Read Online The Broken Dragon: Children of the Dragon Nimbus #2 by Irene Radford - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Irene Radford
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situation. If anything, it got worse. In the back of his mind he recognized his duty to return to Amazonia and do
something
.
He wasn’t ready.
“If’n you returned home, you’d get a pretty wife and you wouldn’t have to sleep out in the open under the stars with old Lazy Bones as your only friend,” Garg reminded him.
One glance at the man’s swollen knuckles and stiff gait told him Garg was nearly ready to retire. He didn’t have many more long journeys in him.
“I like sleeping under the stars and listening to the music of the world as I drift off to sleep,” Skeller said. “I’m not ready to settle with one woman, in one place yet.” But if the girl with the red-gold braid showed any interest in him, he might reconsider.
But if he pursued the girl, he failed in his duty as his mother’s son.
“My lady, do you truly want that rosehip candy?” Lillian asked Graciella, somewhat shocked that of all the foods available to her, even sweets, she chose the one that would make her intermittent bleeding worse.
Graciella turned her vague gaze from the decorative box of treats up to her companion. “I . . . I have craved them for weeks now. I always feel better after a cup of rosehip tea, or rosehips shredded on my greens, or rosehip jam on my bread, but especially rosehips dipped in honey.” She popped the confection into her mouth and smiled with eyes closed in near bliss.
“My lady,” Lillian tried again. “Do you know what rosehips do to your body?” She tried narrowing her eyes and focusing her gaze above Graciella’s left ear. Nothing. She caught no trace of the woman’s life energy or colors surrounding her head. If only Val were here to loan her a little talent, a little skill, a little something to help her figure out what was going on in Graciella’s head.
“Does it matter?” the lady asked, eyes suddenly clearing and her tone sharpening.
Lily’s attention snapped back to her charge. “Yes, it does matter. You carry a new life within you. You have a responsibility to keep yourself healthy for the baby’s sake. I have the responsibility to help keep you healthy.” Lily reached for the pretty wooden box. A lovely golden grain swirled through the slightly darker oak. Pink and yellow rosettes of satin ribbon and costly lace had been glued to each corner of the lid. The latch gleamed in gold flourishes that spread up and down, almost the full depth of box and lid together. A costly container for a potentially deadly gift.
But did the giver know that the rosehips, which could help cure many ailments, thinned the blood as well, thinned it until it stopped clotting and leeched strength?
“My husband gave me these as a parting gift. He knows how I crave them,” Graciella said flatly and turned her face away. “A craving is a woman’s body telling her she needs something in that food to help the baby grow. My husband wants what is best for our—my child.”
Lillian stilled, thinking furiously. Had Lord Jemmarc given her the treats because she craved them and he truly cared for her, or did he promote the craving knowing that if she ate enough of them his wife could bleed to death, especially if she miscarried.
Then there was Lady Graciella. She looked so vague and lost, like she truly didn’t care if she lived or died. Or was she trying to force a miscarriage?
Oh, Val, I need you. Less than an hour away from you and I’m already lost
.
Look and listen. It’s what we do best. That is why Da sent us on these separate journeys. Look and listen
, Valeria returned.
Not so very far away yet
.
I’ll have a scrying bowl and candle set up awaiting your summons tonight. I can receive even if I can’t send
.
Lillian touched the tiny shard of glass in her belt pouch, a true symbol of their father’s trust in them as journeywomen. Only magicians carried precious glass.
Lillian breathed deeply and focused on the tiny lines around Graciella’s mouth and eyes. Only a year or so older
something
.
He wasn’t ready.
“If’n you returned home, you’d get a pretty wife and you wouldn’t have to sleep out in the open under the stars with old Lazy Bones as your only friend,” Garg reminded him.
One glance at the man’s swollen knuckles and stiff gait told him Garg was nearly ready to retire. He didn’t have many more long journeys in him.
“I like sleeping under the stars and listening to the music of the world as I drift off to sleep,” Skeller said. “I’m not ready to settle with one woman, in one place yet.” But if the girl with the red-gold braid showed any interest in him, he might reconsider.
But if he pursued the girl, he failed in his duty as his mother’s son.
“My lady, do you truly want that rosehip candy?” Lillian asked Graciella, somewhat shocked that of all the foods available to her, even sweets, she chose the one that would make her intermittent bleeding worse.
Graciella turned her vague gaze from the decorative box of treats up to her companion. “I . . . I have craved them for weeks now. I always feel better after a cup of rosehip tea, or rosehips shredded on my greens, or rosehip jam on my bread, but especially rosehips dipped in honey.” She popped the confection into her mouth and smiled with eyes closed in near bliss.
“My lady,” Lillian tried again. “Do you know what rosehips do to your body?” She tried narrowing her eyes and focusing her gaze above Graciella’s left ear. Nothing. She caught no trace of the woman’s life energy or colors surrounding her head. If only Val were here to loan her a little talent, a little skill, a little something to help her figure out what was going on in Graciella’s head.
“Does it matter?” the lady asked, eyes suddenly clearing and her tone sharpening.
Lily’s attention snapped back to her charge. “Yes, it does matter. You carry a new life within you. You have a responsibility to keep yourself healthy for the baby’s sake. I have the responsibility to help keep you healthy.” Lily reached for the pretty wooden box. A lovely golden grain swirled through the slightly darker oak. Pink and yellow rosettes of satin ribbon and costly lace had been glued to each corner of the lid. The latch gleamed in gold flourishes that spread up and down, almost the full depth of box and lid together. A costly container for a potentially deadly gift.
But did the giver know that the rosehips, which could help cure many ailments, thinned the blood as well, thinned it until it stopped clotting and leeched strength?
“My husband gave me these as a parting gift. He knows how I crave them,” Graciella said flatly and turned her face away. “A craving is a woman’s body telling her she needs something in that food to help the baby grow. My husband wants what is best for our—my child.”
Lillian stilled, thinking furiously. Had Lord Jemmarc given her the treats because she craved them and he truly cared for her, or did he promote the craving knowing that if she ate enough of them his wife could bleed to death, especially if she miscarried.
Then there was Lady Graciella. She looked so vague and lost, like she truly didn’t care if she lived or died. Or was she trying to force a miscarriage?
Oh, Val, I need you. Less than an hour away from you and I’m already lost
.
Look and listen. It’s what we do best. That is why Da sent us on these separate journeys. Look and listen
, Valeria returned.
Not so very far away yet
.
I’ll have a scrying bowl and candle set up awaiting your summons tonight. I can receive even if I can’t send
.
Lillian touched the tiny shard of glass in her belt pouch, a true symbol of their father’s trust in them as journeywomen. Only magicians carried precious glass.
Lillian breathed deeply and focused on the tiny lines around Graciella’s mouth and eyes. Only a year or so older
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