The River's Gift Read Online Free PDF Page B

to meet the Kelpie's
knowing green eyes.
    :Lovely , aren't they? But
they are too high for me. I prefer the beauties of the middle Earth for myself ,: was
all Merod said, but Ariella knew that he understood.
    The
days passed, much alike, but too full of enjoyment for Ariella ever to be bored
with her lot. So long as the sun shone and the weather was fine, six days out
of the week her schedule was much the same. In the mornings Ariella studied
what Lady Magda set her, recited yet another saint's life, and took a few
stitches on her altar- cloth, feeling that she should at least make a token
effort in Lady Magda's direction. As soon as she was able, she freed herself of
her encumbering gowns and the formal nonsense Lady Magda thought so important
and left "Lady Ariella" behind.
    She
didn't see the creatures of Faerie every day; in fact she usually didn't see
any of them but Merod more than once or twice in a fortnight, if one of them
needed her tending. But now that she knew they were all around her, she sensed
their invisible presence and often thought she heard them going about their
lives in the woods around her.
    Merod,
however, was a constant friend and companion, and he traded tales of life among
the Faerie for her own stories gleaned from the histories and chronicles in the
library of the Abbey. He had a lively curiosity about the world outside the
forest and was as eager for such stories as a child.
    On
the rare occasions when it rained during the day, she took her horse and rode
to the Abbey to delve among the books or absorb more knowledge of herbs and
physik from the Infirmarian and his helpers. When it rained, it was no use
going out to the forest; the animals kept to their dens, and Merod had no place
for her to take shelter. Besides, rain made the Kelpie wild and restless and
not much good as a conversationalist.
    And
once each week on Sunday, rain or shine, she and her father rode out together,
with Lady Magda trundled along in a horse-litter, to attend holy services at
the Abbey chapel.
    So
the summer passed. Then, before she quite realized it, the summer was gone and
the busy season of harvest was upon them. The summer had been perfect for
growing, and it seemed that there was an abundance ,
even an overabundance, everywhere Ariella looked. And while this meant great
things for the continued prosperity of Swan Manor and those that depended on
the harvest, Ariella knew that until the last fruit was picked and nut gathered
in, she would bid farewell to her days of relative leisure. Every hand was
needed for such a rich harvest-season, and even Lady Magda would not be spared.
The reapers had already been out in the first hay-field, and it was time for
all the Manor-folk to set to.
    "We
start haying tomorrow," she sighed to Merod after one of the swimming
lessons he had insisted on. He was determined that she learn to swim, and swim
well, after being taken unaware by the current and getting a fright and a
lung-full of water. Now she swam, if not as well as one of the otter-maidens,
at least well enough to keep herself out of trouble. She usually stripped to
her short chemise to swim, having no fear that any humans would come this way
without warning, and feeling no embarrassment in Merod's presence.
    Now
she combed out her hair with her fingers to help it dry as she sat in a patch
of sun, with Merod reclining at his ease beside her, and reluctantly broached
the subject of the upcoming harvests and her inevitable absence until they were
over. Would Merod be angry with her? Would he feel betrayed? She didn't want to
hurt his feelings, but she did have her duty to the Manor—
    :So you'll have your
hands full for some time, I expect. If we need your skills, we'll find a way to
let you know ,: the Kelpie replied matter-of-factly. .:I' ll miss your company,
of course, but —: he
cocked his head to the side. :Why are you
looking at me so oddly?:
    "How
did you know I would have to help with the harvest?" she asked,