In the Hand of the Goddess Read Free Page A

you will enter it when the time comes. Duke Roger is only a man, for all he wields sorcery. He can be met and defeated. But you, my daughter—learn to love. You have been given a hard road to walk. Love will ease it. Much depends on you, Alanna of Trebond. Do not fail me!”
    Remembering her manners, Alanna jumped to her feet. “I won’t fail you,” she promised, her hand closing tight around the ember. “Or at least, I’ll try not to.”
    â€œA goddess can ask no more.” The Mother looked down at the little black animal sitting now by Alanna’s feet. “Guard her well, Small One.”
    The kitten mewed in reply as Alanna glanced at him. Was there more to her new pet than she had thought?
    The Goddess held out her hand. “Wear my token, and be brave, But remember—I did not jest when I said there are strange tales about this tree. Do not stray beyond your fire!” She smiled. “Fare well, my daughter.”
    Alanna kissed the immortal’s hand, feeling weird energy jolt through her body. She stepped away,shaking her head to clear it. “Fare well, my Mother.”
    The Goddess walked over to Moonlight, caressing the mare for a moment and talking to her in a soft voice. Then she raised her hand to Alanna a last time, and she was gone.
    Suddenly Alanna could barely keep her eyes open. It was a struggle to lay out her bedroll and to bank the fire, but she forced herself to perform the chores. Thinking about the strange conversation she had just had would have to wait. When she tumbled into her bedroll at last, the kitten was already inside.
    â€œDon’t snore,” she ordered it sleepily. The kitten replied that he would not snore if she did not. Alanna nodded in agreement and went to sleep, tightly clutching the crystal ember.

    It was a relief to get back to the palace the next day, back to familiar places and familiar friends. She still missed burly Coram, managing Trebond for her and Thom until she won her knight’s shield, but there was no help for that. With Lord Alan dead and Thom not caring about anything but his studies, this arrangement was for the best, at least until Alanna was ready to begin adventuring. Then she would want Coram with her.
    On her first night back she was feeding her new kitten his evening meal when she heard voices in Jonathan’s room just before he knocked on her door.
    â€œIt’s your overlord, Squire,” Jonathan called. It was their private phrase that meant There are people with me. “Let me in!”
    Alanna opened the connecting door, and Jonathan entered with their friends Gary and Raoul.
    â€œWe came to see if you wanted to go down to the Dancing Dove with us and visit George,” Gary told her. “How about it?”
    Alanna’s face lit up. She hadn’t had a long visit with the King of the Thieves since just before her father died, nearly six weeks ago. She was pulling on her boots when Raoul exclaimed, “Great Mithros, a cat! What are you doing with one of those ? It probably has fleas.”
    Jonathan stopped to let the kitten sniff his fingers. “Can’t you tell a sorcerer’s familiar when you see one?” he joked. “And do familiars have fleas?” Picking the tiny animal up, he saw its face. His own sapphire-blue eyes widened. “Goddess!”
    Raoul and Gary gathered around, staring at the kitten, whose eyes were the same color as their friend Alan’s. Finally Raoul gulped and asked, “What will you name him? Is it a him?” Alanna nodded.
    â€œâ€˜Pounce,’” Jon suggested.
    â€œâ€˜Blackie,’” was Raoul’s choice.
    â€œHow about ‘Raoul’?” Gary wanted to know.
    The kitten reached one paw for Alanna, mewing. She took her new pet from Jonathan and set him beneath her left ear—it was her favorite spot. “I rather like ‘Faithful,’” she admitted.
    Jonathan unsheathed his