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. No, andmind your tongue. I just want to be useful, master.Paole felt like rolling his eyes. Is there not even a book I could read?He supposed that was reasonable, though he suspected the boy s motives. I ll see if there ssomething.Now, no more demands, or you ll do without food and water until tomorrow. I understand, master.Again that flat tone which carried no obvious insult, but it still managed to sting.Perhaps it was justPaole s guilty conscience.Better not to engage with him at all, until he felt calmer.He left the boy with Kusa s Herbalist, since it was replaceable if the brat decided to damage it, as wellas the canteen of water, some fruit and dried meat.He d buy bread in the town and other supplies.Something else to consider he d have to buy enough for two now.And what about the winter? He nearlygroaned.He hadn t thought this through in the least.He did his best to lose his foul temper before he reached the town again, but Addler the healer stillquirked an eyebrow at him. Something biting you, Master Paole? Not really.Just some business in Kivnic that went awry. Someone said they thought you had a companion with you as you came through earlier. Aye.Giving a lad a ride towards Sunik.Addler lifted the other eyebrow in surprise, but Paole didn t elaborate on the lie.Let people chatter.Better that than they learned the truth.He bought supplies, spread the word he was in town, called in on two of Mathias s regular patientsand spent time socialising, all the time with his mind half on the brat back at his camp and what mischief hemight be up to.When he returned that evening, he was so wound up to expect a problem, that finding theboy quietly reading and causing no difficulty whatsoever didn t appease his annoyance at all.He held out his hand for the book. Give it to me.The boy frowned but handed the volume over without further argument.None of the pages had beenfolded over, and Paole could see no food or drink stains on the cover.Normally, this would please him, buthis irritation overrode everything. I didn t damage it. I told you to mind your tongue.Gaelin s mouth snapped shut.Paole instantly regretted his temper, but he couldn t apologise to theboy because that would show weakness.Instead he put the supplies and book away, and tried to calmdown.He was a wreck after a few hours owning this boy.Such a dreadful mistake he d made.He fetched a fresh bread roll from his new purchases, thinking to offer that instead of an apology.Hefound Gaelin talking to Peni and scratching her jaw. Leave her alone. I was just  I said, leave her alone!Gaelin stepped back at his bellow, and Peni whinnied in distress.Paole closed his eyes and took adeep breath.He opened his eyes, and held out the bread. Here.That ll tide you over until I make supper.The boy took the bread and mumbled a wary  thank you.He made sure to keep well away from Peniand from Paole both.Paole walked off.This wouldn t work.After he finished in town, he d return to Kivnic and leaveGaelin there.The slavers would be gone, and the boy would have to fend for himself.He was smartenough, and there were the mysterious friends he couldn t bring himself to tell Paole about.They couldhelp him.The decision made, he felt calmer.Better to put this stupidity behind him and find another way tomake it through the winters.At least this way he d only be hurting himself.Gaelin was back under the tree when he returned, the roll already eaten.Time to make the fire and puton the beans he d had soaking.The boy said nothing until Paole had the fire laid and the beans and driedmeat cooking. You could leave me that kind of thing to do. No thanks.The boy sighed. My friend has that book.She had one she said was better though, from Uemire.Hosta s On Medicinals.Do you know it? He d switched to Uemi to ask the question.Paole answered in Tetu. One, I don t read Uemi because I was a child when I was abducted, and two,stop trying to be nice.The boy straightened up, haughty indignation on his pretty features. I m not trying.I m not the onein a bad mood all the time.I enjoyed the book.Sofia used to dose her family, and us.She sometimes readto us from that book.I didn t know what it all meant but it sounded interesting.Is that what you do? Makemedicine?Paole knew better than to answer, but he did anyway. Yes.I m a healer, though not certificated.Ihave the Healing Sight. Oh, like Raina. The enthusiasm sounded real. I was travelling to Grekil with her clan.I thought itwas a rare gift, though. It is.Who was this boy? So friendly with Uemiriens, yet possibly in league with slavers.Open about hisfriends, but not about his family or his destination. Why won t you tell me the truth? he murmured tohimself. Because the people who are after me will kill me, you and those who helped me, like my friends.Paole narrowed his eyes at the boy. After you? Have you committed a crime? Only to be born. He said it with such bitterness, Paole could not believe it was fake [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]