The Warded Man by Peter V. Brett

Author:Peter V. Brett
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780007276141
Publisher: HarperVoyager
Published: 2009-04-02T04:00:00+00:00

14

The Road to Angiers

325AR

Every afternoon without fail, Erny came up the path to Bruna’s hut. The Hollow had six Warders, each with an apprentice, but Erny did not trust his daughter’s safety to anyone else. The little papermaker was the best Warder in Cutter’s Hollow, and everyone knew it.

Often, he brought gifts his Messengers had secured from far-off places; books and herbs and hand-sewn lace. But gifts were not why Leesha looked forward to his visits. She slept better behind her father’s strong wards, and seeing him happy these last seven years, was greater than any gift. Elona still caused him grief, of course, but not on the scale she once had.

But today, as Leesha watched the sun cross the sky, she found herself dreading her father’s visit. This was going to hurt him deeply.

And her, as well. Erny was a well of support and love that she drew upon whenever things grew too hard for her. What would she do in Angiers without him? Without Bruna? Would any there see past her pocketed apron?

But whatever her fears about loneliness in Angiers, they paled against her greatest fear: that once she tasted the wider world, she would never want to return to Cutter’s Hollow.

It wasn’t until she saw her father coming up the path that Leesha realized she’d been crying. She dried her eyes and put on her best smile for him, smoothing her skirts nervously.

‘Leesha!’ her father called, holding out his arms. She fell into them gratefully, knowing that this might be the last time they played out this little ritual.

‘Is everything all right?’ Erny asked. ‘I heard there was some trouble at the market.’

There were few secrets in a place as small as Cutter’s Hollow. ‘It’s fine,’ she said. ‘I took care of it.’

‘You take care of everyone in Cutter’s Hollow, Leesha,’ Erny said, squeezing her tightly. ‘I don’t know what we’d do without you.’

Leesha began to weep. ‘Now, now, none of that,’ Erny said, catching a tear off her cheek on his index finger and flicking it away. ‘Dry your eyes and head on inside. I’ll check the wards, and we can talk about what’s bothering you over a bowl of your delicious stew.’

Leesha smiled. ‘Mum still burning the food?’ she asked.

‘When it’s not still moving,’ Erny agreed. Leesha laughed, letting her father check the wards, while she laid the table.

***

‘I’m going to Angiers,’ Leesha said when the bowls were cleared, ‘to study under one of Bruna’s old apprentices.’

Erny was quiet a long time. ‘I see,’ he said at last. ‘When?’

‘As soon as Marick leaves,’ Leesha said. ‘Tomorrow.’

Erny shook his head. ‘No daughter of mine is spending a week on the open road alone with a Messenger,’ he said. ‘I’ll hire a caravan. It will be safer.’

‘I’ll be careful of the demons, da,’ Leesha said.

‘It’s not just corelings I’m worried about,’ Erny said pointedly.

‘I can handle Messenger Marick,’ Leesha assured him.

‘Keeping a man off you in the dark of night isn’t the same as stopping a brawl in the market,’ Erny said.

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