Read Online Nerilka's Story by Anne McCaffrey - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Anne McCaffrey
Ads: Link
corridor toward the storerooms. Sim was lounging on the bench with the other two.
“You are prompt, I see.” I nodded reassurance at Sim, who hadn’t expected to see the Masterhealer down here. “Father appreciates promptness.” I included Master Capiam in that remark as I opened the door.
I went in first, flicking open the glowbaskets, and heard Capiam exclaim now that he recognized the room where he and my mother had often treated the Hold sick. I went into the main storeroom.
“Behold, Master Capiam, the produce of my labors since I was old enough to snip leaf and blossom or dig root and bulb. I won’t say I have filled every shelf, but my sisters who have predeceased me would not deny me their portions. Would that all of these hoarded supplies were usable, but even herbs and roots lose their potency in time. Waste, that’s the bulk of what you see, fattening tunnel snakes.” I had heard the slither as the reptiles fled from the glowlights. “Carry-yokes are in the corner there, Sim.” I raised my voice now, for my other remarks had been for the Masterhealer’s ears so that he knew that what I gave him today did not seriously deplete those treasured stores Tolocamp must reserve for his own people. “You and the others, take up the bales.” When I saw them start to load up, I turned to Master Capiam. “Master Capiam, if you do not mind—that’s the fellis juice. I’ll take this.” I hefted the other demijohn by its girth strap and slung the pack over my shoulder. “I mixed fresh tussilago last night, Master Capiam. That’s right, Sim. On your way now. We’ll use the kitchen exit. Lord Tolocamp has been complaining again about the wear on the main hall carpets,” I said quite mendaciously. “It’s as well to comply with his instructions even if it does mean extra lengths for the rest of us.”
I covered the glowbaskets and set down the demi-john to lock the storeroom, ignoring Capiam’s expression. It didn’t matter what he thought as long as I could leave the Hold without being seen.
“I would like to take more, but four drudges added to the noon parade to the perimeter are not going to be noticed by the guard.” He spared a look at my clothing then. “No one will care in the least if one of the drudges continues on to the camp. Nor will anyone at the kitchen exit think it odd for the Masterhealer to leave with supplies.” I had accustomed them to such traffic to the Hall. “Indeed, they would wonder if you left empty-handed.”
I had finished locking up and now I dangled the keys before me. I couldn’t just hang them on the door. “One never knows, does one?” I commented, stuffing them back into my belt pouch. “My stepmother has another set. She thinks it is the only one. But
my
mother thought the still-room a very good occupation for me. This way, Master Capiam.”
He followed me and I kept expecting any moment to hear an exhortation or good advice.
“Lady Nerilka, if you leave now—”
“I
am
leaving—”
“—and in this fashion, Lord Tolocamp—”
I stopped in my tracks and faced the man. It wouldn’t do to be heard arguing with him as we crossed the kitchen. “—will miss neither me nor my dower.” As I hefted the demijohn, I saw Sim exiting by the side door, and thought I had best be at his heels or he might falter. “I can be of real use in the internment camp for I know about mixing medicines and decocting and infusing herbs. I shall be doing something constructive that is needed rather than sitting comfortably in a corner somewhere.” I did not add sewing straight seams to adorn my stepmother. “I know your craftsmen are overworked. Every hand is needed.
“Besides”—I touched the keys in my pouch—”I can slip back in whenever it’s necessary. Don’t look surprised. The drudges do it all the time. Why shouldn’t I?” Especially when I am dressed as a drudge, I noted wryly.
I had to catch up to Sim and the others to maintain our cover; I also
“You are prompt, I see.” I nodded reassurance at Sim, who hadn’t expected to see the Masterhealer down here. “Father appreciates promptness.” I included Master Capiam in that remark as I opened the door.
I went in first, flicking open the glowbaskets, and heard Capiam exclaim now that he recognized the room where he and my mother had often treated the Hold sick. I went into the main storeroom.
“Behold, Master Capiam, the produce of my labors since I was old enough to snip leaf and blossom or dig root and bulb. I won’t say I have filled every shelf, but my sisters who have predeceased me would not deny me their portions. Would that all of these hoarded supplies were usable, but even herbs and roots lose their potency in time. Waste, that’s the bulk of what you see, fattening tunnel snakes.” I had heard the slither as the reptiles fled from the glowlights. “Carry-yokes are in the corner there, Sim.” I raised my voice now, for my other remarks had been for the Masterhealer’s ears so that he knew that what I gave him today did not seriously deplete those treasured stores Tolocamp must reserve for his own people. “You and the others, take up the bales.” When I saw them start to load up, I turned to Master Capiam. “Master Capiam, if you do not mind—that’s the fellis juice. I’ll take this.” I hefted the other demijohn by its girth strap and slung the pack over my shoulder. “I mixed fresh tussilago last night, Master Capiam. That’s right, Sim. On your way now. We’ll use the kitchen exit. Lord Tolocamp has been complaining again about the wear on the main hall carpets,” I said quite mendaciously. “It’s as well to comply with his instructions even if it does mean extra lengths for the rest of us.”
I covered the glowbaskets and set down the demi-john to lock the storeroom, ignoring Capiam’s expression. It didn’t matter what he thought as long as I could leave the Hold without being seen.
“I would like to take more, but four drudges added to the noon parade to the perimeter are not going to be noticed by the guard.” He spared a look at my clothing then. “No one will care in the least if one of the drudges continues on to the camp. Nor will anyone at the kitchen exit think it odd for the Masterhealer to leave with supplies.” I had accustomed them to such traffic to the Hall. “Indeed, they would wonder if you left empty-handed.”
I had finished locking up and now I dangled the keys before me. I couldn’t just hang them on the door. “One never knows, does one?” I commented, stuffing them back into my belt pouch. “My stepmother has another set. She thinks it is the only one. But
my
mother thought the still-room a very good occupation for me. This way, Master Capiam.”
He followed me and I kept expecting any moment to hear an exhortation or good advice.
“Lady Nerilka, if you leave now—”
“I
am
leaving—”
“—and in this fashion, Lord Tolocamp—”
I stopped in my tracks and faced the man. It wouldn’t do to be heard arguing with him as we crossed the kitchen. “—will miss neither me nor my dower.” As I hefted the demijohn, I saw Sim exiting by the side door, and thought I had best be at his heels or he might falter. “I can be of real use in the internment camp for I know about mixing medicines and decocting and infusing herbs. I shall be doing something constructive that is needed rather than sitting comfortably in a corner somewhere.” I did not add sewing straight seams to adorn my stepmother. “I know your craftsmen are overworked. Every hand is needed.
“Besides”—I touched the keys in my pouch—”I can slip back in whenever it’s necessary. Don’t look surprised. The drudges do it all the time. Why shouldn’t I?” Especially when I am dressed as a drudge, I noted wryly.
I had to catch up to Sim and the others to maintain our cover; I also
Similar Books
