Dragonsinger Read Online Free PDF Page B

mother.
    Oldive regarded her steadily, as if divining some measure of her reluctance, and extended his own hand. Compelled by the very neutrality of his gaze, she gave him her injured hand. To her surprise, there was no change of expression on his face, no condemnation or pity, merely interest in the problem the thick-scarred palm posed for a man of his skill. He prodded the scar tissue, murmuring thoughtfully in his throat.
    ‘Make a fist.’
    She could just about do that but, when he asked her to extend her fingers, the scar pulled as she tried to stretch the palm.
    ‘Not as bad as I was led to believe. An infection, I suppose …’
    ‘Packtail slime …’
    ‘Hmmm, yes. Insidious stuff.’ He gave her hand another twist. ‘But the scar is not long healed, and the tissue can still be stretched. A few more months and we might not have been able to do anything to flex the hand. Now, you will do exercises, tightening your fingers about a small hard ball, which I will provide you, and extending the hand.’ He demonstrated, forcing her fingers upwards and apart so that she cried out involuntarily. ‘If you can discipline yourself to the point of actual discomfort, you are doing the exercise properly . We must stretch the tightened skin, the webbing between your fingers, and the stiffened tendons. I shall also provide a salve, which you are to rub well into the scar tissue to make it softer and more pliable. Conscientious effort on your part will determine the rate of progress. I suspect that you will be sufficiently motivated.’
    Before Menolly could stammer her thanks, the astonishing man was out of the room and closing the door behind him. Beauty made a sound – half quizzical chirp, half approving burble. She’d come loose from Menolly’s neck during the examination, watching the proceedings from a depression in the sleeping furs. Now she walked over to Menolly and stroked her head against Menolly’s arm.
    From the apprentices’ hall across the courtyard, the singing was renewed, with vigour and volume. Beauty cocked her head, humming with delight and then, when Menolly shushed her, looked wistfully up at the girl.
    ‘I don’t think we should sing again just now, but they do sound grand, don’t they?’
    She sat there, caressing Beauty, delighting in the music. Very close harmony, she realized approvingly, the sort only trained voices and well-rehearsed singers can achieve.
    ‘Well,’ said Silvina, entering the room briskly, ‘you have stirred them up. It’s good to hear that old rooter sung with some spirit.’
    Menolly had no time to register astonishment at Silvina’s comment, for the headwoman poked at Menolly’s bundle of things on the table, and twitched the sleeping rug into neat folds.
    ‘We might just as well get you settled in Dunca’s cottage now,’ Silvina continued. ‘Fortunately, there’s an outside room unoccupied …’ The headwoman wrinkled her nose in a slightly disparaging grimace. ‘Those holder girls are impossible about being outside, but it oughtn’t to worry you.’ She smiled at Menolly. ‘Oldive says you’re to keep off your feet, but some walking’s got to be done. Still, you won’t be in a chore section … another good reason to keep you at Dunca’s, I suppose …’ Silvina frowned and then looked back at Menolly’s small bundle. ‘This is all you brought with you?’
    ‘And nine fire lizards.’
    Silvina laughed. ‘An embarrassment of riches.’ She glanced out the window, peering across the courtyard to the far roof where the fire lizards were still sunning themselves. ‘They
do
stay where they’re told, don’t they?’
    ‘Generally. But I’m not sure how good they are with too many people about or unusual noise.’
    ‘Or fascinating diversions …’ Silvina smiled again at Menolly as she nodded towards the windows and the music issuing from the apprentices’ hall.
    ‘They always sang along with me … I didn’t realize we