The Crow God's Girl Read Online Free PDF Page B

away her panic. She thought about her underwear, dangling on the end of Samar’s long bony finger. Was Samar Team Kate? When she spoke she tried to keep her voice calm.
    “These householders, I don’t really know them very well yet. But who–who might be against me? Maybe I can change their mind.”
    She knew she had gotten off on the wrong foot with the household staff by trying to be egalitarian and friendly. Big mistake. In her attempt to present herself as unlordlike, she had overstepped an invisible barrier. Thanks again, Colar, for the help, she thought, but she knew it wasn’t his fault. He didn’t know. He grew up with these people who looked on him as the heir to a throne. Sure, the householders were indulgent and easy with the children, scolding Yare and Eri, teasing Aevin, and then also doting upon them. And they considered Colar’s return to Terrick a great blessing and a joy.
    Callia snorted. “Torvan? I think not. He was born with his mind shut, I think. Those who work for him, they are full of tales. Samar now, she and I have never liked one another, not since we were girls and dangling after the same lads, worthless though they were then and thrice worthless now. Samar.” She nodded and drank another gulp, savoring her spiked vesh. “I don’t know about Samar.”
    That makes two of us. “Well,” Kate said. “I don’t want to make enemies. I just want to get along.”
    Callia snorted again and Kate blushed and took another sip of vesh.
    “That’s what I’m trying to tell you, child. You already have made enemies. Not all of them, not yet, but they are not forgiving to a strangeling, especially one they say wants to steal the heir.”
    Callia was serious.
    Kate felt a surge of anger borne on a wave of panic. She kept her voice level. “Guess it doesn’t matter that I brought their heir home.”
    “No, Kett Mosslin. It does not. I will tell you this, child, that if you wish to be Lady Kett someday, you best make sure of your young lord before your enemies divide you.” She shook her head at Kate’s expression. “Believe me, they are well able to do so.”
    Her stomach lurched. She was walking a tightrope and the slightest misstep would bring disaster.
    The sound of hoofbeats made them both look up and a second later they heard boots on the walkway and a tap on the door. Callia drank the rest of her vesh and stood up. Kate followed.
    “Your betrothed has come for you,” the midwife said. “But you will come to visit me again, child.”
    It was not quite a request, not quite an order. Kate nodded uncertainly. Maybe she could be too busy to come back to see Callia. Callia gave her a strange smile, as if she understood what Kate was thinking. “You have enemies, child. Do you not see you need friends?”
    Colar ducked inside the little house and gave Callia a friendly bow.
    “Holder Callia, my greetings.”
    The midwife gave him a delighted smile and reached out and grasped his hands, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Young Terrick! Welcome to my house, I give you guesting forever and always. And here she is, your wayward beloved.”
    Kate gave him a little wave. “Hey.”
    He gave her a smile, the same half one that she first remembered seeing in the war camp, only a year and a lifetime ago.
    “Mother said you were here. Are you ready to go home?”
    You have no idea . “Sure. Callia was nice to sit and chat with me.” She turned. “Thank you. For the advice and the vesh.”
    “You promise me, you will return,” Callia ordered.
    “I will. I’ll come to see you.” And now she had no choice, Kate could see the upside. Sorry Lady Beatra, I promised the midwife. She could find out more about what she needed to know, about who were her enemies and who were her allies.
    In Callia’s front garden, she gathered Allegra’s reins, checked the girth and looked back at the house. Callia had already gone in, the house shut up tight. Only smoke from the chimney revealed a sign of life.