Read Online Shadow of the Horsemen (Kalie's Journey) by Sandra Saidak - Free Book Online Page A

if, against all odds, this baby survived. Just as quickly, she remembered the healers of Hot Springs, forgotten for nearly a year, and a memory of what it meant to be a healer. “I don’t know,” she told Cassia. “But I will do everything in my power to do so.”
    By then, the rest of the household realized something had changed. “What are you doing?” demanded Altia.
    “She didn’t miscarry,” said Kalie, as she rummaged around for what she needed. “At least, not yet. If I can find the right herbs, she might yet deliver a living child.”
    “What?” cried Irisa, leaping up. The baby, dislodged from her breast, began to howl. “Her baby’s dead! I saw the blood!”
    Kalie paused, her hand clasping a piece of snakeroot. “Saw it, Irisa? Or caused it? You seem rather upset at what should be happy news. After all, a good concubine rejoices at her master’s children.”
    Altia turned on Irisa. “You were the first to rush to her side, when she cried out. And you declared the baby lost just moments later. Is there something you want to tell us?”
    Irisa clutched her baby before her like a shield. “I have done nothing!” she shrieked, but Kalie saw that the younger woman was sweating. Of course, the tent was stifling hot. “Nothing but say what everyone here already knows: Cassia is barren! It is Kalie’s fault for putting her through all this again; keeping a doomed child alive inside her, until it dooms the mother as well!” She turned to Kalie with venomous eyes. “Keep plying her with your foul potions and black arts and both will die—then Maalke will kill you as well!”
    Kalie thought furiously. Had Irisa been in the household for both of Cassia’s other miscarriages? There might be no connection at all. But if there was…Kalie shuddered. How could anyone live like this?
    She met Irisa’s gaze with a deadly look of her own. “Irisa, if you gave her anything, I need to know what it was!” The other woman stared back, her face suffused with hatred, but said nothing. Kalie thought desperately for some way to bargain. “Just tell me, and I promise, Maalke will never know.” Foolish, she chided herself. She could hold her own tongue, but couldn’t speak for anyone else in this cursed tent! Besides what store would Irisa set in promises?
    “If you don’t tell us, and she loses the baby,” said Altia, “we will tell my husband it was your doing.”
    Kalie stared at the woman. Was Altia actually trying to help? Or was the old goat just grabbing a chance to do in an annoying competitor? This seemed to be a day for questions.
    Irisa turned back to her work without another word. Altia shrugged and did the same. Kalie set about doing a job for which she lacked training, resources and information, and told herself to be grateful for the silence.
    She remained trapped in the tent, by Cassia’s side for the next two days. There was no further threat of miscarriage, but Kalie insisted that Cassia must remain in her blankets until the baby was born. This pronouncement had the effect of reconciling Altia and Irisa.
    “Women of Aahk do not laze around in bed for three moon spans!” Altia had spat.
    “Besides, what warrior would want a wife or a baby who were so weak they needed such measures to do what all others can do normally?” Irisa had demanded.
    Kalie said nothing, only waited for Maalke’s return, where she had no choice but to present the situation to him.
    To everyone’s surprise, Maalke had agreed to Kalie’s suggestions. Then Altia had flown into a rage and demanded more slaves, claiming she couldn’t run a household without them, what with Tasine gone, Cassia useless, and Kalie busy tending to Cassia. They fought most of the night, but by morning, Maalke had agreed to purchase at least one new slave before the men left for the summer sacrifices. Kalie didn’t like the way he looked at Varena when he said it.
    Cassia finally permitted Kalie to leave the tent the day before the men