True Heart Read Free

true,’” she repeated.
    She joined the words much more smoothly the second time.
    She took a deep breath. “‘The tales of the cas … castle be … began when the uni … corns dis … dis … disappear … disappeared. The l … lords were—”
    â€œThat’s enough!” the woman interrupted.
    Before Heart could react, she had snatched the book.
    Heart reached out for it, desperate to read the rest.
    â€œManners!” the woman scolded. “Lord Dunraven may be teaching you to read, but you’ve learned little else!”
    Heart forced herself to step back.
    â€œWhere
is
Castle Avamir?” she asked politely, trembling.
    â€œWhy should that concern you?” the woman asked sharply.
    Heart pressed her lips together.
    What could she possibly answer? That her name was Heart Avamir? That the design of the rearing unicorns had been embroidered in silver on her baby blanket? Heart clenched her fists—she had to say
something
. The woman was waiting, staring at her.
    â€œI think my family might be from the Royal House of Avamir,” Heart finally said in a low voice.
    The woman inhaled sharply. “That is a dangerous joke.”
    Heart shook her head. “I didn’t mean to—”
    â€œEnough!” the woman said, cutting her off. “Go!Begone! Take your stupid jests with you.” She made a shooing motion with one hand. “The guards can sort you out,” she mumbled. “I have books to be burned.”
    Kip growled again.
    Avamir tossed her mane.
    â€œBooks to be
burned
?” Heart echoed, sure she had misheard. It made no sense. But the woman nodded vaguely. “Would you give me that book, then?” Heart said.
    The woman laughed, a cracking, unhappy sound.
    She clutched the books close to her body.
    â€œGive you a storybook? And risk someone finding out?” Without another word she walked away fast, veering onto a narrow path that Heart hadn’t noticed.
    She did not look back.
    Heart stared after her.
    Burned?
That made no sense. The woman barely let anyone else touch her books. She must have said “returned.”
    Heart sighed. That meant some noble familylived up that path. The woman was taking back books she had borrowed.
    Heart shivered. It was still chilly.
    Avamir nudged her.
    Heart blinked. She was wasting time.
    She began walking, but her fists were clenched.
    Why should only noble families be allowed to read?

CHAPTER FOUR
    T hat night, Heart and Kip curled up in a meadow not far from the road. Avamir and Moonsilver lay side by side a little way off. A thick stand of chestnut trees hid them all from anyone passing by on the road.
    The next day, Heart woke early.
    As they traveled, the road began to rise.
    Binney had called this the High Road.
    By noon Heart knew why. Her legs ached, and still the road steepened.
    Late in the day Heart saw a farmer’s cart ahead of them.
    She slowed to match the pace of the clopping mules that pulled it.
    She had to keep a distance between the unicorns and anyone else.
    She was less afraid now—and she was grateful to Joseph for that.
    From a long way off Moonsilver would look like a noble’s horse.
    So would Avamir.
    No one would be able to tell that she wasn’t a page—not unless they came close enough to see her Gypsy clothes.
    When evening finally came, Heart left the steep road, her legs aching. She found another sheltered clearing, farther from the road. There were plum thickets to keep them hidden.
    She took Moonsilver’s armor off.
    He galloped in circles, then rolled to scratch his back.
    Heart made a tiny cook fire. She ate bread and apples and a broth made from herbed barley.
    Kip sat quietly until she spread her blanket to lie down. Then he curled up close to her.
    Heart’s legs hurt. She wished for some of Ruth Oakes’s meadowsweet salve.
    Heart yawned.
    She was tired.
    But she forced herself to pull out her book and