Lunamae Read Online Free PDF Page A

capable but I hadn’t had
time to do much in womanly arts having Lunamae as my charge. I had
been dedicating most of my time teaching her as was promised in the
altram ceremony.
    “Why yes, someone is going to have to
stitch this up. I hope you have been practicing. I will need this
wound to stop bleeding and be cleaned with ointment on it first.
Don’t worry, the yarrow gathered will both ease my pain and help
clot the area so I wouldn’t feel it as much and will be helpful in
getting rid of any foul substances cause by the arrowhead,” Talfrin
stated. I winced at the thought of stitching up real flesh. I
couldn’t even begin to imagine what it would feel like penetrating
skin with the needle and the flesh becoming taut with the pull of
the thread. I just gulped down the thought and walked beside
Talfrin. Lunamae and I led him back to the keep.
    The journey took about an hour and as we
approached we heard the sound of the watchmen who apparently had
caught sight of Talfrin’s arm, arrow still attached. Someone blew a
horn three times and I could see Angharad and my mother running out
of the keep, both holding their skirts high enough to travel
properly. It was easy enough for them to cross the bridge as they
certainly weren’t thinking about themselves. The horn being blown
three times meant Lunamae was in danger. They never blew the
horn even once before.
    “What happened?” Angharad firmly asked the
apothecary. The man winced in pain, still holding the hurt arm.
    “Bandits, although I am not sure it was all
they were,” he replied. The chief dame looked at the fletching on
the arrow and raised an eyebrow as she inspected it (making sure
not to actually touch the injured Talfrin).
    “It is quite odd that the Wuriven would come
this far to the south. I thought they were a pleasant and otherwise
peaceful clan. This may not have been organized. A few rebels can
ruin the name of the whole clan. Remember Ulric?” Angharad and
Talfrin exchanged looks. I had heard about the story of Ulric. He
had been from our village when we were first becoming a sizeable
clan and had stolen an insurmountable amount of goods from local
merchants. He would meet traders at the King’s Pass and offer them
at a very low cost. He was later caught and strapped to the Humble
Bridge. I was told he was used to test the Humble Bridge on whether
or not the spell worked when they magicked it. In every village
there was to be expected a few rotten pieces of wood. Luckily Ulric
was found out.
    “Perhaps, my lady, it would be a good idea to
meet with the Wuriven clan,” my mother offered.
    The chief dame replied, “Perhaps, Adelle.”
She looked down at Lunamae who was wide-eyed and beaming at the
sight of her. “Lunamae, how are you?”
    “Good mommy!” The child dropped her basket
and offered her hands up to her mother. Angharad didn’t hesitate
and lifted her offspring into her arms. Lunamae put her head on her
mother’s shoulder and asked, “What’s gonna happen to Mistah
Tawfurn?”
    “We’ll make sure he is cared for well,”
Angharad replied softly, brushing her hand over the girl’s face.
“Let us talk about something else, like what you want us to do for
your birthday.”
    I left the two for a moment and followed
Talfrin up to the keep after retrieving Lunamae’s basket. Because
he was the best person to go to in case of injuries or sickness
within the keep, he had a room there and supplies.
    “None of the other ladies can do this?” I
asked, referring to the stitching of his wound once the arrowhead
was removed.
    “You are strong Muirenn. While you haven’t
seen battle, you have seen hardship. The ladies of the keep would
not be able to stomach it as you would. I have faith in you,”
Talfrin said. His words gave me confidence and hope. With the help
of a few guards supporting the apothecary who was weak from the
blood loss, I wandered into the keep and took a left upon entering
to go up the stairs. He had all his