Sing the Four Quarters Read Online Free PDF

years when the fourteen-year-old Annice arrived.
    Determined not to let it show, lest word get back to her brother, she was hurt and confused and had no idea of how not to act like a princess. Leonas had gruffly taken her under his wing, explaining little things it had never occurred to the bards that she wouldn't know, easing the transition as much as he could. Over the years, he'd slid into the role of trusted retainer and if he wanted to call her "Princess," she supposed he'd earned the right. She tried to discourage it, though; she'd long left that life behind.
    Stripping off her wet clothes and letting them lie where they fell, she pulled a heavy woolen robe and sheepskin slippers from the wardrobe in her bedroom, shuffled down the hall to use the necessity—fortunately running into no one with whom she'd have to make conversation—then finally sat down to eat.
    The soup was excellent, big chunks of tender clam in a thick vegetable stock. Not entirely trusting her stomach, Annice saved the bread and cheese for later.
    She thought about lighting a fire, but—in spite of the rain slapping against the shutters—it just wasn't cold enough to justify making the effort. Besides, once in bed with the curtains closed, she'd be plenty warm enough. Setting thought to action, she picked up the lamp and shuffled into the bedroom.
    Blankets and sheets were heaped in a tangled pile. The down comforter trailed on the floor, evidence of a hasty departure, and all but one of the four pillows had been thrown to the foot of the bed.
    "I can't believe she can sleep in this," Annice muttered, tugging the mess into some semblance of order. "And I don't even want to know how she tore that corner of the curtain." Bed finally tidied, she Sang the kigh in the lamp a gratitude and, in the dark, slipped off her robe and slid naked between the sheets. Just as they began to warm around her body, her bladder decided to get her up again.
    "I just went!" she told it.
    It didn't seem to matter.
    "If it isn't one end lately, it's the other," she complained, groping for her slippers. "I am really getting tired of this."
    "Nees? Are you asleep?"
    Annice roused enough to murmur an affirmative, then gasped as a cold body wrapped around hers. "Stasya, you're freezing!"
    "You're not. You're nice and warm."
    "I was nice and warm."
    "Oh, hush. I'll warm up in a minute and you won't even know that I'm here."
    "Not likely." Annice squirmed as the other woman began chewing on her ear. "Stop it, Stas. I'm tired."
    "I missed you…"

    "I missed you, too, but I'm tired ."
    "Can I welcome you home in the morning?"
    "You can do what you want in the morning," Annice muttered, "if you'll just let me sleep now."
    When she woke again, weak light shone through the space between the bedcurtains, enough to illuminate the woman propped on one elbow and staring down at her.
    "Hi."
    "Hi yourself." Stasya smiled and waggled dark brows. "It's morning. Welcome home. Remember what you promised?"
    "
    She remembered a cold body very clearly, but the rest only vaguely. "Stas…"
    "Stas…" The other woman mocked and leaned forward. "It was witnessed by a bard," she whispered, breath tickling Annice's lips.
    "Stasya." Annice shoved her aside as her stomach rose to greet the day. "Get out of my way. Now!"
    "How long has this been going on?"
    "I don't know." Panting, Annice sat back on her heels, steadying herself against the toilet. A while now."
    Stasya leaned against the open door of the cubicle and frowned. "What do the healers say?"
    "I haven't seen one."
    "You are such an idiot. Why not?"
    "I figured I'd see one when I got home."
    "Fine. You're home. Are you finished?" Stasya stepped forward, bent, and helped Annice to her feet. "You can go see one right now."
    "But I haven't talked to the captain yet."
    "So?"
    Yanking the chain that flushed water through the pipes with one hand, Annice secured her robe with the other. "In case you've forgotten, I just got back from a Long Walk;