Dragonmaster by Karleen Bradford Read Free Book Online Page B

stream to wash. The water ran silverin the early morning light. A spiderweb on the bank shimmered in the slight wakening breeze, each delicate strand limned with dew. Birds were waking now, too, and calling to one another. It was a peaceful scene, but there was no peace in Norl’s heart. He gave his head a shake and knelt to scoop water over his face. Then he stopped, frozen. The stream poured past him, crystal clear, but in the middle…
    He stood and craned to get a better view. A thin tendril of darkness deeper than black swirled and eddied through and around the stones. A mist hovered above it. As Norl watched, a finger of the mist seemed to wisp toward him. He flinched back, away from it. And then…it was gone. The stream ran pure and translucent once more.
    “I have time for a swim, I think,” the Sele’s voice said from behind him.
    “No!” Norl cried.
    “Why ever not?” it asked. “What is the matter?”
    “I’m sorry,” Norl said. “I did not mean to shout at you. But you must not get in that water.”
    “Why not?” the Sele repeated. “It might be cold, I give you that, but I have padding enough to keep me warm.”
    “It’s not that,” Norl said, searching for words. “It’s just that I saw something…There was something in the water…” He shook his head to clear it. “I imagined it. I must have. But pray, do not swim, friend Sele. Not this morning.”
    The Sele stared at him, then it held out a hand. “As youwish,” it said. “Come and sit with me then. We must talk before the maid awakes.”
    The Sele led the way to a knoll some distance away from their campsite. They settled themselves down.
    “I have a confession to make,” the Sele said.
    “What—?” Norl began, surprised.
    “I never answered your question as to how it was that I found you.” It paused. “It was Catryn who sent me to you, Norl.”
    Norl leaped back up to his feet.
    “How…? How did she know…?” Then he checked himself, exasperated. Of course she knew. Catryn knew everything that went on in Taun. It would not have been hard for her to find him, she had only to cast her mind out. With that thought came the memory of the orange cat at the tavern that had stared at him so insistently. Catryn! It must have been her. Anger rose hot and heavy within him.
    “Was it not enough that I could not learn her magic?” he burst out. “Must she now humiliate me by following me? By watching over me?”
    The Sele put out a placating hand and drew Norl back down.
    “Did you really think she would let you go off to such danger without doing what she could for you?” it asked.
    “But I do not want her help,” Norl replied stubbornly. “This is my battle. I made the vow, I must fulfillit. If Catryn interferes, Caulda will only rise against us once more and the terror will start all over again.”
    “Catryn knows that,” the Sele said. “She knows that, but she carries a great love in her heart for you.” It paused. “That gives you a responsibility to her, too,” it went on. “Perhaps you did not think on that when you left without her blessing?”
    “You are saying I should not have done so?” Norl asked bitterly.
    “I say no such thing,” the Sele replied. “You are a boy no longer and you have the right to make your own decisions. I say only that with that right comes a need for accountability to those who love you.”
    Norl tore at the grass and stones upon which he sat. A sharp pain in his hand made him look down, but he did not register the blood that flowed suddenly from a gash across one finger.
    “So you are to nursemaid me?” he snapped.
    The Sele’s mouth twitched.
    “That was unfair,” Norl said quickly. “Unfair and unkind to you. You have been the best of friends to me. I have no right to insult you so.”
    “No,” the Sele replied calmly, “you do not. But I take no offence. You have had a hard time of it these past years.”
    At that, something seemed to break inside of Norl. To