The Downs by Kim Fielding Read Free Book Online

haunted the Downs, but surely not everyone here was as kind and gentle as Rig. The newcomers might see him for what he was— unredeemable.
    It took all of Enitan’s strength and will to stand straight, hands fisted at his sides, chin high.
    Two men and a woman burst into the little clearing. They were chatting merrily, and each back was heavily laden with a bulging bag. One of the men bore an ugly mark on his forehead— the same, Enitan supposed, as he now carried.
    When they spied Enitan, the trio stopped so abruptly that they nearly collided with one another. They gaped. Rig stood, smiling, his hands held before him. “Sorry. I’m a bit too bloody to greet you.”
    “But it looks like a new patient dropped into your hands,” said the marked man. His accent was more like Enitan’s than like Rig’s.
    Rig turned to face Enitan. “May I?” he asked, waving at the others.
    Chin up . “Of course.”
    “Enitan, this is Sar and her husband Kef, and this is Danyal. Everyone, this is Enitan.”
    They exchanged greetings, Enitan’s more subdued than the others. Then the new people carried their bags into the cabin while Rig finished cleaning their dinner. “It’s all right,” he said quietly to Enitan. “None of them are demons either.”
    “Danyal is… like me.”
    “He arrived several years ago. He was barely more than a boy.” He made a low growling noise. “Declaring a youth irredeemable before he even knew who he was. It’s a disgrace.”
    “He’s not—”
    “He’s a good man. Turns out he’s skilled with tools, so when someone in the village needs a house repaired, Danyal does the job. He works hard. Makes sure every home can hold out the fog.”
    Although Rig had explained several times that banished people were welcomed into his community, Enitan still had trouble accepting it. “But he must have been convicted of something awful. What if he’s dangerous?”
    Rig’s gaze was sharp. “Anyone can be dangerous.”
    Enitan didn’t reenter the cabin until Rig accompanied him. The visitors had unpacked their bags, so the shelves now overflowed with food and other supplies. Kef was cooking something in Rig’s biggest pot, while Sar and Danyal sat on the floor, talking quietly.
    Rig handed the meat to Kef and grabbed a bucket. “I’m going to wash up and fetch some water,” he announced.
    Danyal sprang to his feet, grinning widely. “I’ll help.”
    “Um…” Rig cut his eyes quickly in Enitan’s direction. “Not this time, all right?”
    Looking slightly disappointed, Danyal shrugged and sat back down. Still hovering near the open door, Enitan realized that Danyal and Rig were lovers— and that he was jealous. Which was ridiculous on several grounds.
    He was going to urge Rig to take Danyal with him, but Rig left before Enitan could spit out the words. He had never felt so awkward.
    And then he was surprised when Danyal came to his rescue, smiling warmly at him. “I’m sorry, Enitan. We’re overwhelming you.”
    “No, I—”
    “It’s difficult when you haven’t been around anyone for a while. Anyone but Rig. But he’s easy to handle. Please. Come sit with us.” He patted the floor next to him.
    Enitan couldn’t politely refuse. But instead of the floor, he sat stiffly on his sleeping mat, which was several feet away. He arranged the blanket over his lap to keep from flashing the visitors.
    “How long since you arrived?” asked Danyal, which earned him a stern look from Sar.
    “I’m… not sure. I was hurt…”
    Danyal nodded gravely. “You must have caught a lot of fog to have burned so badly.”
    Automatically, Enitan touched his face. Was he as terribly scarred as Rig? He hadn’t thought so. His newly healed skin felt smooth and healthy. “I…”
    “You look fine,” Danyal said kindly. “Rig is good at his art. The only reason I can tell you were burned is that your mark is gone.”
    “What?” His fingers flew to his forehead, but they told him nothing.
    This