Read Online He Who Lifts the Skies by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow - Free Book Online Page A

because I’m shorter. He told you so.”
    “That’s his excuse,” Sharah sniffed. “You’re not thatmuch shorter; he just likes you more. Everyone does.” As an afterthought—or an insult—Sharah added, “Even the horses like you more.”
    Exasperated, Keren hushed. Trying to reason with Sharah was like talking to a stone carving. She looked ahead at the others. Shem, Meshek, and Eliyshama were leading the way up the cold, rocky slopes, with I’ma-Annah and Tsereth following, all of them well wrapped in layers of leather, wool, and fur. They were purposeful and eager despite their bulky clothes and traveling packs, for they expected to reach the Lodge of the Ancient Ones this evening. And I get to stay there for the winter , Keren thought, satisfied. I hope my I’ma is feeling better. She will be so glad to seen Neshar and Mattan and Bachan, though the other two may frighten her at first. Especially Zehker .
    Keren would have turned to look back at Zehker, but Sharah was blocking her view. I haven’t seen you smile once these past two weeks , Keren told Zehker in her thoughts. Even my father smiles at least once a day. Are you always sad? Or do you dislike everything so much that you find no reason to smile?
    Keren gasped, startled by Sharah’s fingers suddenly digging into her ribs.
    “Now we’ll have to endure the whole winter, working for the Ancient Ones,” Sharah said, aggrieved. “I should have begged to stay with our I’ma’s cousins.”
    They wouldn’t have you , Keren thought. Aloud, she said, “But you were always arguing with Khuldah. You should be more friendly.”
    “Don’t lecture me, stupid!” Sharah gouged Keren’s ribs again. “You don’t understand anything.”
    Then you shouldn’t talk to me, if I’m so stupid , Keren decided, pressing her lips together hard. How I wish you could be happy, Sharah. My life would be so much easier .
    She maintained a near-perfect silence toward her sister throughout the afternoon. Gradually the terrain became familiar, and she saw two thin columns of gray-blue smoke rising from beyond the next thickly forested slope. “We’re almost there,” she said aloud.
    Looking over his shoulder at her, Neshar said, “So I see. You’ve missed this place?”
    “Very much,” she answered, smiling.
    “I suppose you would; it’s been your only home.”
    Wounded by his apparent disdain, Keren said, “I’ve always been happy here. I love visiting the Ancient Ones.”
    Neshar answered with a shrug. Seated behind her, Sharah cackled softly. “See? You’re the only person beneath the blue heavens who loves to visit here.”
    Keren lowered her head, refusing to speak. Her elation—and her secret hope that her brothers would stay beyond winter—vanished. I’ma will be so sad when my brothers leave us again .
    They rode up the final incline toward the lodge of the Ancient Ones, then Neshar brought the horse to a standstill in front of the dwelling. Noakh and Naomi had already emerged to welcome them, but Chaciydah stood quietly in the doorway. Until she spied Neshar. Laughing, she ran to hug him. Then, seeing Mattan and Bachan, she covered her face with her hands and wept.
    Distressed by her mother’s tears, Keren swiped the tears from her own face and prepared to descend from the horse. Sharah was already scrambling down, seeming unaffected by their mother’s emotional turmoil.
    How can you not cry? Keren wondered to Sharah, amazed and indignant. Distracted, she slid off the horse and tumbled flat on her face against the cold, damp earth, giving a yelp of pain. Pressing her hands to her face, shestruggled to sit up. Someone grabbed her arms to steady her. I’ma-Annah. And Tsereth was pulling her hands away from her bleeding mouth. Lawkham crouched beside them, obviously concerned.
    “Little one, let me see,” Tsereth pleaded.
    “Ow! I bit my tongue.”
    “Is that all?” Lawkham’s cheerful, teasing voice lifted over Keren’s pain. “Why,