Kirith Kirin (The City Behind the Stars) Read Online Free PDF Page B

into the Woodland if we knew what was good for us. She said this in such a sharp tone no one dared to contradict her.
     
    I could feel the necklace in its box, an awkward lump against my arm.
     
    “You’ll want to ride the straightest, shortest way,” Mama said to Sivisal, “and make no attempt to hide. If you aren’t in Arthen by nightfall God help you.”
     
    “My sister has more on her mind than she’s saying,” Sivisal said, and I could tell she was making him nervous.
     
    “I often do,” she answered. “Don’t take me lightly Sivisal, I know what I’m talking about. Get into Arthen, quickly, storm or no storm.”
     
    Behind, framed in the barn door, my father was watching his wife, a touch of fear on his face, the first time I had ever seen any such emotion in him.
     
    The time had come. Outside the cold rain began to fall and my family pressed round to say good-bye. Uncle Sivisal threw on his cloak and I slipped the hood of my boy’s sleeved coat over my head. Father pressed a gold piece into my hand. Lise, Mikif and Vaguath started crying as we moved toward the horses. Jarred had tears in his eyes too, and we embraced a long time. Mother hugged me desperately, wanting to say something, I thought.
     
    She found a reason to fuss with the collar of my undershirt, and whispered in my ear, “Never be sorry, Jessex, no matter what happens.”
     
    A rush of wind overtook us both. She helped me onto the stallion’s bare back. I clutched the coat around me as the wind came down on us more and more. Uncle Sivisal looked at me with a calm smile. “All right Jessex, now we ride,” he said, and, gesturing farewell to everyone in the yard, we left my home. I never saw it again.
     
    4
     
    The storm that followed shook the countryside, dark clouds rolling and wind blowing trees nearly level with the ground, lightning flashing and thunder resounding, rain pouring from the clouds in such floods one wondered if the fields would wash away. Sivisal and I rode straight through the tumult toward the hills.
     
    We rode through the east fields where the furrows of new-planted corn were battered to pieces by the rain and wind, along a creek that bordered our land and farther, past the hills where Jarred had found me herding sheep the day before. Soon we had left my father’s farm behind and rode upland into forest, good for hunting according to Sim; Uncle Sivisal headed us there to avoid any stray Blue Cloaks who might be in the area. Under the trees we took our first rest.
     
    The storm was awesome, clouds covering the Fenax as far as the eye could see. I remembered what my mother had said and touched the necklace-box once or twice. Uncle Sivisal looked at the sky, worried. “Weather like this isn’t natural. An hour before dawn the sky was clear as clear can be.”
     
    “Mama said it would be a bad storm,” I answered.
     
    “Well, she was right. We had better take her advice and get to Arthen quick as we can. Is this the fastest way you know?”
     
    “This is forest that belongs to the Queen. It isn’t very thick. Beyond is the Girdle where the patrols ride.”
     
    “How far?”
     
    “Minutes from here. But it’s very wide.”
     
    “The patrols will be out today too, I’ll bet gold on it. This storm stinks of magic. Come on, we’re going to hurry. That horse of yours knows how to get where we’re headed, if you can stay on his back.”
     
    “I can stay.” I had to shout to make myself heard above the wind.
     
    He pulled something from inside his cloak and slipped it on his finger. I recognized the ring that he had worn when he led the black horse from the barn. He leaned toward my horse and spoke words to him. The horse listened with a wholly serious air and when Uncle Sivisal released his bridle, he began to canter forward. I turned back to see if Sivisal was following. He was. So I asked, “What did you tell him?”
     
    “To get you to Arthen no matter what. Stick fast to his back,