Lightnings Daughter Mary Herbert (lightest ebook reader txt) 📖

first. He was not sure what he should say about Gabria's display of sorcery. To be honest with himself, he had to admit her skill at changing the stone to a fruit intrigued him. It looked so simple, so useful. He watched Tam wipe her hands on her tattered skirt and, for the first time, the chief smiled at her. "Now that you have her attention," he said to Gabria, "why don't you give her a real meal. She looks famished."

Tam suddenly nodded eagerly, and she held out her hands imploringly.

Piers smiled. "There's certainly nothing wrong with her hearing."

Al at once, Tam's eyes widened. Whirling around, she put her fingers to her lips and blew a piercing whistle. To everyone's surprise, a dog barked far down the valley. Gabria's mouth opened, and Athlone and Sayyed started in disbelief.

"Did you hear that?" Gabria gasped incredulously.

Bregan glanced around. "What? The dog?"

"I thought I heard---" She stopped.

"What?" Piers asked, puzzled.

The dog barked again, closer this time, and Gabria, Athlone, and Sayyed heard the words in their heads. Tam! Tam! I'm coming. I am free, and I am coming!

Suddenly the Hunnuli neighed, and a huge, mottled dog charged into the firelight, barking with frantic joy. A frayed rope dangled from his neck. He leaped on Tam and knocked her flat, licking her and whining with delight. The girl hugged him fiercely.

Gabria stared at the dog in amazement. "I can understand him!"

"The dog?" Khan'di frowned.

"Yes!" Sayyed agreed excitedly. "He is barking, but in my head I can hear his meaning."

Piers said, "Well, I don't."

"I do,” Athlone said, astonished. He sank back down to his seat.

Khan'di crossed his arms. "That's ridiculous. It's just a dog. A scruffy looking one at that."

"It's a Tesser,” Bregan told him. "A hunting dog from the northern forests. The Murjik breed them.

These dogs are white in the winter and brown in the summer. He's shedding.”

"Tesser or not, it's stil a dog and dogs do not talk," Khan'di insisted.

Gabria shook her head. "No, he doesn't talk as we do, but something is translating his voice to us. I don't understand it. I've never heard of anything like this."

The dog in question sat down beside Tam and wagged his plumed tail. His lips pul ed back in a wolfish grin. Carefully, Gabria held out her hand to let the dog sniff it. He woofed.

Hello, the magic-wielders heard . I am Treader.

"Treader,” Gabria repeated in wonder.

Tam's pale face lit with a brilliant smile as if someone had just discovered her most wonderful achievement. Silently she tapped her chest then touched the dog.

"Ah,” Gabria muttered, studying the child and the dog together.

Athlone caught her thought. "Tam did it?"

"She must have. Somehow she has put a spel on him to translate his voice, and because she used magic. . ."

"We can understand him, too,” Sayyed finished.

"So why can't we hear this remarkable dog?" Khan'di asked.

"Tam's magic must be limited,” Gabria answered. "Her spell was probably intended to translate Treader's voice only to a magic-wielder. She didn't know she was going to meet more of us." Gabria fingered the frayed end of the rope tied to the dog's col ar. "I wonder whose dog it is?"

Secen said with a smirk. "Lord Caurus's, maybe?"

Tam shook her head and pointed to herself.

"I doubt it's hers,” Bregan remarked. "It's a valuable dog. Should we take it back?"

At that, Tam leaped to her feet and flung herself on the dog's shoulder. Treader rose, barking furiously.

Athlone smiled lopsidedly. "Ah, no. He says he goes with Tam whether we like it or not. Besides, we don't have the time to go back."

"Think they'l come looking for it?" Sayyed asked.

The chieftain shrugged. He was exhausted again and ready for his blankets. "Probably not tonight,”

he muttered. "And we'll be leaving at dawn." As Piers came to help him, he waved a hand at Tam. "Feed the child." In a moment, he sank into his rough bed with deep relief and was asleep before the others returned to the fire.

Khan'di grumbled something about troublesome children and retired to his tent. The rest of the group gathered around the fire and brought out the remains of their meal. The Hunnuli foal tagged along.

Sayyed grinned as he watched Tam dive into a bowl heaped high with bread, meat, and cheese.

"She's so small. Where is she putting it all?"

"She acts as if she hasn't eaten in days," Valar said.

Bregan nodded. "Maybe she hasn't. She certainly doesn't look wel cared for."

"Her kinswoman didn't even say goodbye,” Gabria said.

"No,” agreed Piers. "But Tam doesn't appear to be upset about it."

The little girl listened to them al and kept her thoughts hidden behind her bright eyes. When she was finally finished, she laid her plate down and smiled her thanks.

The night was late by that time, and one by one the men went to their beds to sleep. Gabria collected the bundle of Tam's meager belongings and nestled her down in a small traveling tent. Nara and Eurus returned to grazing, but the foal stayed near Gabria's tent.

Early the next morning, in the dim moments before the sun rose, Gabria awakened and found Tam's bed empty. Hastily she donned her pants and tunic, and ran outside, only to stop and smile with relief. Tam had not gone far. She slept curled up beside the Hunnuli foal, her head pillowed on his warm side, her hand resting on his leg. The dog lay at her feet, and Nara stood protectively over them all.

The mare turned her dark eyes to Gabria. The child wil do wel . She has already tamed her Hunnuli.

Gabria was pleased to agree.

*****

The travelers prepared to leave their camp soon after sunrise. Athlone was much stronger after a night's sleep, and he swore he could ride Eurus with no difficulty. Piers tried to convince him to rest another day, but the chieftain knew that they