Daja's Book by Tamora Pierce Read Free Book Online Page A

dirty.”
    â€œThat’s all right,” she told him, curling his fingers around a bobbin. “It just has to get to know you.”
    â€œWhy should we let it get to know us?” inquiredDaja. It felt like plain old silk thread under her fingers.
    â€œLark thinks I can weave a map of our magics and see where they’re getting mixed up,” explained Sandry. “It’s worth a try, isn’t it?”
    â€œWhat about when we sleep?” inquired Daja. “Our nightgowns don’t have pockets.”
    â€œThen they go under your pillow,” was the noble’s firm reply.
    â€œWill this help?” asked Tris, her voice unsure. “Does Lark think it will help?”
    Sandry nodded.
    â€œWhat’s to lose?” asked Briar with a sigh. One by one, the friends tucked their bobbins into their pockets.
    Lady Inoulia fa Juzon, whose domain Gold Ridge was, dined not alone with those whose rank was closest to hers, but with all the castle inhabitants, noble and servant alike. Sandry refused to think well of the lady for keeping to a custom that many nobles considered to be old-fashioned. She suspected that Inoulia—a cousin of hers by marriage—did it not to make people feel that the lady shared their lives, but to remind everyone who was in charge.
    At least Lady Inoulia didn’t occupy the highest place on the dais alone, as she had since the death of her husband. Tonight she shared it with her father-in-law,Duke Vedris. Sandry had to smile when she saw her great-uncle incline his shaved head gravely to hear a serving-boy’s remark. The duke would listen to anyone, at any time. From Inoulia’s frown, she didn’t appreciate the reminder. She was the kind of woman who stared into the distance while her servants reported to her.
    Sandry wondered if the leaders of Tenth Caravan Idaram, seated at the next table down, might have thought Inoulia was the greater noble if they hadn’t already known the duke. The lady wore a cloth-of-gold overrobe and a brown silk undergown with gold embroideries, both of which complimented her dark brown skin perfectly. The gold band on her brown, frizzy hair tilted up a little like a tiara and sparkled with emeralds; black pearls hung in three strands around her neck, and rings drew attention to her long, elegant hands. The duke wore a maroon linen tunic, white silk shirt, and black linen breeches. His only signs of wealth were a gold hoop ring in one fleshy earlobe and a heavy gold signet ring on his hand. To Sandry, Duke Vedris wore command on his powerful shoulders like a cloak. He didn’t need gems and precious metals to declare his position.
    Lady Inoulia finished a remark to the duke and turned her attention to Sandry. “I regret that pressing duties today made it impossible for me to spend time with you, my dear Sandrilene,” she commented. “How did you spend your afternoon?”
    â€œI was assembling thread for weaving, cousin,” she replied. “I need it for my studies.”
    Inoulia raised a brow. “Women of our order do not weave.”
    â€œYou agree, do you not,” said an elegant, soft voice over Inoulia’s shoulder, “that mages must study that which best enables them to master their power? Sandry’s magic is expressed through weaving.”
    Sandry leaned forward, so she could beam at her uncle. Trust him to hear and come to her rescue!
    â€œThen surely Lightsbridge University is a better place for her to live,” Inoulia said to Duke Vedris. “Their mages receive a proper education—like our own dear Yarrun Firetamer and his father, Ulmerin Valeward. I believe most noble houses will hire only university mages.”
    â€œA custom I deplore, my lady.” Niko, on Sandry’s other side, leaned in to meet Inoulia’s eyes. “University training does not cover all magic, and unusual power requires unusual teaching methods. Lady Sandrilene can