Born of Oak and Silver (The Caradoc Chronicles) by Marie McKean Read Free Book Online

would there?” he inquired hopefully.
    My moth er smiled at him. “Of course there is. I’ll get you some. Bram, Daine, would either of you care for more?”
    I, of course, told her that I did, and Bram, though he promised he’d have had more if it were in any way possible that he could fit it in his completely full belly, politely declined.
    “Well, I think I’ll be going. It is getting late, and we’ve a busy day tomorrow, Daine.” Bram stood and began to put on his coat. “Thank you, Robert, Carine,” he had returned the green felt hat to his head and tipped it to each of them as he said their names. “The food was extraordinary and the hospitality unparalleled. Happy birthday to you again, dear boy. Enjoy your cake and sleep well. I will be by just after breakfast to collect you for school in the morning.”
    “Good night, Bram. Thank you for your most thoughtful and wonderful gifts—though I doubt it needs mentioning, that we consider you to be gift enough,” my mother said, her smile catching.
    My father stood and stepped toward where Bram was waiting at the door, “Yes, Bram, thank you. I am greatly looking forward to reading my new books. And even though I think you’ve given us too much tonight,” his hand placed on the old man’s shoulder, “it honors me to know that you consider us your own. I hope you know that we think of you as the same.” He clapped Bram’s shoulder fondly.
    Bram lit his lantern and left. I watched his light out the front window, noting that his lantern did not take the path to his own home, but instead disappeared around the corner of the barn on the path that led to the river. Rather than think on that, I turned all of my attention to the piece of rich chocolate cake that sat so invitingly on the plate before me.

C hapter Five
     
     
    I must confess I was expecting school to be some kind of magical, otherworldly, experience—and that, it was not. The next morning, Bram arrived slightly before the appointed time to collect me for my first day of school. I had no books or writing materials, so all I had to do was simply walk out of the door with him. The experience the day before by my mother’s stream had led me to assume that I would be learning something by way of explaining what had happened. But my assumption was just that.
    However, discovering Bram’s house was extraordinary. Up to this point in my life, I had never been there. His home was palatial, and a French country manor to the very description. Large trees obscured the house from view, while well appointed and manicured gardens flanked the house on all sides. It was two stories of perfectly hewn pale stone. Inside, it contained a full library, more art than I had ever encountered or imagined existed, and of course, innumerable rooms and chambers. Strangely, for all the space to attend to, Bram did not employ a single hand to maintain either himself or his property.
    Immediately, we set out upon the basis of all learning—the alphabet. Bram taught me to read and, just as he’d promised, to do so efficiently. Once I had that mastered, he also began teaching me Latin, mathematics, history, and science. Homework usually consisted of reading one of the various novels from Bram’s personal library, or memorizing large tracts of Latin, which I’d then be required to translate and recite perfectly back to him. Of course, it was also required that I accurately label the various fauna and flora on our outings.
    T here was nothing spectacular about it. That is, until I was twelve.
    One spring afternoon, without preamble, Bram stood looking down on me from where I sat at his drawing-room table. He cleared his throat roughly. His hand went to stroke his still immaculately groomed mid-chest length beard. The sapphire of his ring glinted in the sun and firelight, while his lips remained pursed as if in thought.
    “ Daine, seeing as how you have mastered everything that I promised your parents I would teach you, I