The Book of Athyra Read Free

that I answer.”
    “Oh.” He wondered if he should consider this a refusal, and decided it would be safer to do so. It was hard to know what the Easterner’s facial expressions meant, which was the first time Savn had realized how much he depended on these expressions to understand what people were saying. He said, “Are you going to be around here long?”
    “I don’t know. Perhaps. It depends on how it feels. I don’t usually stay anywhere very long. But while we’re on the subject, can you recommend an inn?”
    Savn blinked at him. “I don’t understand.”
    “A hostel?”
    Savn shook his head, confused. “We’re mostly pretty friendly here—”
    “A place to spend the night?”
    “Oh. Tem lets rooms to travelers.”
    “Good. Where?”
    Savn hesitated, then said, “I’m going that way myself, if you would like to accompany me.”
    Vlad hesitated in his turn, then said, “Are you certain it would be no trouble?”
    “None at all. I will be passing Tem’s house in any case.”
    “Excellent. Then forward, Undauntra, lest fear snag our heels.”
    “What?”
    “
The Tower and the Tree
, Act Two, Scene Four. Never mind. Lead the way.”
    As they set off along the Manor Road, Vlad said, “Where did you say you are off too?”
    “I’m just coming home from my day with Master Wag. I’m his apprentice.”
    “Forgive my ignorance, but who is Master Wag?”
    “He’s our physicker,” said Savn proudly. “There are only three in the whole country.”
    “A good thing to have. Does he serve Baron Smallcliff, too?”
    “What? Oh, no,” said Savn, shocked. It had never occurred to him that the Baron could fall ill or be injured. Although, now that Savn thought of it, it was certainly possible. He said, “His Lordship, well, I don’t know what he does, but Master Wag is ours.”
    The Easterner nodded, as if this confirmed something he knew or had guessed.
    “What do you do there?”
    “Well, many things. Today I helped Master Wag in the preparation ofa splint for Dame Sullen’s arm, and reviewed the Nine Bracings of Limbs at the same time.”
    “Sounds interesting.”
    “And, of course, I learn to tell stories.”
    “Stories?”
    “Of course.”
    “I don’t understand.”
    Savn frowned, then said, “Don’t all physickers tell stories?”
    “Not where I’m from.”
    “The south?”
    “A number of places.”
    “Oh. Well, you tell stories so the patient has something to keep his mind occupied while you physick him, do you see?”
    “That makes sense. I’ve told a few stories myself.”
    “Have you? I love stories. Perhaps you could—”
    “No, I don’t think so. It was a special circumstance. Some fool kept paying me to tell him about my life; I never knew why. But the money was good. And he was able to convince me no one would hear about it.”
    “Is that what you do? Tell stories?”
    The Easterner laughed slightly. “Not really, no. Lately I’ve just been wandering.”
    “To something, or away from something?”
    Vlad shot him a quick glance. “An astute question. How old are you? No, never mind. What’s the food like at this place you’re taking me to?”
    “Mostly salad this time of year. It’s the harvest, you know.”
    “Oh, of course. I hadn’t thought of that.”
    Vlad looked around as they walked. “I’m surprised,” he remarked a little later, “that this has never been cleared for farming.”
    “Too wet on this side of the hill,” said Savn. “The flax needs dry soil.”
    “Flax? Is that all you grow around here?”
    “Almost. There’s a little maize for the stock, but it doesn’t really grow well in this soil. It’s mostly flax.”
    “That accounts for it.”
    They reached the top of the hill and started down. Savn said, “Accounts for what?”
    “The smell.”
    “Smell?”
    “It must be flax oil.”
    “Oh. Linseed oil. I guess I must be used to it.”
    “That must have been what they served the last place I ate, too, half a day east of