Read Online Altered Destiny by Shawna Thomas - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Shawna Thomas
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farther, in the mountains that rose on the horizon, the lands the Svistra called home.
Plumes of smoke rose over the forest and into the grey sky, betraying other settlers. Only a few actually lived in town. The village was a necessity: a place to trade for anything they couldn’t grow or make themselves. If the settlers wanted company, there was always the tavern.
The smithy’s fires raged so hot, their warmth brushed her skin as she passed by. The steady ping of metal against metal told her Thom was hard at work. Normally she’d stop to talk to the smith, but today she was anxious to finish her errands and get back home.
Selia passed the miller’s closed door and waved at Jim. The weaver sat in his doorway across the street with Oberl, the tanner. The tannery was set a distance from the rest of the village, but even so, when the wind blew from the north, it brought with it a trace of the pungent tang of urine as far south as the tavern. Oberl’s son took care of the business now, leaving his father time to gossip.
The general store and trading post stood next to a large house with a garden. She waved at Dara, the storekeeper’s wife, who had a baby strapped to her back and another attached to her skirts as she hoed weeds from between long rows of something that might be corn. Selia hurried to tie Jemima to a rail and jumped up the store’s porch and out of sight before Dara cornered her. She wasn’t in the mood to listen to Dara. Abel’s wife was a nice lady but once she began speaking, nothing, save starvation or her husband, could get her to stop.
Abel looked up as she entered. “Well, hello there, Selia. Been expectin’ you for a while now.”
“I know. Been busy.”
“Soldiers?”
She nodded, handing Abel a list of supplies. He was the only other person in the village who could read.
He scanned the list. “Got most of that here, but barely. You know the traders haven’t been by since last waning moon.”
“Really?” She hadn’t noticed, and her inattention frightened her a little.
“Yup. Last batch of soldiers claimed Svistra slaughtered a caravan on its way to Eagle Rock, and now they won’t come up this far north. If’n it’s true, me and the missus are gonna have to pull up stake and leave.”
Abel always threatened to leave the village. She didn’t take him seriously this time either. “Is it really that bad?”
“Reckon I got ‘nuff vegetables and whatnot, but I can’t grow sugar and honey this close to the Wastes, well you know—it’s just not safe.”
Honey and sugar were some of the supplies the traders brought up from the south. There were plenty of honeybees around, but if you looked closely, some of them had ten legs. Plus you never knew what flowers they visited to make the honey. She’d once seen a bear clawing itself to death after feasting on a honeycomb.
“It’s been a wet spring, and Tass doesn’t know how good a harvest he’ll have. Dale needs that grain, you know.”
“So do I. Passed by the mill but didn’t see Dale.”
“Nope, he’s out at his farm. He’s scared. You know he’s got a brother up north?”
“Yup.”
“Well, the Svistra attacked the farm. All dead. They even killed the livestock.” Abel leaned closer. “Selia, you been listening to what those soldiers say?”
“You know I don’t pay much attention to Inlanders.” Selia smiled, but a stone settled in her stomach.
“They’re saying there’s gonna be a full-out war ’fore too long, and we’re in the way. Me and the missus, we might just pack up and leave anyhow.”
Abel sounded more serious than she’d ever heard him. “Go where?”
“South. As far away from the Svistra as possible.” Abel glanced at the list. “I’ll go fill this for you.” He stopped and turned. “I know you can use all those weapons and such.” He couldn’t quite keep the disapproval from his voice. “But I reckon it’s not safe for you to come into town alone anymore. Next time,
Plumes of smoke rose over the forest and into the grey sky, betraying other settlers. Only a few actually lived in town. The village was a necessity: a place to trade for anything they couldn’t grow or make themselves. If the settlers wanted company, there was always the tavern.
The smithy’s fires raged so hot, their warmth brushed her skin as she passed by. The steady ping of metal against metal told her Thom was hard at work. Normally she’d stop to talk to the smith, but today she was anxious to finish her errands and get back home.
Selia passed the miller’s closed door and waved at Jim. The weaver sat in his doorway across the street with Oberl, the tanner. The tannery was set a distance from the rest of the village, but even so, when the wind blew from the north, it brought with it a trace of the pungent tang of urine as far south as the tavern. Oberl’s son took care of the business now, leaving his father time to gossip.
The general store and trading post stood next to a large house with a garden. She waved at Dara, the storekeeper’s wife, who had a baby strapped to her back and another attached to her skirts as she hoed weeds from between long rows of something that might be corn. Selia hurried to tie Jemima to a rail and jumped up the store’s porch and out of sight before Dara cornered her. She wasn’t in the mood to listen to Dara. Abel’s wife was a nice lady but once she began speaking, nothing, save starvation or her husband, could get her to stop.
Abel looked up as she entered. “Well, hello there, Selia. Been expectin’ you for a while now.”
“I know. Been busy.”
“Soldiers?”
She nodded, handing Abel a list of supplies. He was the only other person in the village who could read.
He scanned the list. “Got most of that here, but barely. You know the traders haven’t been by since last waning moon.”
“Really?” She hadn’t noticed, and her inattention frightened her a little.
“Yup. Last batch of soldiers claimed Svistra slaughtered a caravan on its way to Eagle Rock, and now they won’t come up this far north. If’n it’s true, me and the missus are gonna have to pull up stake and leave.”
Abel always threatened to leave the village. She didn’t take him seriously this time either. “Is it really that bad?”
“Reckon I got ‘nuff vegetables and whatnot, but I can’t grow sugar and honey this close to the Wastes, well you know—it’s just not safe.”
Honey and sugar were some of the supplies the traders brought up from the south. There were plenty of honeybees around, but if you looked closely, some of them had ten legs. Plus you never knew what flowers they visited to make the honey. She’d once seen a bear clawing itself to death after feasting on a honeycomb.
“It’s been a wet spring, and Tass doesn’t know how good a harvest he’ll have. Dale needs that grain, you know.”
“So do I. Passed by the mill but didn’t see Dale.”
“Nope, he’s out at his farm. He’s scared. You know he’s got a brother up north?”
“Yup.”
“Well, the Svistra attacked the farm. All dead. They even killed the livestock.” Abel leaned closer. “Selia, you been listening to what those soldiers say?”
“You know I don’t pay much attention to Inlanders.” Selia smiled, but a stone settled in her stomach.
“They’re saying there’s gonna be a full-out war ’fore too long, and we’re in the way. Me and the missus, we might just pack up and leave anyhow.”
Abel sounded more serious than she’d ever heard him. “Go where?”
“South. As far away from the Svistra as possible.” Abel glanced at the list. “I’ll go fill this for you.” He stopped and turned. “I know you can use all those weapons and such.” He couldn’t quite keep the disapproval from his voice. “But I reckon it’s not safe for you to come into town alone anymore. Next time,
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