บททั้งหมดของ Blue Thread, Silver Scales: บทที่ 1 - บทที่ 10

AILISI was hungry when I heard the boots.That was my first thought.Not rescue.Not soldiers.I had been wondering whether there might still be bread in the kitchens when footsteps entered the passage.My head came up. Tessa woke against my shoulder.“What?”I put a finger to my lips.Several men. Walking, not running.A voice spoke.I did not know the language.The footsteps stopped outside.There was a scrape of metal.Then another voice.Veyrathi, badly spoken.“Locked.”I looked at Tessa.She looked at me.Something struck the door.People cried out behind us.I stood and pulled Tessa with me.The blow came again.Wood cracked near the lock.A third strike broke it.The door opened.Light entered first.Then a soldier.He was not Vaelir.His sword was drawn.He looked at us.His eyes moved over the room, from the old man against the wall to the kitchen women near the door, then farther back where one of the children had begun to cry.His sword lowered. He shouted over his should

AILISI appreciated that answer more than I expected.He did not tell me yes because it would comfort me.He did not tell me no because it would be easier.He simply did not know.“Can you find out?”“We can try.”I looked down at the parchment again.My name was on it.I could not read the rest upside down.“Do I have to decide now?”“No.”Something in my shoulders loosened.“Aedrath is arranging lodging for those freed here who have nowhere safe to go at once. Food as well. Healers if needed. The clerks will speak with you again once we know more.”“For how long?”“A short while.”That could mean anything.Perhaps he saw that on my face.“You will not be required to remain.”I looked at him.“You can leave once the army opens the roads around the stronghold,” he said. “But if you have nowhere to go, you need not leave simply because they are open.”I thought about that.Then I thought about my shawl.It came back so suddenly I nearly interrupted him.Instead I waited until he had fi

AILISThe sleeping shelter was larger than the one with the clerks’ benches and lower at the sides.The brown-braided woman lifted the flap.Inside, blankets had been laid in two rows with a narrow path between them.There were no beds.I had not expected beds.I was still disappointed.The ground beneath the blankets had been covered with straw.Mostly.One patch near the entrance had none.I avoided that one.The woman handed the other blankets to Tessa and Mara.Then she pointed to the row along the far side and held up three fingers.“Three places,” Tessa said.“I understood that.”“You nearly slept with your hands beside your face.”“It worked.”We chose three blankets together.Tessa put hers beside mine.Mara took the next.I set my blanket down and pressed one hand against it.Wool.Coarse.Recently washed, though the smoke of the drying fire had replaced whatever smell the washing removed.It was not mine.It was still more than I had owned that morning.The brown-braided wom

AILISThe blanket had twisted around my legs.I woke because I could not move one of them.For several moments I lay still, trying to decide whether freeing it was worth surrendering the warmth.Then someone outside struck metal against metal.I pulled my leg free.Tessa stirred beside me.“What was that?”“I don’t know.”Another clang came from beyond the shelter, followed by voices in Aedrathi.Tessa pulled the blanket over her head.I sat up.Morning light showed beneath the canvas flap.Mara was still asleep.One of the other women had already gone, leaving her blanket folded where she had lain.I reached beneath the fold of my gown where I had tucked the little scrap of linen.It was there.I opened it.Needle.Thread.I had checked before sleeping too.There was no reason to check again.I wrapped them carefully and put them back.Tessa lowered the blanket enough to uncover one eye.“Did it vanish?”“No.”“Good.”She covered her face again.I left her there.Outside, the camp ha

AilisThe group for the eastern road gathered while the sun was still high.There were eleven of them.Tessa made twelve.Two Aedrathi soldiers would go with them.A third man spoke Veyrathi and spent some time explaining where they would stop before dark.I listened though I was not going.Tessa’s little sack hung from one hand.Mara hugged her first.I do not know whether I should.Then Tessa hugged me.That settled it.I held her.She smelled faintly of smoke and the soap from the wash water.“Write to me.”I pulled back.“Where?”She stared.Then laughed.I did too.“I don’t know.”“Then don’t.”“That seems easier.”Her eyes were wet.Mine were not.I looked at the road.Then at her cuff.Still sound.“Lethin.”“Yes.”“I’ll remember.”“You remember everything.”“That is not true.”“It is when you want to.”I did not know what to say to that.One of the soldiers called something.The Veyrathi-speaking man repeated it.They were leaving.Tessa picked up her sack.“Goodbye, Ailis.”“