The Caller by Juliet Marillier Read Free Book Online Page B

tae feed the twa o’ ye? Would ye be makin’ fire tae bring the king’s men doon on us?’
    ‘Whisper – my companion – seemed to believe this place was safe even from them,’ I said.
    ‘There’s a charm can be cast ower the Beehives when it’s needed, aye. I wouldna want tae be puttin’ it tae the test. Keepin’ oot a troop o’ king’s men, that would once hae been naethin’ tae me. These days, I canna be sure I’d hae the strength.’
    This shocked me. A Guardian, worn down so far that she doubted her own magic?
    ‘If I could stay here and be reasonably safe,’ I ventured, ‘and if you were prepared to teach me, Whisper and I would provide for ourselves. The supplies we brought will last us a while, and we can fish and forage.’
    ‘Fish? Forage? For what?’
    A fair question; there would be scant pickings in the cold season. ‘I will be honest with you,’ I said. ‘I came to the east expecting that there would be more Good Folk in the region, and that they would help me. Are there no others of your people living close by?’
    ‘Nane in these pairts, or they’d be here wi’ me. As for further afield, I havena heard sae much as a chirp or a squeak these fifteen years or mair.’
    ‘Then I can’t ask you for more than a roof over my head for as long as it takes to learn what I must. I will talk to Whisper. He is resourceful; I think we can manage. I hope very much that you will help me. I can, at the very least, provide you with some company over the winter.’
    A ripple went through the tiny folk, undoubtedly laughter.
    ‘I didna say I wanted company. I didna say I fancied a witawoo up on the hill yonder, spyin’ on my wee folk wi’ his big e’en. But I ken what ye are and what ye can do. I felt ye comin’ closer. I dinna ken if I hae the strength tae help ye. But ye can come in the Beehives by day, and we’ll dae some talkin’.’
    ‘Thank you,’ I breathed. This was a great concession. All the same, my heart sank. If Whisper and I must sleep beyond the safe area of the cairns, and if making fire was likely to attract unwelcome attention, how could we get through the winter?
    ‘I dinna want ye here by night,’ the Lady said. ‘I canna abide folk squirmin’ and snorin’ and disturbin’ my sleep. And I canna feed ye; there’s nae provisions for human folk in this place.’
    The fact was, I would need human help to get through the winter. But I could not reveal my presence to anyone. ‘My friend brought me here by . . . unusual means. I did not have a chance to see how the land lies around these cairns. How far are we from Winterfort?’ Winterfort lay in the territory of Scourie; to the south, over the border in the territory of Glenfalloch, there was a rebel group. The chieftain of Glenfalloch was one of those who had secretly pledged his support for the rebellion. But I did not know how far away the rebels might be, or whether we were on Glenfalloch or Scourie land. Keldec’s entire court would be at Winterfort now. If Winterfort lay to our south, anyone carrying a message would have to pass it to reach the rebel group.
    ‘Ye’d best be awa’ tae your friend oot there and hae a wee chat. Mak’ a few plans tae see ye through. As for where , ’tis no’ sae near and no’ sae far. Why dinna ye send the witawoo flyin’ ower tae tak’ a look? Bid him catch his supper while he’s well awa’ frae my wee folk. Awa’ wi’ ye, then. In the mornin’, I’ll talk tae ye again.’

Chapter Three
    W hisper was back, and he was not alone. Beside him, up on the hill by the rocks, a dark-haired girl stood shivering, her face blanched, her eyes haunted. She held her shawl hugged across her chest.
    As I came up the hill I saw that she was familiar: she’d been among those women performing their ritual at dusk. I judged her to be about twelve; the age I had been when the Enforcers swept down on my home settlement at Corbie’s Wood.
    Whisper spoke quietly as I drew near them.