The Trials of Koli by Carey M. R

Author:Carey, M. R. [Carey, M. R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Horror
ISBN: 9780356513492
Amazon: 0356513491
Goodreads: 51829857
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2020-09-15T07:00:00+00:00

34

The sick boy’s house was near the bottom of the village, and it was a regular house made out of wood. It was really small though, and it was going to be a problem getting the drudge in there. It was doubtful we would all fit inside our own selves.

Ursala seen that at once. “Can the boy be carried?” she asked Made the Tide Turn.

“Best if he’s not,” Rain Without Clouds said.

Ursala turned to her with something of a scowl on her face. “It’s not really a test of the drudge if you won’t let the drudge come near the patient.”

The Singer scowled right back at her. “It’s a test of you, woman. You’re the one that’s asking favours of us. The boy’s weak and he’s got a fierce fever. If he dies, it’s best he dies at home. He’s already said that’s where he wants to come back to after he’s dead, and it’s a much more difficult singing if he dies somewhere else. His spirit will have further to go, and might get lost.”

“That’s the truth of it,” the Headman agreed. “But I can see this is not what you was expecting to find. You can show us your cunning another way, if you want.”

“She chose this way,” Rain Without Clouds said.

“Yet she can change her mind. Anyone can change their mind, Rain.” Made the Tide Turn said the words heavy and hard. It was clear he would not brook no argument on it. To Ursala, he said, “If you can help the boy, go to it. If you can’t, I’d rather you didn’t vex his last hours.”

“Let me see him, at least,” Ursala said. “Koli, Cup, you’d best wait here.”

The Headman took her into the house. Rain Without Clouds stayed outside with us, but she didn’t offer us no words.

“This one’s sour as the dead god’s hell,” Cup said to me in Inglish. She didn’t look at the Singer when she said it, only rolled her eyes that way.

“She’s their Healer,” I said. “And she means to go on being so. That’s why she choosed this dying boy to test Ursala’s skill. She wants her to fail.”

Cup leaned against a wooden rail and looked out across the water. It was so still and calm it was like a pond with ice on it. “If we get throwed out on account of her,” she said, like she was saying what a nice day it was, “I’m going to cut her throat while she’s asleep.”

Rain Without Clouds looked from one of us to the other. “We’ll have to teach your friend to talk by and by,” she says to me in Franker.

It was like she was talking about teaching a trick to an animal. It made me angry, and I might of said something reckless, only Ursala come back out of the house right then which kept me from giving answer. Made the Tide Turn followed close behind her. He was looking hard at her grim, cold face. “Well?” he said.

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