of milk will suffice.”
Thabit asked for a lot. To her astonishment, Crispin nodded and headed across the square toward his house. He returned a few minutes later with a big clay jar in the curve of his elbow, and a milk can slung on his arm.
Thabit handed over the decorated scarf. “It is yours and will bring the wearer good fortune. I will return the can next time we come here.”
Crispin flashed a toothless grin, and even gave her a brief nod of recognition before he strolled off.
“Now, Sparrow, should you wish to speak to your friend, you have a few moments to do so while I pack the trades away. Then we must leave.”
She hurried over to where Alicia stood, half-hidden in the shadows. “Alicia.”
“You’re not hurt?” The bright smile Alicia often wore didn’t appear.
“No!” She smiled as she shook her head. “I’m not hurt, not at all. No matter what filthy old Agnes might say. The Mage isn’t cruel and he hasn’t… he’s not done what Agnes said he would.”
Alicia breathed out with a sigh. “I’m glad. I hope you know I’ve prayed hard to all the gods I can think of to keep you safe.”
“Well, I think you can stop praying now. I’m not sure I want to be that safe anymore. I like it at the tower. I like being with the Mage. I think he likes me, too.”
Alicia’s jaw dropped.
She laughed at her friend’s surprised expression.
The potter’s voice boomed across the small square from his workshop. “Alicia! You’re needed in the house. Your mother needs you.” Alicia’s father always had an eye for what might be going on in the square.
“I’d better go. I hope we meet again soon because there is something I have to ask you.” Alicia patted her arm with a bandaged hand before she hurried off across the small square to her parent’s house.
“Sparrow, it is time we returned to the tower,” Thabit called. She dashed over.
The full basket looked heavy. She struggled in an attempt to lift it.
He gave a low laugh with a shake of his head. “No, I will carry it back.” He stooped to pull the straps over his shoulders, hefted the basket up, and walked toward the gate.
She followed, placing her feet exactly in the marks of his footsteps all the way down the dusty track out of the village.
“I am very pleased with how you behaved. Next time, it will not be as hard. Each visit will get easier the more often we trade here. They know you have the mark, but you are safe with me for training. They understand, one day you will have wisdom beyond their imaginings. Yes, you did very well.”
Her face flushed hot at his praise, but her stomach rumbled. “Thabit, do we have any bread?”
“There are two small loaves in the basket. When we get back you can have bread and butter with honey, but you will have to wait.”
She grinned at his back. Things got better and better. Away from the eyes of the village now, she danced down the overgrown path beside him.
“A Mage’s apprentice should not hop about so, such hopping is for sparrows,” he said with a laugh as they walked on.
Chapter 7
True to his word, once Thabit lifted the basket from his shoulders, she took out the fresh bread. She cut thick slices then spread them with butter and honey. Thabit unpacked the rest, setting the oat sack in the storeroom and the fabric, needles, and thread on the end of her bed. The urge to stroke the smooth fabric made her palm itch, but her fingers were sticky with honey. As he’d said nothing about it, she wasn’t sure the red bolt of cloth was truly meant for her.
They went out to eat together. He sat beside her on the grass beside the well and they shared the sumptuous treat.
He finished his third slice. “Tonight, Sparrow, I must complete the mushroom brew in readiness for our visit to the castle.”
Busy licking her fingers, she nodded.
“I will not eat tonight or tomorrow. You only need to cook for yourself.”
“But that’s not right, Thabit. You’ll make
Thabit asked for a lot. To her astonishment, Crispin nodded and headed across the square toward his house. He returned a few minutes later with a big clay jar in the curve of his elbow, and a milk can slung on his arm.
Thabit handed over the decorated scarf. “It is yours and will bring the wearer good fortune. I will return the can next time we come here.”
Crispin flashed a toothless grin, and even gave her a brief nod of recognition before he strolled off.
“Now, Sparrow, should you wish to speak to your friend, you have a few moments to do so while I pack the trades away. Then we must leave.”
She hurried over to where Alicia stood, half-hidden in the shadows. “Alicia.”
“You’re not hurt?” The bright smile Alicia often wore didn’t appear.
“No!” She smiled as she shook her head. “I’m not hurt, not at all. No matter what filthy old Agnes might say. The Mage isn’t cruel and he hasn’t… he’s not done what Agnes said he would.”
Alicia breathed out with a sigh. “I’m glad. I hope you know I’ve prayed hard to all the gods I can think of to keep you safe.”
“Well, I think you can stop praying now. I’m not sure I want to be that safe anymore. I like it at the tower. I like being with the Mage. I think he likes me, too.”
Alicia’s jaw dropped.
She laughed at her friend’s surprised expression.
The potter’s voice boomed across the small square from his workshop. “Alicia! You’re needed in the house. Your mother needs you.” Alicia’s father always had an eye for what might be going on in the square.
“I’d better go. I hope we meet again soon because there is something I have to ask you.” Alicia patted her arm with a bandaged hand before she hurried off across the small square to her parent’s house.
“Sparrow, it is time we returned to the tower,” Thabit called. She dashed over.
The full basket looked heavy. She struggled in an attempt to lift it.
He gave a low laugh with a shake of his head. “No, I will carry it back.” He stooped to pull the straps over his shoulders, hefted the basket up, and walked toward the gate.
She followed, placing her feet exactly in the marks of his footsteps all the way down the dusty track out of the village.
“I am very pleased with how you behaved. Next time, it will not be as hard. Each visit will get easier the more often we trade here. They know you have the mark, but you are safe with me for training. They understand, one day you will have wisdom beyond their imaginings. Yes, you did very well.”
Her face flushed hot at his praise, but her stomach rumbled. “Thabit, do we have any bread?”
“There are two small loaves in the basket. When we get back you can have bread and butter with honey, but you will have to wait.”
She grinned at his back. Things got better and better. Away from the eyes of the village now, she danced down the overgrown path beside him.
“A Mage’s apprentice should not hop about so, such hopping is for sparrows,” he said with a laugh as they walked on.
Chapter 7
True to his word, once Thabit lifted the basket from his shoulders, she took out the fresh bread. She cut thick slices then spread them with butter and honey. Thabit unpacked the rest, setting the oat sack in the storeroom and the fabric, needles, and thread on the end of her bed. The urge to stroke the smooth fabric made her palm itch, but her fingers were sticky with honey. As he’d said nothing about it, she wasn’t sure the red bolt of cloth was truly meant for her.
They went out to eat together. He sat beside her on the grass beside the well and they shared the sumptuous treat.
He finished his third slice. “Tonight, Sparrow, I must complete the mushroom brew in readiness for our visit to the castle.”
Busy licking her fingers, she nodded.
“I will not eat tonight or tomorrow. You only need to cook for yourself.”
“But that’s not right, Thabit. You’ll make
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