In Stone's Clasp by Christie Golden Read Free Book Online Page A

later, as the song performed by the huskaa of Two Lakes had suggested might happen, lovely Annu had come into the world.
    No father could have doted on a daughter more, and it was entirely due to her own innate good sense that Annu was not thoroughly spoiled. She had her mother’s beauty, level head, and sense of humor, and her father’s height and love for the natural world. Another blessing had come their way a few weeks ago, when Parvan had been born. Paiva was no longer with them to bring the little boy into the world; she had passed five years ago and now her former apprentice had that solemn yet joyful duty.
    When Altan’s parents, too, had passed, he had all but become a part of Jareth’s family, coming for visits as short as half a day and sometimes as long as two or three days. Jareth already looked upon the huskaa as a baby brother. And who would not wish to have a huskaa on hand, willing and able to provide music soothing or merry as the occasion demanded? Besides, Annu was a young woman now, having celebrated her first blood moon. Taya thought that the two youngsters would be a natural and wonderful match, and encouraged the eighteen-year-old Altan to spend time with the girl. And most of the time Jareth agreed, although Altan was subject to occasional dark moods that rendered the normally pleasant youth sullen and brooding.
    “He’s eighteen and he’s blessed with talent,” Taya said once. “Of course he’s moody.”
    Jareth had burst into startled laughter, and even now the memory of the exchange made him smile. Jareth thought about his good life as the snow continued to fall. It’s almost time.
    “I will tell Ivo that it will be soon,” he said, turning to look over his shoulder at his family. “Five, perhaps six days. The land is ready to be awakened from its slumber.”
    In truth the land was more than ready, but the headman always wanted a few days’ notice so he could send messengers to nearby villages. Jareth had long since resigned himself to the fact that when the Kevat-aanta brought spring, it was an occasion. Ivo noticed that when people came for the event, they tended to bring items to trade and make a celebration out of it, and who was Jareth to begrudge his fellow villagers some laughter and a chance to trade for baubles or foodstuffs?
    He turned his attention back to the snow as it fell, and suddenly, for no reason he could discern, felt a shiver run down his spine. For the first time since the feel of Taya’s warm body pressing against his had banished his fear, he tasted the old, bitter tang of worry.
     
     
     
    Five days later, dressed in a beautifully embroidered dark green cloak, leather boots and brown and gold breeches and shirt, Jareth stood ready to perform his most well-known seasonal transformation.
    Taya’s eyes roamed over him approvingly. “The years have blessed you, my husband,” she said, stepping close to him and stroking his freshly shaven cheek. She had to reach up quite a bit, for as Jareth had predicted that long-ago summer, Taya’s head barely came to the center of his chest. He pressed the little hand to his lips.
    “They have indeed, by seeing to it that you have only grown more beautiful.”
    “I am still swollen from childbirth,” she laughed, “from foot to face!”
    Jareth bent. “I love what I see,” he whispered, and captured her lips with his. He pulled back in time to see Annu rolling her eyes and Altan grinning.
    “I don’t think there’s time for that, you two,” Altan said wryly. “Your people await you, Jareth. And I am longing to perform my new song!”
    Jareth turned to his daughter. Annu was taller than her mother and her head came to his chin, making it convenient for him to plant a kiss on the top of the golden hair.
    “The cloak is beautiful,” he said. “My favorite color, too. You have quite a talent for one so young.”
    Again, Annu rolled her eyes. “I’m twelve, Father. I’m not a child anymore.”
    He sighed,