The Safe-Keeper's Secret Read Online Free PDF

“Reed can become whatever he wants,” she said. “He’s not a Safe-Keeper’s son.”
    Damiana laughed. “Yes, indeed, Reed does not seem like the type to sit at home and look after other people’s secrets.”
    â€œI used to worry,” Fiona said. “When I was little.”
    â€œWorry about what?”
    â€œThat you wouldn’t love Reed as much as you loved me. Because he wasn’t truly your son.”
    â€œBut I do. I love you both exactly the same much,” Damiana said, laughing a little at her own choice of words.
    Fiona nodded solemnly. “But I didn’t know that. I was little. I thought there was only so much love.”
    â€œLove is like water from the ocean,” Damiana said. “You cannot empty it dry. Take bucket after bucket of water out of the Cormeon Sea, and there is still more water left than you could ever use up. That’s what love’s like.”
    â€œAnd you won’t ever send him away? To Wodenderry?”
    Damiana smoothed her hair away again. “Not to Wodenderry or anywhere else,” she said. “Reed will only leave here if he wants to go.”
    Fiona turned to her side and snuggled deeper into the pillow. She was tired, but she wasn’t sleepy. She thought she might lie awake a long time, thinking over the events of the day. “It was a very good party,” she said.
    Damiana kissed her on the ear, making her giggle. “Good night, Safe-Keeper’s daughter,” she whispered. “Sweetest dreams.”
    Damiana stood and carried her candle across the hall to Reed’s room, leaving Fiona’s room in darkness. Fiona listened, as she listened every night, to her mother’s goodnight interlude with Reed. They talked over the party (his favorite part of the day was playing ring-toss with Greg) and discussed which of his toys he might play with first in the morning. Finally, Damiana said, “Time to sleep, Safe-Keeper’s son.”
    â€œI’m not sleepy,” he said, as he said every night.
    There was a moment’s silence; Fiona knew her mother had leaned in to press her lips against Reed’s cheek and forehead. “You’re sleepy now,” Damiana murmured. “I’m giving you magical sleeping kisses, all over your face.”
    â€œBut I’m really not tired,” he insisted.
    â€œAh! Another magical sleeping kiss.”
    â€œCan I come down and sit with you and Thomas and Angeline? If I can’t fall asleep?”
    â€œLie here a while, and if you can’t fall asleep in twenty minutes, then you can come downstairs and have a cup of tea. But you’ll be sleepy because—here’s one more!—I’ve given you all these magical sleeping kisses. Good night, Reed.”
    â€œGood night,” he answered through a yawn.
    He was, as he always was, asleep before Damiana was through the door.
    Fiona listened to the sounds of her mother’s footsteps going carefully down the stairway, and then to the sounds of talk and laughter that floated up during the next half hour. She closed her eyes and willed sleep to come,but it would not. Her mind was too busy showing her images from the day: Elminstra’s laughing face, Thomas’ haunted eyes, the sickly Victoria leaning back on the hard cushions of the traveling wagon. After a while she gave up and pushed back the covers. Moving as quietly as she could, she crept out of her bed and halfway down the stairs, perching on the small landing just where the stairwell curved, so that she would stay out of sight.
    The big room below was filled with not only the noise of conversation but the scents of coffee and brandy and tobacco. Fiona could always tell when Thomas had come for a visit; he carried aromas that none of the women of the village brought inside. He was here often enough—every few months—and would usually stay a few days. Damiana, always serene and cheerful, was even