Natural Ordermage Read Online Free PDF Page A

could see that it was likely to be far more engaging than a town off the coast and on the High Road near the ironworks—and far from both Nylan and Land’s End.
    “Fahla really runs the chandlery,” added Faseyn. “Father does the buying and trading, and that takes all his time.”
    Rahl had the impression that their father was without a consort, but he wasn’t sure how to ask that and decided against it.
    “Who else would?” replied Fahla. “You’re more interested in the accounts, but someone has to sell things and tell everyone what we have and why they should buy it.”
    “You-like doing that?” asked Rahl.
    “Much more than being a consort and doing all the cooking and chores, not that I don’t have to fit some chores and cooking in. Some of the older men aren’t sure I should be running the chandlery, but they don’t say much.” She laughed. “You can tell, though, the way they get all stiff and ask where my father is. I just tell them it’s their good fortune to deal with me since Father’s far less compromising.”
    Rahl had the definite feeling that it might be easier to dicker with her father. He also found her interesting, but her directness was more than a little unnerving. When she looked at him, her eyes seemed to focus intently on him, as if she were cataloging all his abilities and thoughts and racking them somewhere in her brain.
    Abruptly, Fahla turned and lifted two small pouches. “Nuelya… it took a while to dig it out, but here’s that cobalt powder you wanted, and the scarletine, too.” She slipped away and headed toward the kitchen.
    Before Rahl could follow, he heard a timid knock on the door, and he sensed that the person knocking had to be Jienela. -
    Sevien looked to Rahl. “Why don’t you answer it?”
    “It would be nice,” murmured Delthea, just loud enough for Rahl to hear.
    He slipped around the three to the door and opened it.
    Jienela smiled up at him. “Sevien said you’d be here. I hoped so.”
    He half bowed and gestured her to enter.
    “This is nice,” said Jienela as she stepped into the common room. “I’ve never been inside. Jaired and Jeason always come for the cider jugs.”
    “They may not have been in here, either. Sevien only invites his friends.” Rahl guided her toward the others. He watched Faseyn’s watery blue eyes fix on Jienela from the moment she turned and moved toward the group.
    “Jienela,” Rahl said, “this is Fahla and her brother Faseyn. Their father took over the chandlery, and they help run it.”
    Jienela nodded shyly.
    “Jienela’s family has the big orchard to the north and east of here.”
    “It’s the only one,” protested Jienela, “and it’s not that big.”
    “The pearapples are the best, though,” said Sevien with a laugh, “and the” cider.“
    “You grew up here, didn’t you?” Fahla asked Jienela.
    “Father’s family’s been here since the first. He says that the soil was so bad then that the first trees didn’t fruit for years.”
    “Sand on top and hard clay below,” added Sevien. “That’s why there have always been potters around Land’s End.”
    “Are you going to be one, too?” asked Fahla.
    Rahl frowned inside at the question. Why would she ask that? If Sevien hadn’t- had the inclination and talent, he would have been apprenticed out years before. Besides, most children followed either the craft or lands of their parents or their consorts’ parents—-if. they had the talent. That was the custom, certainly.
    “Haven’t your parents always been factors?” asked Sevien.
    “Mother was the mate on a trader. Father took up factoring after her ship was burned by pirates.”
    For Sevien’s sake, Rahl almost wanted to shrink into the mortared gaps in the gray stone walls. How were they supposed to know that?
    “Are you all ready for some pie?” Nuelya’s voice rose over the conversation. ,
    “We’ve been drooling all along,” Rahl called back cheerfully.
    “Then come over