The River's Gift Read Online Free PDF Page A

sign of fear or
animosity, only puzzlement and gratitude. She stood up and straightened her
shoulders, and with a nod, addressed a stoop-shouldered old man who she instinctively
felt was probably considered to be a leader here. He looked her fearlessly in
the face.
    "Thenkee,
milady," he said humbly. "Th' last hand t' tend us thuslike was yer
blessed Lady-Mother . ' Tis far fer us t'be goin't' the
Abbey fer sprains an' belike—"
    "Then
it's high time I took Mother's place, isn't it? If you like, Uncle," she
said, giving him the title that the serfs used with a man they respected,
"I'll come every day from now on to see to the village—and beyond, if
you'll spread the word. It would be easier for me, if it's possible that
everyone beholden to Lord Kaelin were to come here for tending."
    "Aye,
that," the old man agreed happily. Ariella gathered up what was left of
her bandages and medicines and the crowd parted to let her through. She
pondered what the old man had told her as she took the path to the Manor that
would lead her through the forest.
    I never knew that Mother took care of our
people. I wonder why Papa never told me? It couldn't have
been because he didn't approve; he himself mingled with his serfs and underlings.
Perhaps he had simply forgotten, or perhaps Lady Magda had taken it upon
herself to pronounce that such a task was "unsuitable" to Ariella's
rank, sex, and youth, and Lord Kaelin did not have the fortitude to nay- say
her.
    That
gave her cause to wonder if her mother had also had the gift of magic healing.
Or if she'd had it, but had never known and never used it. After all, I never would have known
if the dogs hadn't come to me first, and I didn't know any better and I couldn't
help myself. ... If her mother had never shared that experience, by the time
she had come to Swan Manor as an adult bride, she would probably have ignored
the persistent proddings of the power inside her.
    She was so sunk in
her own thoughts that she hardly noticed when she reached the heart of the
forest. It was only when she nearly tripped over a young rabbit that she
realized her goal and it was time to begin her ministrations all over again.
    Lady
Magda was so taken aback by Ariella's rebellion that she did not even trouble
herself to challenge Ariella the next day when the girl changed into her old
linen dress and marched confidently out to what she now considered to be her
duty. She simply shook her head in disbelief and took to her bed for her daily
nap. Lord Kaelin said nothing to his daughter about her self- appointed position,
and Ariella did not bring the subject up; even if he disapproved as much as
Lady Magda did (which she privately doubted) as long as he didn't say
anything, she could go right on.
    The one creature who did express his approval with a whole
heart was Merod. The Kelpie made no secret of how he felt. :Everything you do to make the other mortals well and happy will make our lives better,: he declared, switching his tail
vigorously. :If they are well, they will be kinder to the land and
the wild things. They will keep their Cold Iron within the bounds of the fields
they know. They will not come hunting us, believing that their ills come from
our curses.:
    He
was in a mischievous and cheerful mood today, frisking coltishly in the
shallows. He splashed her, and laughing, she returned the favor, kicking water
at him.
    :Would you like to see some magic?: he asked her abruptly. None of the other
creatures of Faerie had ever made her such an offer, and she inhaled sharply.
    "Yes!"
she exclaimed before he could change his mind. "All I've ever seen is when
one of your friends vanishes— " : All you haven't seen, you mean,: he snickered, and she reached down to splash him again..: What makes you think a little water
will bother me?:
    "Nothing,
obviously." She laughed. "But are you really going to show me something magic?"
    :Certainly .
Would you care to see what your mother looked like when she first came to