A.L. Jambor by The Tower in the Mist Read Free Book Online Page A

reading. He reminds me of an old picture I saw in one of his books. The man was a painter who painted a picture of himself. The artist’s name was Albrecht Dürer. He lived in Germany in the fifteenth century. The picture was in a book from Earth.
    “Do you paint?” I asked him.
    “I can draw,” he replied.
    “Can you paint me?”
    “I can draw you.”
    When he was done, I looked at the drawing. He made me look pretty, but my eyes are sad.
    He cut my hair today. It’s a foot shorter now. It goes to the middle of my back.
    December 7
    I am much better now. I gave birth to Ceil on November 3. She is the love of my life.
    I began to have pains and Geezer came to sit with me. He held my hand and stroked my arm. He told me to breathe. The pains went on for hours, but in the end I had my beautiful baby daughter.
    February 3, 917
    Ceil is sleeping so I have some time to write. I just realized it was a year ago when I saw Mace for the first time. Ceil has his eyes.
    Geezer brings me flowers. He creates them and makes the most beautiful arrangements out of them. I love to look at him. We kissed for the first time yesterday.
    I love Geezer. It’s not passionate like with Mace, but it’s good. He is a good man. He loves Ceil so much.
    We walk in our little garden and show our daughter the colors. She doesn’t understand. She’s much too young. But Geezer and I like being together.
    London is doing well. Geezer went to see Mace. He didn’t tell him he has a daughter. It’s better if he doesn’t know. We both fear he might try to take Ceil.
    Neela was with him. Geezer says she seems harder somehow. She stares at Mace. Geezer says it makes him uncomfortable to be around her.
    My first thought was she wants to kill Mace.
    April 18
    Ceil is getting so big. We can prop her on pillows and she “sits” by herself. Geezer entertains her by sending things flying through the air. Geezer told me it’s an awesome power and not to take it lightly. I know he’s right, but it’s just so much fun that I keep encouraging him to go on.
    Geezer told me that Neela lost another baby. I can’t imagine how painful that would be. I cried for her. Geezer said that now we have to be even more careful with Ceil.
    “If Neela cannot produce an heir, he will want Ceil,” he said.
    I held her tightly.
    May 20
    It was a beautiful spring day today. Ceil was in my arms and we saw a butterfly. We chased it and she laughed. I found myself standing on the wrong side of the white picket fence. Then I met a group of soldiers.
    They were on horses and stopped when they saw me. The leader got off his horse and bowed. He said Mace would like Geezer and me to come to dinner at the fortress in Esher. I didn’t know Mace was so close.
    I told the soldier I would tell Geezer.
    When I returned home, I told Geezer. He didn’t look happy.
    “I don’t want him to know about Ceil,” he said.
    “He wouldn’t hurt her,” I said.
    “No, he’d take her.”
    I held her closer to my chest.
    “The soldiers saw her.”
    “Then I’ll have to add protection to our tower.”
    “Will it keep them out?”
    “It will keep her safe.”
    That didn’t answer my question.
    Geezer went to dinner that night. He never mentioned Ceil. When Mace asked where I was, Geezer told him I had gone to Earth for a visit. Mace didn’t ask him why.
    When I asked about the noble who owned that fortress, Geezer was still. Another head on Mace’s sword.
    July 5
    Things have changed. I had a visit from Mace.
    The day started out the way they always do. Geezer made us breakfast and then he went to town. He was going to see Mace. It had been arranged.
    I fed Ceil, who has grown so much she is now trying to stand. Geezer said it’s too early, but she doesn’t listen to him. It makes me smile.
    I put her down for her nap. I went to the garden and I saw him. He was standing at the picket fence. He looked beautiful. I felt that old passion rising in my chest. What was it about him that