Treva's Children Read Online Free PDF

said. “I did not say to enlist the aid of others.” Mistress’s staff glowed blue, the light reflecting from her eyes, eyes that bored unblinking into Talisa's.
    “Mistress, I...”
    Embron drew himself up straight. “She did not enlist my aid, Mistress, she...”
    “I am not your mistress.”
    Embron opened his mouth, then closed it.  He licked his lips. “Forgive my impertinence then.  I do not know how to address you.”
    “I am the guardian of this place.  You may call me Guardian.”
    Talisa frowned in thought.  She did not know the significance of the names Mistress used, why this name here and that name there, but she knew it was important.
    Embron nodded. “My Lady did not enlist my aid, Guardian.  I came upon her by chance as I wandered these woods.”
    “Hunting?  Without leave?”
    “No.  I swear it.  Merely seeing.”
    Mistress nodded. “Very well.  Continue your tale.”
    Embron licked his lips again. “I came upon My Lady by chance and saw her labors.  I begged her to let me help.” He dropped to one knee. “If there is any fault here, it is mine.  Let any punishment be mine as well.”
    “Embron!” Talisa turned to him. “No.”
    Mistress stared down at them for several seconds. “Is it your intent to continue to aid her in her labors?”
    “She is my lady.”
    Mistress pointed her staff at Talisa. “She is no longer Baroness.  She is no more than a servant now.”
    “She is my lady.”
    “Very well,” Mistress said. “If that is your choice, I will adjust her tasks.  You may aid as you see fit.  But the tasks are hers.  The price for failure, hers.”
    Embron lifted his face, his expression belligerent.
    Talisa hastened to speak. “I will do as you bid, Mistress.  Let the price for failure be mine.”
    Mistress nodded.  She pointed at Embron. “Return to your people.  If you choose, return to this place midday tomorrow.” She next pointed at Talisa. “Come with me.”
    Talisa bowed and plodded up the hill.

    By the glow of her staff, Mistress led Talisa to a willow. She pointed to one of the branches. "Break this off."
    Talisa pulled at the limb but it bent rather than breaking.  She laid her right hand on the handle of the knife at her belt. "Mistress, may I..."
    Mistress nodded.  She touched the limb, where it joined a larger branch. "Cut here, in this direction."
    Talisa cut as indicated.  The knife bit into the wood, but not clean through.  Two more slices and the branch came free.
    Mistress looked at the branch. "That should be enough.  As we walk, strip off some of the bark.  Chew on it."
    Talisa used her knife to shave off some of the bark which she popped in her mouth.  She grimaced at the taste.
    "Endure the bitterness," Mistress said. "When the taste fades, spit the bark out and chew a fresh piece.  Continue until you have stripped the branch entirely.  The bark will ease the pain you will feel tomorrow.  Now, walk with me."
    They walked.  Talisa continued to chew the bark.  At a fallen tree, Mistress stopped and stooped.  She held a hand flat on the ground.  A squirrel ran out from under the tree onto her hand.  Mistress stood and held the squirrel before her face, nose to nose, almost as if they were conferring.  A moment later, she bent and lowered her hand.  The squirrel scampered into the underbrush.
    In time they reached the path by which Talisa and her people had entered the valley.
    "The garden ends here," Mistress said. "I go no farther.  Climb to the saddle and look, then return here."
    Talisa looked up into the darkness, then up at the sky.  Clouds blocked the stars, so thick that she could not tell if either moon was in the sky.  Outside the circle cast by Mistress's staff all was black. "Mistress?"
    Mistress nodded. "Hold out your hand."
    Talisa did so.  Mistress tapped the end of her staff to Talisa's palm, leaving a ball of light in its wake.
    "Now go."
    Talisa ascended the slope.  As she left Mistress's side, wind