Fire by Cashore Kristin

Author:Cashore, Kristin [Cashore, Kristin]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2009-09-23T14:00:00+00:00

ONE TROUBLING DAY at the end of August, Fire was in the stables, brushing Small to clear her head. Her guard receded as Brigan ambled over, a collection of bridles slung on his shoulder. He leaned on the stall door and scratched Small’s nose. ‘Lady, well met.’

He had only just returned that morning from his latest excursion. ‘Prince Brigan. And where’s your lady?’

‘In her history lesson. She went without complaint and I’ve been trying to prepare myself for what it might mean. Either she’s planning to bribe me about something or she’s ill.’

Fire had a question to ask Brigan, and the question was awkward. There was nothing to do but imitate dignity and fling it at him. She lifted her chin. ‘Hanna’s asked me several times now why the monsters go crazy for me every month, and why I can’t step outside for four or five days at a time unless I bring extra guards. I’d like to explain it to her. I’d like your permission.’

It was impressive, his reaction - the command he had over his expression, emotionless as he stood on the other side of the door. He stroked Small’s neck. ‘She’s five years old.’

Fire said nothing to this; only waited.

He scratched his head then, and squinted at her, uncertain. ‘What do you think? Is five too young to understand? I don’t want her to be frightened.’

‘They don’t frighten her, Lord Prince. She talks of guarding me from them with her bow.’

Brigan spoke quietly. ‘I meant the changes that will happen to her own body. I wondered if the knowledge of it might frighten her.’

‘Ah.’ Fire’s own voice was soft. ‘But then, perhaps I’m the right person to explain it, for she’s not so guarded that I can’t tell if it upsets her. I can suit my explanation to her reaction.’

‘Yes,’ Brigan said, still hesitant and squinting. ‘But you don’t think five is very young?’

How odd it was, how dangerously dear, to find him so out of his element, so much a man, and wanting her advice on this thing. Fire spoke her opinion frankly. ‘I don’t think Hanna is too young to understand. And I think she should have an honest answer to a thing that puzzles her.’

He nodded. ‘I wonder she hasn’t asked me. She’s not shy with questions.’

‘Maybe she senses the nature of it.’

‘Can she be so sensitive?’

‘Children are geniuses,’ Fire said firmly.

‘Yes,’ Brigan said. ‘Well. You have my permission. Tell me afterwards how it goes.’

But suddenly Fire wasn’t listening, because she was unsettled, as she had been several times that day, by the sense of a presence that was strange, familiar, and out of place. A person who should not be here. She gripped Small’s mane and shook her head. Small took his nose away from Brigan’s chest and peered back at her.

‘Lady,’ Brigan said. ‘What is it?’

‘It almost seems - no, now it’s gone again. Never mind. It’s nothing.’

Brigan looked at her, puzzled. She smiled, and explained. ‘Sometimes I have to let a perception sit for a while before it makes sense to me.

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