Diadem from the Stars Read Online Free PDF Page B

in a long quivering breath, then let it trickle out again, concentrating on the soothing rhythms of the water until her body slowed, breathing deepened and slowed, heartbeat slowed, and she felt calm and tranquil. “Yes,” she said softly. “Every day at the beginning of khakutah.”
    â€œHave they helped?”
    Aleytys lifted her shoulders and let them fall. “Some,” she said slowly. “I think so. The … the experiences are coming more often now, but I’m not afraid anymore.”
    He gently brushed the hair back and turned her face toward him. “You’re gifted, Leyta. I don’t promise peace or happiness; you, know that. But your horizons will spread far beyond the narrow limits of the ordinary. Don’t ever be afraid to use your gifts, Leyta.” Suddenly he frowned and measured the height of Hesh. “It’s not khaladkar yet. Aren’t you supposed to be in the laundry now? You said yesterday you had …” He held her facing him when she tried to pull away.
    â€œI walked out.”
    â€œTell me,” he said grimly.
    â€œI just got fed up.” A faint irritation stirring in her, she jerked away from his hand. “That’s all.” His hand dropped limply onto his knee. “Leyta, Leyta,” he said wearily. “You know better.”
    â€œWhat can they do to me? Beat me?” She shrugged. “What’s new about that? No matter what I do, Qumri manages to find something wrong, so why should I try?”
    He was silent, his face grimly troubled.
    â€œYou tell me, my love. If nothing I do can ever please, why should I try?”
    â€œLeyta … ah, Madar! You just don’t understand.”
    â€œUnderstand?” she said tightly. “How can I? I don’t know … there’s nothing more I can do. Look.” She spread out her hands. “I work harder than the asiri. All the creams I can beg … beg! A daughter of the house and I have to beg for hand cream, for … oh, everything. Thanks to the kindness of a few … I can count them on the fingers of one hand. And this morning Jorchi … a baby … he cursed me … called me red bitch. I know I live here on sufferance. But why? Why? Tell me, Vajd.”
    â€œLeyta.” He looked harried and unsure of himself. “I … don’t ask me. I am forbid. The shura’…”
    She shifted impatiently. “Even you. Even you.”
    â€œLeyta …”
    Her mouth twisted bitterly. “You slept with me. Aren’t you forbid to do that too? But of course that was secret.”
    â€œLeyta …”
    Stubbornly she ignored him and kicked her heels against the rock.
    â€œAll right, aziz.” Capitulating suddenly, spreading his hands out palms up, he said, “With the fireball stirring up old hate and old fears you should know what you’re facing.”
    She slanted a glance at him past the curtain of her hair. “The fireball? She frowned. “Last night Qumri called me whore-daughter.”
    Vajd caught hold of her shoulder and swung her around. “Why? What did you do?”
    â€œI went outside to look at the sky.” She wriggled under his bruising grip. “You’re hurting me.”
    â€œAt night?”
    â€œVajd, you’re hurting me.”
    â€œAnswer me.”
    â€œI wanted to see the fireball, or at least …” She pushed at his hand. “Vajd …”
    He closed his eyes and let her free her shoulder. “Aleytys.”
    â€œI don’t understand. I don’t understand any of this.”
    â€œNo wonder, aziza-mi.” He smiled at her and touched her cheek. “It’s a long troubled story.”
    â€œVajd, stop it. What’s so bad you keep putting off telling me?” She beat her fist impatiently on her thigh. “Tell me! Tell me why Qumri hates me so much she goes crazy whenever she sees me? And why am I the only one in the