Natural Ordermage by L. E. Modesitt Jr. Read Free Book Online Page A

wagon.
    Before long, he reached the point on the
High Road where it began to climb and found the first set of pillars easily
enough although he was blotting his forehead by then. Before setting off- down
the lane, he took off his tunic and tied it around his waist. The light
undertunic felt far more comfortable, but when he reached the fork, he wasn’t
all that much cooler, but he wasn’t sweating as much as he had been.
    The right fork wound between two hills.
Just beyond the hills were the gate and stone walls that marked the edge of
Bradeon’s holding. Rahl stopped and blotted his forehead. He found a spot on
the wall shaded by an old pine and sat down to cool off.
    After a time, he redonned the tunic and
climbed over the wall rather than fiddle with the elaborate latches on the
gate. The lane beyond the gate was even narrower and rutted as it rose gentry
perhaps ten cubits over a quarter kay.
    Rahl studied the lands on both sides of
the lane. Those to the north were lush meadows or pastures. He wasn’t sure what
the difference was. Those to the south looked to have been more heavily grazed
and not so fertile. There were trees scattered here and there, and beyond the
walls to the south, perhaps a kay farther on, -rose the scrubbier juniper and
pine protected forests, although in places, he could see the greener and
thicker growth of leaved trees.
    Just below the top of the low rise was a
cluster of buildings—several shed-like barns, smaller sheds, and a long gray
stone house perhaps twice the size of the one in which Rahl had grown up. As he
neared the dwelling, he could see that at least one of the small sheds held
chickens. A hissing told him that there were also geese.
    Shahyla stood under the eaves that shaded
the front porch, clearly waiting for him. She was a tall girl, taller than
Sevien, with wavy brown hair cut just at neck level. She had a pleasantly
curved figure, Rahl noted, and clear skin. Her nose was crooked, and her left
eye twitched. She wore dark brown trousers above scuffed boots and a clean but
faded pale blue shirt. When he stepped up onto the porch, she smiled. The
boards of the porch creaked.
    “You walked all the way out here?”
    Rahl grinned. “How else would I get
here?” He extended the basket. “This is for you and your family— both the
basket and the honey cake in it.”
    “Rahl… the basket is lovely.”
    “Mother made it for you.”
    “Oh… I’m forgetting manners.” She
gestured toward the battered bench set against the outside front wall of the
dwelling, between the door and the small square window, open to capture the
breeze. “You must be hot and tired. It is a long walk. Please sit down, I’ll
get you some ale. That’s all right, isn’t it?”
    “Ale would be wonderful.”
    “I’ll also put the honey cake in the
cooler. That should keep it moist.”
    Rahl settled onto the bench, careful not
to bang the truncheon on the wood. He did watch Shahyla as she turned and
entered the house, appreciating her grace and her shapeliness. Her figure was
better than Jienela’s. For that matter, it was better than Fahla’s as well.
    He blotted his forehead. He might as well
enjoy the afternoon, especially since he was in no hurry to start the long walk
back into Land’s End.
    Shahyla returned with two large mugs,
more like tankards in size. One was half-full, the other almost overflowing.
She handed him the full one. “One nice thing about company is that Father
doesn’t complain if I have a little ale.”
    “Thank you.” Rahl took a swallow. “It’s
good.”
    “It should be. Father makes his own.” She
settled onto the bench beside him.
    “You have quite a spread here.”
    “It’s the last of the old large holdings
near Land’s End.” Shahyla sipped her ale. “It keeps all three of us busy.”
    Rahl’s eyes took in the two shed-barns he
could see and the chicken shack. “Do you grow everything you eat here?”
    “No. We grow a lot, but it’s better to
make