The Baker's Boy Read Online Free PDF

ailments of the
belly and-how should I put it-the, er, private parts. When the lacus is warmed,
however, it changes its nature and provides relief from pain of the joints and
the head. I have even heard said that when condensed and applied as a paste to
wounds, it can quicken healing and stave off infection."
    Bevlin was feeling
a little guilty. He realized the addled beef was responsible for his visitor's
illness, and decided that before the young man left he would make amends by
giving Tawl his last remaining skin of lacus.
    "Is the lacus
more than the sum of its ingredients?"
    The knight had
keen perception. Bevlin revised his opinion of him. "One might say there
is an added element that owes nothing to the goat."
    "Sorcery."
    Bevlin smiled.
"You are most forthright. All too often these days people are afraid of
naming the unseen. Call it what you like, it makes no difference, it won't lessen
its retreat."
    "But there
are still those who . . ."
    "Yes, there
are those who still practice." The wiseman stood up. "Most think it
would be better if they didn't."
    "What do you
think?" asked the knight.
    "I think that
like many things-like the stars in the heavens, like the storms in the sky-it
is misunderstood, and people usually fear what they can't comprehend."
Bevlin felt he'd said enough. He had no desire to satisfy the youthful
curiosity of the knight. If Tawl was to find anything out, let it be through
experience-he was too old to play teacher. Guiding the conversation around to
its former topic, the wiseman said, "I think maybe you should sleep for
now. You are weak and need to rest. We will talk in the morning."
    The knight
recognized the dismissal and stood up. As he did so, Bevlin caught a glimpse of
a mark on his forearm. A branding-two circles, one within the other. The inner
circle had been newly branded: the skin was still raised and puckered. A knife
wound of some sort ran through the center of both circles. There were stitches
still holding it closed. It seemed an unusual place for an enemy's blade to
fall.
    Battle scars
aside, the knight was young to have gained the middle circle. Bevlin had guessed
him to be a novice. Perhaps he should have spoken further about that which made
the lacus sing. The knight would have been keen to learn-the second circle
marked scholarship, not just skill with a blade. Still, he was offering the
knight a chance for glory-why should he offer him knowledge as well?
    As soon as Melli
entered the chambers of her father, Lord Maybor, she made a beeline for his
bedroom, in which was to be found that most precious of objects: a looking
glass. This was the only glass that Melli had access to, as they were
considered too valuable for the use of children. Melli drew back the heavy red
curtains and let the light shine into the luxuriant bedchamber.
    Melli considered
the chamber-all crimson and goldto be a little gaudy for her taste, and
resolved that when she had a chamber of her own one day, she would show greater
discrimination in the choosing of furnishings. She knew well that the rug she
walked on was priceless and that the looking glass she had come to use was
supposed to be the most beautiful one in the kingdom, better even than the one
possessed by the queen. Still, she was not greatly impressed by these trappings
of her father's great wealth.
    Melli moved
directly in front of the minor. She was disappointed by what she saw there: her
chest was still flat as a board. She breathed in deeply, pushing her meager
chest out, trying to imagine what it would be like to have womanly breasts. She
was sure they would arrive anyday now, but whenever she stole into her father's
rooms, her image remained unchanged.
    Part of Melli
longed to become a woman. Oh to be able to use her lady's name, Melliandra,
instead of the rather short and decidedly unimpressive Melli. How she hated
that name! Her older brothers would tease her mercilessly: Melli, Melli, thin
and smelly! She'd heard that rhyme a thousand