[Magic Kingdom of Landover 05] - Witches' Brew by Terry Brooks Read Free Book Online Page B

a little girl. You told her about my father before he came into Landover. You help take care of the land and the things that live on it. You can do magic.”
    The Earth Mother laughed softly. “Some little magic. Most of what I do is simply hard work. Do you like magic, then?”
    â€œYes, very much. But I am not allowed to use it.”
    â€œBecause it is dangerous for you.”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œBut you don’t believe that?”
    Mistaya hesitated. “It is not so much that I don’t believe it. It is more that I don’t see how I can learn to protect myself from its dangers if I never get to use it.”
    The eyes gleamed like silver pools. “A good answer. Ignorance does not protect; knowledge protects. Did you know, Mistaya, that I helped your mother prepare for your birth? I gave her the task of gathering the soils out of which you were born. I did that because I knew something about you that your mother did not. I knew that magic would be a very important part of your life and that you could not protect yourself from its effects if its elements did not constitute a part of your body. You required earth from the fairy mists as well as from your father’s and mother’s lands.”
    â€œAm I a fairy creature?” Mistaya asked quickly.
    The Earth Mother shook her head. “You are not so easily defined, child,” she answered. “You are not simply one thing or the other but a mix of several. You are special. There is no one like you in all of Landover. What do you think of that?”
    Mistaya thought. “I suppose I shall have to get used to it.”
    â€œThat will not be so easy to do,” the Earth Mother continued. “There will be obstacles for you to overcome at every turn. You may think that growing up has been difficult, but it will become more difficult still. There are hard lessons ahead for you. There are trials that may undo you if you are not careful. Experience is the necessary teacher for all children growing to adulthood, filled with revelations and discoveries, with disappointments and rewards, and with successes and failures. The trick is in finding a balance to it all and then surviving to turn knowledge into wisdom. This will be doubly hard for you, Mistaya, because yours will be the lessons and trials of three worlds, and you must be especially careful how you go.”
    â€œI am not afraid,” Mistaya said bravely.
    â€œI can tell this is so.”
    Mistaya frowned thoughtfully. “Earth Mother, can you see what lies ahead for me? Can you see the future?”
    The Earth Mother’s silver eyes closed and opened slowly like a cat’s. “Oh, child, I wish I could. How easy life would be. But I cannot. What I see are possibilities. The future may be this or that. Usually it may be a handful of things. I see glimpses of dark clouds and rainbows in the lives of those who inhabit my land, and sometimes I can forestall or alter what might be. The future is never fixed, Mistaya. For each of us it is an empty canvas on which we must paint our lives.”
    â€œMother and Father believe we are in danger,” the girl said. “Is it true?”
    â€œIt is,” the Earth Mother answered. “One of those dark clouds of which I spoke comes toward you. It will test your resolve and challenge your insight. It looks to be a very black cloud indeed, and you must be wary of it. It is for this reason I brought you here to me tonight.”
    â€œTo warn me?”
    â€œMore than that, Mistaya. You have already been warned, and my own warning adds nothing.” The Earth Mother shimmered as one arm rose to point. “The mud puppy who brought you to me is called Haltwhistle. He has served me long and well. Your mother has known him since she was a child. Haltwhistle is a fairy creature, come from the mists once upon a time to be my companion. Mud puppies are able to live both in and out of the mists and serve