Raven Flight by Juliet Marillier Read Free Book Online Page A

talk about restoring peace and justice to Alban. All you’ll be thinking of is how soon you can go back to bed.”
    The being’s expression became, if anything, still more baleful. “A human lassie,” it observed. “And ye’re callin’ us squirrels and bears.”
    “That wasn’t what—”
    “Seems tae me,” the creature said, “that if it’s good enow for the Big One tae sleep all winter lang, it’s good enow for us sma’ folk.”
    The Big One. That was the name the Good Folk used for the Guardians. This was delicate indeed. I must not let this creature slip back into the depths of the mountain; there was knowledge here that could be vital to my journey and to our cause.
    “The Lord of the North?” I ventured. “He’s part of this winter sleep as well?”
    “We dinna speak o’ that.” The gray-cloaked being set its lantern down on the ground. In the altered light, I saw that its features were those of a wee man, but seamed and cracked like old stone. “ ’Tis too great a sadness to be put inwords. As for the rest o’ us, now ye’ve disturbed our rest wi’ all this callin’, there’ll be nae gettin’ back tae sleep till ye’ve had your say, I reckon. Midwinter, was it?”
    “Aye,” said Sage. “What better time for a feast and celebration? Mulled ale, good food, fine singing. And did Neryn mention gifts? Invitations like that don’t come often these days.” She waited for the space of two breaths, then added, “She’s a Caller. Did you grasp that? The lassie’s asking you nicely, out of the goodness of her heart. She’s been down here day after day waiting for you to show your faces, to no avail. Plain discourteous of you, I’d say that was, since I don’t for a moment believe the whole clan was asleep for the winter. Or maybe Northies can walk in their sleep, and carry baskets of food and loads of firewood while they’re dreaming.”
    “At dusk, on midwinter eve,” I put in quickly. “That’s when the feast and council will take place. I give you my solemn promise that every scrap of iron at Shadowfell will be wrapped up and set away behind a closed door. I ask that you attend, please, and let us thank you for your help. And I ask that you listen to our leader, Regan. He has something to put to you, something of immense importance.”
    “Anythin’ more, while ye’re askin’?”
    “I need help in finding the Guardians,” I said. “The Big Ones. Not the Master of Shadows, since he has already come to me, but the three others. If your clan can give me some directions, I will be most grateful.”
    A weighty silence. “Ye dinna ask much, do ye?” thebeing said. “I tellit ye, the Lord o’ the North is sleepin’. A lang sleep full o’ ill dreams. Wakin’ us is ane thing. Wakin’ him … Ye wouldna wish tae be doin’ that, unless ye were oot o’ your wits.” He stepped back from the opening; the crack began to close.
    “Wait, please!”
    I could still see one eye, his hand with the lantern, shadows beyond.
    The stone halted its movement. “Aye?” came the being’s dour voice.
    “Please put it to the others. We will prepare the celebration anyway, in hope of your attendance. Please tell them I am here, and what I’ve said.”
    “Ach, they know ye’re here. Havena ye been creepin’ your way into our heads since the moment ye set foot in this place last autumn? How could they not know there was a Caller close at hand? Trouble, that’s what ye are, naethin’ but trouble. Aye, I’ll pass it on.” A pause. “For what it’s worth.” The crack snapped shut; the stone was seamless before us.
    “Wretched Northies,” muttered Sage. “Don’t bother yourself, lassie. They’ll be there. They know what you are, and they know they can’t refuse. Gifts, you said? I can’t imagine what manner of gift would please such a sour-faced creature as that.” She gave me a shrewd glance. “You’re weary. That was quite a call; went straight to my bones. You’d best