Read Online The Shape-Changer's Wife by Sharon Shinn - Free Book Online Page B

closer to her son. “Kennie, darling, can ye hear me? Ah, that’s my boy, I like to see those big eyes—”
    Aubrey turned and stepped back toward Orion—and found the tavernkeeper’s daughter beside him. “He will be all right, won’t he?” she asked.
    â€œI think so. He wasn’t hurt badly.” Aubrey glanced at Orion, who watched him fixedly, then turned to face the young woman. “But I thank you for speaking up when you did. Those men were in a mood to lynch my friend.”
    She shrugged. “Folks here don’t care much for the people the wizard keeps at his house,” she said. “They don’t care much for the wizard either.” She smiled quickly. “But you don’t tell a sorcerer you don’t like him, or it may be the last thing you ever say.”
    Aubrey smiled back, liking her more and more. “There’s no harm in Glyrenden,” he said. “Or his servants. Or his wife. I admit they’re strange—or at least, the servants are. But I don’t think Orion would have attacked anyone without provocation. He’s more afraid of other people than they are of him.”
    â€œWell, there’s apt to be trouble if you send him to town again,” she said. “I wouldn’t let him come alone.”
    Aubrey laughed. “I’ve been escorting one or the other to town the past few times we’ve been to market,” he said, “and there’s been trouble each time. Maybe it’s me, and not them.”
    She flashed her pretty smile at him. “Try coming alone next time and see,” she suggested.
    â€œI might,” he said.
    â€œAnd then stop by my pa’s place, and I’ll give you an ale. And maybe a bit of lunch.”
    He grinned at her. “Now, didn’t you tell me you had some nice young fellow picked out to keep you company?”
    She tossed her hair back. “All I was offering was a meal,” she said, but she was smiling. “A girl can talk to a man or two before she settles down and marries.”
    â€œAgreed then,” Aubrey said, smiling back. “Next time I come, if I come alone, I’ll stop by for some of your father’s home-brewed ale.”
    She looked as if she would say something more, but just then someone called out to her, waving from across the road. Aubrey thus learned her name, which was Veryl. “I’ve got to be going along,” she said. “Don’t forget now.” She gave him that rogue’s smile again and left him, running daintily through the heavy dust of the road.
    Aubrey watched her go, a smile lingering on his mouth. He was startled to feel a touch on his elbow, and swung around quickly to find Orion had climbed down to stand beside him.
    â€œGo now,” the big man insisted. “Go now. Home. Now.”
    Aubrey turned his hands up, empty. “I dropped the fruit,” he said. “Let’s get another bag; then we’ll go.”
    â€œGo now ,” Orion repeated. He hesitated, searching for a word; his dark eyes were pleading and doglike. “Please,” he said.
    Aubrey sighed, but he was not in the mood to be heartless. “All right,” he said. “Let’s just go home. We’ll get more fruit some other day.”
    This time, as they walked along the forest road, Orion seemed much less interested in his surroundings. He plodded beside Aubrey with his head down and his sacks clutched to his chest, saying almost nothing. Once in a while he looked up, tracking some sound or scent that Aubrey did not catch, but then he sighed and looked down at the road again. Aubrey found himself wondering how many times in the past, forced to go alone to market, Orion had been ridiculed and persecuted. Did Glyrenden know? How would he respond if he did know? Aubrey decided, without examining his motives closely, that he would not be the one to tell him.
    But the next time they needed