting a great deal of early promise. And even at such tender years, they understood so much. There was something special about them, everyone could feel it. How special was yet to be determined.
    Eventually, Gorian turned back to her and took his hands from the bark. 'It must be dead. I can't feel it inside.'
    Hesther kissed him on top of the head and handed him his gloves. 'Never mind, darling. But it's not dead, just sick.'
    'It's dead,' Gorian was quite adamant.
    Hesther stroked his cheek to turn his face to hers and knelt in front of him. 'You tried your hardest and that's all anyone can ask of you. Next time, I'm sure you'll feel what I feel.' He stared at her, furious. 'Don't be angry. It's all right. You did nothing wrong.'
    She stood and looked at the other Ascendants. She could feel Gorian's anger and it made her decision for her. 'All right. It's too cold up here. Get yourselves back to the cart and we'll join you in a moment. Go on, Gorian. Find the mule an apple in the sack, why don't you?'
    He brightened and trotted off towards the cart. The others went quickly in his wake, no doubt to argue about who would feed the animal and be first to burrow beneath the blankets for some warmth.
    'Right,' she said and put her own frozen hands on the tree to make sure of her diagnosis.
    It was never good to feel a sick plant or tree. She felt nausea through her own body but she had learned to accept it over the years. A healthy trunk would imbue her with a vibrancy. This one, though, was dull and the bleakness of its energy was shocking. Up in the branches there was still health but it was being poisoned from deep inside. She'd seen it before once or twice. She took her hands away and slid on her gloves gratefully. Lucius looked at her.
    'Hopefully we aren't too late though the problem is embedded deep in this one. The soil must be too acidic in this area. You have to balance it out. Today.'
    'You're sure? It's not a fungal infection?' He gestured at the bole of the tree where a cluster of tenacious mushrooms had managed to grow inside the box.
    'That's why you brought me up here. It's acid, not fungus. Trust me.'
    'You know I do,' said Lucius.
    'You'll save them,' she said. 'And even if you don't, you need to balance the