The Silence Within (The Young Ancients: Tiera) by P.S. Power Read Free Book Online

time. After that she did it again, even as the lady begged for her to stop, moaning and crying for real, finally.
    It was enough though. Tiera remembered her tears on the side of the road, and suddenly stopped, looking at Collette.
    "We can leave her like this for the meal."
    Collette shook her head, looking at Gerent.
    "No, let's heal her. If I hear of you trying to hurt Bonita, with words or deed, ever again, I will kill you. I can forgive the harsh things you said to me, perhaps, in time, but I won't forgive that." She didn't ask for the woman to tell her she understood, but that wasn't needed. They all did.
    Tiera wondered if the woman was really just going to die anyway? She had to be thinking the same thing. Gerent gave her a healing amulet, letting her hold it for a long time, so that she could heal properly, then offered his hand to her. It was clear that the movement was meant to help her to stand, but she got up on her own and handed over the stone device that had a bright green outline of her brother Tor on it without waiting. Still holding his hand.
    "Thank you, Gerent. I..." She bowed and held it, her head nearly to her waist. "I apologize for my lack of skill earlier. I caused trouble for you and should not have." She didn't go on and stood back up, but gave the tiny man a look that seemed to indicate that the matter wasn't finished and that it might be a good thing for her protector. It wasn't perfectly done, but was a good enough thing that Tiera was willing to let it go.
    So was everyone else, which meant they finally got to eat. That part of the new growth she was doing was harder than she'd figured on. Instead of wanting food every day, once or twice, she was starving all the time. That felt like what was happening at least. She half ran to the table, knowing that she'd look like a greedy freak if she wasn't careful, but waited for Trice to indicate where she should sit. They had a server, an older man that actually looked a bit familiar to her. She focused on the face, letting it come back. He'd been at Tor's bakery the last time she'd seen him.
    "Thom?" She smiled and the man bowed to her roughly. It wasn't a smooth thing, but she had a feeling that the position might just be one that Trice had made up to give him something to do. If so, that was a kindness, since the fellow was just some man from near her school that didn't have anyone else to help him in his old age. If Timon and Trice were going to care for him, that was a good thing. Tor probably should have done it, but that might have seemed too much like charity? Doing it this way he could feel like he was earning his keep. He wasn't infirm, having been healed recently of all the ills of old age, so he probably could manage it well enough even.
    His serving skills weren't up to the palace standard yet, but he didn't do that poorly either, especially if it were a new thing for him. She made a point of smiling at him, even if it wasn't real. After all, he'd always been polite to her. Besides that, this probably meant he was kind of like family, didn't it? A friend of these others at least.
    He was also smart enough to load her up with food when he came around. Far more than she could have eaten before. Gerent too, once she looked over. Not as much, perhaps, but enough that at each course she boggled a bit. They both cleaned their plates however and didn't seem too uncomfortable about it after the dessert.
    The instant it was finished, Timon stood up and left the room, only to come back a few minutes later, talking to someone on one of the new communications devices. It took her a few moments to recognize the voices, but she got it when Prince Alphonse spoke for a bit.
    It left her feeling warm and a bit happy really, since they were good friends.
    Sort of cousins too, which was less than perfect, but she didn't let herself consider that part of things for a bit.
    "I see, so Carol Coltress is back and ready to set things right? That's good. When I