Dawnsinger by Janalyn Voigt Read Free Book Online Page A

something rustled among the bales of hay in the loft’s dark recesses—rodents?
    Finished with her task, Heddwyn bid them good night and disappeared down the ladder.
    “I know it’s not the comfort I promised you…” Kai’s voice came out of the dimness that followed the lantern’s withdrawal.
    She banished the thought of furry bedmates as best she could, for his sake. “We must accept such comfort as we are given.” She braced herself and removed her cloak, and then surrendered it to Kai, who hung it on a peg protruding from the wall. Shivering and shuddering, she slid beneath one of the piles of furs and pulled it to her chin.
    But Kai knelt in prayer.
    As Shae edged closer to him, the hay crunched beneath her, sending up a grassy scent. “What prayer did you give? Or should I not ask?”
    “You may ask. I prayed for our safety. Tomorrow we cross the Maegrad Ceid.”
    “The Ice Mountains? I will join my prayers to yours, but do we have cause to fear?”
    “The icy peaks offer peril enough for sojourners, but ancient lore tells of Erdrich Ceid, the Ice Witch who dwells in the passes. Truth to tell,” Kai’s voice warmed, “I have not met her in all my journeys to and from Whellein, but we should nonetheless keep watch.”
    Shae smiled at the child’s tale, which she’d heard many times. A yawn took her by surprise, and her eyelids drooped. “What else have we to fear?”
    “Only the cold and weariness that comes at such altitudes—and wind shears. But I know the passes well.”
    He didn’t mention the possibility of encountering wingabeast riders bent on killing them, but she knew it existed. Even now, the dark riders might track them. She closed her eyes to pray with zeal but soon fell into the languor of warmth and drowsiness. “My thanks,” she said, her tongue thick with sleep.
    “Thanks?”
    “You protected me this night.”
    “Sleep, Shae.” She heard the smile in his voice. “Tomorrow’s journey will try our strength.”
     
    ****
     
    Her steady breathing stirred the silence, a touching sound that comforted. Kai lay beside Shae, enveloped by the scent of hay, and reviewed the night’s events. If the messengers had not imbibed too much, he might this day have suffered more than bruised knuckles. Something worse could have happened, too, had not Quinn stepped in.
    He frowned. He didn’t like to think how close to danger he’d brought Shae. He must watch over her with more care. Although he couldn’t have known about the situation at the inn, he might have guessed that, sooner or later, the hostilities arising within Westerland would reach Norwood.
    Here now in Norwood, as in Westerland, accusations of mischief by wingabeast riders flew. How could such a thing happen? In all Elderland, only the guardians of Rivenn, high guard of Torindan, commanded the wingabeasts. True, the creatures existed in the wild beyond Whellein, inhabiting the reaches behind the impassable peaks of Maegrad Paesad. Could others have tamed them? Or—distressing thought—could traitors exist within the guardians? Creating strife between the Elder and Kindren of Elderland at this time could threaten and weaken Torindan just at the transition of power from Lof Raelein Maeven to Elcon, her son.
    Kai willed himself to let go of such unquiet thoughts, and a thread of song wove through his mind. “ For when the DayStar shines while discord darkens Elderland, hearken to the signs and rest within Lof Yuel’s hand .”He had never understood its meaning. At a time of discord, how could one rest? And yet, in sleep at last, he did.
     
    ****
     
    Unspeakable evil groped toward Shae. Her heart drumming, she lifted her head in slatted moonlight. Where was she? A strange lump crouched, ready to spring, at the edge of shadow. Fear twisted her stomach.
    His even breathing reminded her that Kai slept near, and she sighed her relief. It had been only a dream.
    But even as her body relaxed toward slumber, her mind snapped a