The Swan Kingdom by Zoë Marriott

Author:Zoë Marriott [Marriott, Zoë]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781406333749
Publisher: Candlewick
Published: 2007-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I stood completely still, struggling with myself. The look on the woman’s face, the tone of her voice … all made me want to turn and run from the little house as fast as I could. But I needed their help, and I did not know when I might be lucky enough to encounter people again. And I was so tired.

While I hesitated, she came cautiously towards me and executed a deep, slightly clumsy curtsy. “Lady, would you come inside?” Her voice trembled with anxiety, and she tore her eyes from me to look upwards, as if expecting to see something in the sky.

“I … why do you call me Lady? You don’t know me,” I said, eyeing her nervously.

“All of the Kingdom knows you. Please, come inside. It … it may not be safe.” She glanced up at the sky again.

All of the Kingdom … not safe? What? I took a step back.

The woman lifted her hands pleadingly. “My son can care for your horse. Will, take the lady’s horse into the shed, and give it a good rub down and some grain.”

The boy scurried up to Mare’s side, his eyes still as round as hens’ eggs. “I’ll take good care of the fine beast,” he whispered in reassurance, laying a hand on Mare’s side. She looked down at him with interest, and before I could stir myself to do anything she was following obediently as he grasped a handful of her mane to led her towards the byre.

Unnerved, I had no choice but to step into the house. Inside, it was dim and warm. Bunches of dried herbs hung from the beams in the ceiling, and pots and treasures decorated the narrow shelf running along the top of the walls under the thatching. There wasn’t much furniture, except a large scrubbed table and four rough chairs. Another chair, finer and made for rocking, stood near the fireplace with a hooked rug at its feet, and a fire snickered quietly to itself in the hearth under a stone mantel. The faint smell of beeswax, herbs and baking bread filled my lungs. The smell, so familiar and yet completely forgotten in my time away, brought tears to my eyes, and I blinked furiously. Without even thinking, I had moved forward to stand in the centre of the room. The sound of the door closing and being latched made me spin round.

The woman turned from the door and gave me an apologetic look. “Must be careful.” She looked around her, then went to the rocking chair and pulled it back invitingly. “I’m sorry we haven’t much, but you can warm yourself by the fire.”

Her anxiousness brought a reluctant smile to my lips. “It’s the most wonderful thing I’ve ever seen,” I said quietly. “I’ve been away so long.”

The woman bit her lip, and I realized that tears were sparkling in her eyes. “Oh, Lady,” she whispered softly. “Poor thing… Please sit down. You must be so weary.”

I ducked my head

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