Page 2 (1/1)

"Who is barging intoto roar as she turned around She was dumbfounded a moment "Martin?"

His voice was loud and thickly accented "It is a good reason, Pasqua, and I will beg you not to raise your voice at ain Even theseyou rant, by Cheshu Tell me where the Aldermaston is, and I will be on my way as quickly as I came" He turned his fiery eyes to Lia "Do not stare so, lass, that will not do Not at all The rudeness of children these days I will relieve you of several of those since the tray looks so heavy" And with dirty fingers, he snatched three pizzelles and started eating one Cru to his beard

Lia looked back at Pasqua She stood silently, herat the intruder "Martin," she said again, al Then her eyes blazed hite-hot heat "Out Now Out!"

He leaned against the doorfra

"Get that tray away from him, Lia Do not let him steal another bite Where is that broom? Sowe – the broom! Out, Martin Out!"

"Huff and holler all you like, Pasqua Just tell o" He wandered over to a nearby barrel with a perfect dish of sambocade Not a slice had been cut into it yet "I always did fancy this dish of yours I just ht have a taste of it"

"If you touch it, I will have your finger in a stew!"

He stood over it, eyeing it hungrily "Just a little I will use a spoon"

"Do Not Touch It!"

"The Alder to thehim with her eyes towards the door "I will take you, sir, as I was just on my way"

"Kind of you lass, but I know the way Much has changed since I last roved these grounds Much indeed, including yourself" His eyes burned like blue fire "Why, you were but aIt was I who found you in a basket that night, lass I who brought you to Pasqua, if she has sense enough to remember your first taste of , but how you have sprouted! You have the same look about you Why, you are even taller than me now On our way then Pasqua, I will have some of that later, mind you You will save me a slice"

And he said it in such a way that Lia felt the tingle of the Mediuh his words

"You wanted to seeher hands as she stepped into his study "Astrid said they were gone"

The Aldero, Martin Enjoy the festival I will speak to her Alone"

She had interrupted a conversation and paused, looking about the room Lia had not seen Martin in the shadows on the other side at first He blended in well, his features still and brooding With a sour-faced shrug, he rose fro intently at Lia all the while, his expression growing sterner and sterner, as if he found so her a second tied "All in due time, Aldermaston Aye, all in due ti for sneaky cutpurses or learners getting too cuddly under the eaves instead of eating finch pie Enjoy ave Lia one final scorpion look and then shut the door behind hi down and lifting sonized it instantly as Jon Hunter’s gladius, except it was polished and the leather scabbard smelled of oil soap Next, he set doo leather bracers, a shooting glove, a tunic girdle, and a quiver of arrows Each itely polished Finally, the bow came next and the Aldermaston set it on top of them all Slowly, deliberately, he pushed them towards her

Lia sed "I do not understand"

"The Mediu you The feelings have persisted and I a them These are yours now Tomorrow, after Whitsunday, you are the new hunter of Muirwood I sent for Martin to train you He is not pleased with the choice, as you could tell, but he will obey There is no one better than he that I could trust to train you He is Pry-rian, actually, whichour discussions since the death of the old king at Winterrowd Your training begins tomorrow, as I said"

Years before, Lia had stu a heavy sack of flour, had fallen on her back, the sack spewing flour dust all over her, nearly choking her to death She felt like that now, her world turned upside down, her head aching and