The Caller Read Online Free PDF Page B

peace.
    A flurry of wings, and Whisper came down to join me.
    ‘Awake?’ he queried. ‘There’s a wee stream no’ sae far awa’. I’ll gae wi’ you so you can wash safely. And then I hae a plan tae put tae you.’
    ‘What plan?’
    ‘Wash first, set yoursel’ tae rights, hae a bittie breakfast, then we’ll talk aboot it.’
    The stream ran between more elder trees. I retreated behind a clump of ferns to relieve myself, then splashed my face and hands while Whisper kept watch. Was I imagining things, or did he make himself smaller when he went up to roost?
    He made me eat breakfast before he would tell me the plan. It was bitterly cold; another reason for haste. If this search followed the pattern of the last two, once I found the White Lady and persuaded her to teach me, I could be reasonably sure of a warm, secure place for Whisper and me to stay until my training was complete. The Good Folk of the east would most likely supply what we needed for survival over the winter.
    ‘Very well, I’ve washed, I’ve plaited my hair, I’ve eaten. And I’m wondering why you waited to tell me your plan.’
    ‘Ah,’ said Whisper, and something in his voice told me bad news was coming. ‘You slept sound, aye?’
    ‘I’m used to lying on hard ground. Apart from a troubling dream or two, I slept well enough.’ When he made no comment, I said, ‘Did I miss something?’
    ‘There was a commotion,’ Whisper said. ‘No’ sae near, but no’ sae far awa’ neither. I didna care for what I heard. But I wouldna fly ower tae see what it was, no’ while you were sleeping like a babe.’
    My heart sank. ‘What kind of commotion?’
    ‘Shouting. Screaming. Horses.’
    Enforcers. Close by. What else could it be? ‘We can’t stay here, then.’
    ‘As to that,’ Whisper said, ‘I think you’ll be safe in that spot doon there.’ He managed to indicate the cairns without quite looking at them. ‘For a woman like yoursel’, and a Caller besides, there’d be nae harm in creeping in through that wee door in the beehive hut if you’re afeart. But I canna see king’s men marching intae such a place wi’ their big boots and wreaking havoc. There’s a powerful magic here; you feel it too, aye?’
    ‘Yes, I feel it. But the king’s men have no respect for the old ways. I doubt the presence of magic would keep them out if they were ordered to search a place.’
    ‘Even they wouldna dare interfere wi’ a deep spot such as this, Neryn. There’s a protection on it, same as the Lord o’ the North has on his hall. It willna admit those who come in anger. Gae doon, stay in the circle o’ cairns and you’ll be safe.’
    ‘But what about you?’
    ‘I’ll be flying ower the place where the screaming came frae, and seeing what’s what. If we canna find the Lady here, or some o’ her folk, we’ll need tae move on. I willna lead you ane way or the other until I make sure it’s safe. Or as safe as it can be.’
    He was brave, no doubt of that. What if a whole troop of Enforcers lay in wait just over the next rise?
    ‘It seems a sound plan,’ I said, imagining crawling into the beehive hut and perhaps offending the White Lady so deeply she would not even want to speak to me, should I happen to find her in such an unlikely abode. ‘How long will you be gone?’
    ‘I canna tell. I dinna ken what I may find. Dinna come back up here until you see me waiting.’
    ‘All right. Be safe, Whisper.’
    ‘Aye, and you, lassie.’
    He waited on the rise until I had walked down and stepped within the rough circle formed by the cairns. Then he flew away over the treetops and out of sight to the east.
    I drew a deep breath and squared my shoulders. There was a job to do. I must be mindful of the right way to approach the Good Folk. The Folk Below had provided covert support to the rebel community ever since Regan first came to Shadowfell, for no other reason than that they had seen him observing the old ritual days with appropriate