Read Online The Caller by Juliet Marillier - Free Book Online Page B

the power of water in all its forms.’
    ‘Oh, aye. And what then?’
    ‘After a few days on the skerry alone, I performed a ritual based on my understanding of water. It must have been good enough, because she came in her boat to collect me and take me back to my friends. Later, she taught me what I had travelled there to learn.’
    ‘Friends? Didna ye say there were twa o’ ye?’
    I felt my cheeks grow warm. ‘My guard and companion, Tali, one of the rebels. She had been on the skerry with me, but had been taken back to the bigger island while I slept. And . . . another friend.’
    ‘Ye dinna trust me enow tae tell me?’
    ‘Of course I do. But I’ve become accustomed to keeping secrets. It still feels odd to speak openly of the rebellion and of my past. My friend . . . he plays a particular part for the rebels, a part that puts him in constant danger.’
    ‘Oh, aye,’ said my unseen companion. ‘Tell me then, what did ye learn frae the Hag? What did the Lord o’ the North teach ye?’
    ‘From the Hag, I learned to make myself open to natural magic; to be the conduit through which it flows. When I use my Caller’s gift, it’s not my own power that brings the Good Folk to me and allows me to guide their actions, it’s the power of earth, fire, water and air. My openness to the natural world allows me to find uncanny folk and to speak to them in a particular way; the strength of the elements runs through me when I call.’
    ‘Go on.’
    ‘The Hag taught me to single out one among many. She taught me that sometimes my gift will result in harm to the one I call, and that I must accept those consequences if it’s for the greater good.’ I fell silent, remembering the small deaths in the sea around Far Isle as I worked with the magic of water. ‘I still find that difficult. Before I began training with her, I used my gift a few times without really understanding how it worked, and folk died because of what I did. That’s a heavy burden to bear.’
    ‘And yet, ye plan tae stand up before this king o’ yours and challenge him and his Enforcers tae a fight? Ye canna be sae simple that ye dinna ken how many would fa’ in such a battle. Or were ye thinkin’ the Guardians would come tae the rescue and set a’ tae rights wi’ a quick pass o’ the hands?’
    If only they could. ‘Not at all. This king is of humankind, and it is for humankind to pay the price of removing him from power. But he has workers of magic in his household, folk with canny skills. At the last midsummer Gathering, a man from the court set wood on fire with a simple gesture, or so it seemed. Imagine what harm that could do if unleashed against an enemy.’
    ‘Dinna your rebels hae canny folk also? Wouldna ye set their talents against whatever the king’s folk can offer?’
    ‘We have a few folk with canny skills, but nothing that would alter the course of a battle. Apart from my gift.’
    ‘Aye, a Caller’s gift. So your plan is tae use the Good Folk tae fight for ye. Fight and die for ye.’
    I had been presented with this argument almost every time I had explained the rebellion to a clan of Good Folk. ‘That’s why I am travelling to each Guardian in turn and asking for training. So that I can control my call. So that I can enlist the Good Folk as allies to our cause, not draw them into the conflict against their will.’
    ‘’Tisna natural for your kind and mine tae be allies,’ the Lady said. ‘Cooperation isna the way o’ the Good Folk. Ye must ken that by now.’
    ‘I do. But I have also discovered a will for change among your kind. Many have been helping us, spreading word of the rebellion, letting their clans all across Alban know what’s coming. The Lord of the North has promised the support of his fighters. Smaller beings are working beside us, too. Many have overcome their natural reluctance to work with other clans, and with human folk.’
    ‘Oh, aye? Then ye’ve wrought great change. Or is it that they canna