Prized by Caragh M. O'brien Read Free Book Online Page B

neck. “Don’t pretend to know me just because you’ve felt my scar.”
    The Matrarc laughed gently. “You think that’s all I saw?”
    â€œI don’t know what you mean.”
    â€œYou need so badly, Mlass Gaia. Every part of you is reaching for someone to care for you.” The Matrarc’s eyebrows arched, and she turned her lips in a contemplative expression. “The men will be drawn to you. They’ll want to protect you. You’re young and full of promise, of course, but it’s the longing inside you that will intrigue them.”
    Gaia hardly knew what to think. She didn’t want be the vulnerable girl the Matrarc was describing.
    â€œHow do I manage this?” the Matrarc added softly.
    â€œYou don’t have to manage this at all. I’ll take care of myself.”
    The Matrarc laughed. “Such independence. You haven’t said anything about leaving a boyfriend behind. Did you?”
    A dim silence came back from her heart where the lonely place was. Explaining Leon would not be possible. It was so much easier when she didn’t think of him at all.
    â€œNever mind,” the Matrarc said, even more kindly. “As you
say, you can take care of yourself. The fact is, you’re here now. I’d like you to look after our pregnant women. There are at least six I can think of off hand, and I’m sure there are more. Could you do that?”
    This, at least, was something Gaia understood.
    â€œYes, but I don’t have any supplies,” Gaia said. “Did your last midwife leave a garden?”
    The Matrarc nodded. “She lived near the shore, a bit out of the way. Her place is all overgrown now. I had most of her herbs transplanted to the kitchen garden when she died, but I don’t know how well Norris has done with them.”
    Gaia was curious to see what was there. “If I do this, if I take care of the pregnant women for you, can I have my sister back?”
    The Matrarc’s hands stilled on her yarn, and she tilted her face as if she were listening. Gaia heard noises above in the building, the sounds of people waking and moving in their bedrooms. There was a distant sound of water in the kitchen as well.
    â€œI’ll be honest with you,” the Matrarc said. “The answer is no. I’ll never let you raise your sister, but I’ll let you see her.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œWhen I can trust that you aren’t trying to undermine my authority here. You can’t go sneaking out of the lodge anymore. You can’t go down to the libbies to socialize. I want you attending school with the other mlasses and learning our ways.”
    Gaia could do that. “School?”
    â€œMlady Roxanne can teach you in the mornings with the others. Are you literate?”
    â€œI can read,” Gaia said. “I’m a little slow, though. She won’t make me read out loud, will she?”
    The Matrarc laughed with open humor for the first time. “No, she won’t. You’ll like Mlady Roxanne. Everybody does.”

    Gaia smiled slowly, letting her gaze drift out to the tables and chairs again, seeing bookshelves in the corner. She’d never had the chance to go to school before. She’d always been jealous of the Enclave kids, but now maybe she’d get to read good books, too, and study about all the things that had always left her curious and hungry.
    â€œI need one other thing,” Gaia said.
    The Matrarc was smiling easily. “What is that?”
    â€œI need to know that if my sister’s dying, I can go to her and hold her one last time. Promise me that, and I’ll agree to the rest.”
    The Matrarc’s smile faded, and her eyebrows narrowed in genuine sympathy. “I’d be an ogre to refuse you,” she said. “I promise.”
    â€œWill I be attending to your pregnancy, too?” Gaia asked.
    â€œThat would be reassuring, actually. This is my