Slave of Sondelle The Eleven Kingdoms by Bevan McGuiness

Author:Bevan McGuiness
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 0100-12-31T22:00:00+00:00

She awoke late at night, huddled, shivering, on the frozen earth. The soft light of Grada flooded in through the open window, illuminating the bare hut. Myrrhini got up and shuffled to the bed where she wrapped herself up in the blanket. All the eating she had been doing in the previous days was paying off slightly, for although she was cold, she was not as debilitated as she had been the last time. And she was wearing more this time.

The daven juice had run its course and the images on the walls stayed where they should. Her head ached and spun from the after-effects of the disturbing visions. She tried to put the story the images had told out of her head, but the two powerful leader symbols stalked her mind, refusing to remain safely locked behind the gate.

Were they the two dark forces rising in the south?

She pulled the blanket tighter around herself and tried to stay warm, but the images of the two powerful beings escaping and once again wreaking havoc on the world haunted her. How had they been imprisoned? How would they be released? And who would want them free? Myrrhini shifted uncomfortably on the bed. Her Seeing still frightened her, and this new information complicated matters.

‘The Scarred Man,’ she said softly. ‘Do you have a symbol somewhere? What did my ancestors have to say about you?’ She stared again at the walls covered in images, pale and washed out, stubbornly motionless and once more enigmatic in the light of Grada. The temptation to scrape some more daven ink was strong, but not strong enough to overcome the ache in her head.

A sound disturbed her thoughts.

Myrrhini looked up. There it was again — a footstep.

No one was allowed out here except her. The whole village was her private Contemplation area. Anyone else who dared invade the sanctity of the Mertian village was faced with immediate discipline from the Arms — discipline that could range from a flogging to being released into the julle pens at feeding times.

The footstep came again. There was no doubt — someone was walking towards her hut. From the way they were walking, it seemed they were trying to be stealthy.

Myrrhini was suddenly afraid. Who would brave the Arms, unless it was someone who did not have to fear them? And the people who had no such fear were few — Joukahainein, Koslea, Kaarle, Erno — none of whom would visit her out here.

‘Myrrhini?’ The voice was quiet and close. She knew it.

‘Hinrik?’ She rose, pulled the blanket tighter around her and padded to the door, pushing it open. ‘I’m in here.’

Her Bane was carrying a large bundle. He smiled at her and hurried into her hut. Myrrhini closed the door after him.

‘What are you doing here?’ she demanded in a harsh whisper. Her feelings were surprisingly mixed. That she was pleased to see him was beyond doubt, especially when she saw the large, thick blanket he pulled out of his bundle, but he had no right to be here, this place was hers, and hers alone.

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