A Turn of Light (112 page)

“The edge is where our worlds overlap, Sweetling. We call our side the Verge and we’ve yet to find its end. Why would Marrowdell be all there is on yours na?”

Because she’d believed it. Because she’d accepted that her life would be confined, yes, but in a place she loved, with those she loved. Heart pounding, Jenn asked with the greatest care, “What else is there?”

Sand smiled. “Anywhere touched by magic, Sweetling. When you’re in the mood to explore, we’ll show you the crossings we know. Maybe how to find your own na?”

She could leave Marrowdell. Not only for the Verge, which was astonishing, but to visit the places on the map?

“I thought I’d lost my dreams,” Jenn admitted.

Sand winked again. “You can’t lose dreams, Sweetling. Only misplace them for a while.”

Which sounded so much like Aunt Sybb, and was so much more than she’d hoped, Jenn Nalynn’s smile began in her heart and grew until the turn-born laughed aloud and clapped her hands, then pulled her close. “That’s what I’ve waited to see,” Sand whispered huskily. “That’s what I wait for all year. You be happy, Sweetling.”

It was affection and, Jenn realized, earnest advice. She hugged the tinker. “Thank you. More than I can say.”

The wagons pulled into Bannan’s farmyard, golden in the low rays of the sun. When Jenn jumped down, willing to help with the bags, Riverstone stopped her. “You’ve your own work to do,” he said, and pointed. “We’ve agreed.”

Toward Night’s Edge.

“I’m not sure—”

Sand lifted down her little white dog. “You don’t need us. Do what your heart tells you.” She winked. “We’ll see you next year or sooner. And your handsome farmer.”

Jenn hugged them, everyone and Sand twice, then rubbed the little dog behind the ears. Feeling generous, she looked to the tinkers’ horses, but they curled their lips and she kept a prudent distance.

Then, tucking her hair behind her ears, she took the path to Night’s Edge.

It was like coming home, or would have been, had there been anything left but ash and death. Jenn stopped where she’d stood that day.

Where she’d wished away her friend.

She stood long enough for the ash disturbed by her footsteps to drift back to the ground. Bees passed her, bound for living places, and she watched her shadow lengthen as the sun sank toward the Bone Hills. Not yet, something told her, though in the village they’d be refilling lamps for the wedding dance. Dema Qimirpik had promised to show them the steps to an Ansnan one favored by young couples.

Bannan was there, waiting.

But Sand was right and she belonged here, where her magic had done its worst. Only she could make this right. If she couldn’t, so be it.

This had been her favorite time of day, before. The sun’s rays poured gently on the valley, making everything appear better than it was or perhaps, she wondered, being officially a year older and hopefully a little wiser, they merely revealed beauty hidden by the brighter busier light of full day. When she’d planned to leave Marrowdell, this was the view of it she’d wanted to remember. When she’d believed herself trapped here, this was the only one that eased her heart.

A moth fluttered nearby.

Now, Jenn agreed, feeling the coming turn of light not as pain, but as a joy that made anything seem possible.

Night’s Edge.

As she loved it . . .

As it should be . . .

She wished it, with all her heart and will. At first, she wasn’t sure, then thought, was that a hint of green? With the thought, the hint became a wash sweeping from hedge to forest, covering the ash. Not any green, but the green of spring, new and vibrant and unstoppable.

Leaves popped and stems grew and flower buds nodded. She danced to keep from squashing any, not that it seemed they could be squashed.

The turn came, pouring blue down the Bone Hills, that weren’t hills, she knew now, but the sei who was, like her, part of Marrowdell, part of the Verge.

The turn came, and flowers opened, which flowers usually didn’t because this was the start of night, but Jenn was so very glad to see them. Daisies and asters. Summerberries and thistles. A late-flying bee streaked in and landed, surely surprised but willing.

The turn came and now she could see it as Bannan did. How there were quiet creatures in the hedges who bowed, claws to their breasts. How the turn flowed past and the old trees came alive, lit with dancers, their hair like stars. How the road was lined with guardians in chain mail, their eyes like coins. Everything in Marrowdell had a shape and a life and something to risk.

And had risked. For her.

“Thank you,” she said numbly, sinking down into the flowers. “From my heart, thank you.”

A daisy tumbled into her lap.

A voice softer than petals warmed her ear. “You’re welcome.”

“Wisp?” Jenn scrambled to her feet. “Wisp!” Oh, it couldn’t be, but if it was . . .

“I am! I am!” Flowers flew in dizzying spirals, the bee hapless among them, and caught at her hair and skirt and whirled her in circles until she fell, laughing. “I am.”

As smug as ever.

“And here.”

Jenn turned to find herself facing her dragon. “I can see you.” Just. In the twilight, he was blue shadow and silver shimmer, his eyes deep wells. Perilous, in the way of truly wild things.

Precious, beyond words. “Are you—” it was selfish to say it, because hadn’t she so much joy in her life, but the words slipped out, “—back?”

The proud head tilted. Steam rose in curled tendrils. “Where else should I be?”

She narrowed her eyes. He was being difficult. “You know what I mean.”

“Ah.” Her bangs flipped. “What I mean, Dearest Heart, is that I’m your friend. That is what I want. That is what I am. Always.”

Then, suddenly, wings opened and beat and he rose into the air. “When you dance with the truthseer, tell him the little cousins have sewn his book back together. There are some holes, but I’m sure he can fill in the words. Tell him any should do.”

“It was you!” She’d been sure of it. “Wisp, you can’t take books.”

“Books. Books. Books.” Leaves and flowers whirled upward. “Come tomorrow, Dearest Heart. Bring thistles!” With that so very familiar request, and a most unfamiliar roar, Wisp flew into the night sky and disappeared.

Jenn Nalynn stood in her meadow, staring up. If she cried, and maybe she did, the tears were glad and warm and fell on flowers.

Was he back? Really?

She circled her fingers over her heart and whispered, “However Far We Are Apart . . .”

“Keep Us Close,” whispered her best and dearest friend.

The dragon settled to watch the girl walk home, though the Wound was no more and the evening barely dark. His pleasure, not his duty, but they were, were they not, the same?

The little cousins knew. Despite enough nyphrit hearts to cover themselves in gauds and glory, they patiently stood guard along the road and at every doorway. Including his own, much to his chagrin, but there was no arguing with them. Though they could be puzzled. He’d managed the pebbles without any the wiser, and, best of all, without having to touch water.

Efflet cuddled against him. He couldn’t very well stop the silly things and they were, he had to admit, better than damp leaves.

Dragons were nearby. Curious, appalled. Whatever their reason, he ignored them.

Those closest suddenly scattered.

Ignoring them too, the old kruar stalked from the forest. ~ Are you going to lie here all night? ~

~ If I wish. ~

Scourge snorted. Then, slyly, ~ There’s another bear. ~

Wisp blew steam. ~ So now you need help hunting? ~

~ From a toothless dragon?! ~

~ Old fool! ~

Together they watched the lamps being lit in the village. Music spread across the valley for those who cared to dance.

The dragon gave a pensive snarl. ~ A bear. ~ The efflet, ever sensible, crept away.

~ Maybe two. I’ll go first! ~ Scourge whirled and plunged back into the shadows.

She’d saved them all, Wisp knew. Jenn Nalynn. His charge all these years, his worry and joy. He’d thought to protect her, and she’d turned everything around, to protect everything he cared about.

And some he didn’t.

The edge was solid again. The sei, safe again in its mad penance, held their worlds together. And, most important to him, if not to the sei or other dragons, the girl was happy.

He stretched his wings, free of pain, if not of scars, and went in search of bears.

If the old kruar found them first, he’d be insufferable for days.

Concerning the Denizens of Marrowdell

Allin Emms
,
son of Gallie and Zehr, brother of Loee, twin brother of Tadd. Came to Marrowdell as a babe. Tends livestock.

Alyssa Ropp,
daughter of Mimm and Anten, sister of Hettie and Cheffy, stepdaughter to Cynd, stepsister to Roche and Devins. Born in Marrowdell. Helps in dairy.

Anten Ropp,
brother of Cynd, father (with Mimm) of Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa. Widowed then married Covie. Stepfather of Roche and Devins. Tends the dairy.

Aunt Sybb
(the Lady Sybb Mahavar, nee Nalynn), sister of Radd, aunt to Peggs and Jenn. Spends summers in Marrowdell. Wife of Hane Mahavar. In Avyo, they own several of the better riverside inns.

Bannan Marerrym Larmensu,
brother of Lila, rider of Scourge. Former Vorkoun border guard who went by the name of “Captain Ash.” Truthseer and, in Marrowdell, farmer.

Battle and Brawl,
Davi Treff’s team of draft horses.

Cheffy Ropp,
son of Mimm and Anten, brother of Hettie and Alyssa, stepson of Covie, stepbrother of Roche and Devins. Born in Marrowdell. Helps in dairy.

Covie Ropp,
mother (with Riedd) of Roche and Devins, stepmother to Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa. Widowed then married Anten. A baroness in Avyo. Tends the dairy. Village healer.

Cynd Treff,
nee Ropp, sister of Anten, wife of Davi. Aunt to Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa. Gardener and seamstress.

Davi Treff,
son of Lorra, brother of Wen. Husband of Cynd, Anten’s sister. Uncle to Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa. Village smith.

Devins Morrill
,
son of Covie and Riedd, brother of Roche. Stepbrother of Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa. Stepson of Anten. Came to Marrowdell as a boy. Tends the dairy.

Dusom Uhthoff
(Master Dusom), father of Wainn and Ponicce, husband of Larell (widowed), brother of Kydd. Formerly professor at Avyo’s University of Sols. Village teacher and helps tend the orchard.

Frann Nall,
former business rival and now friend of Lorra Treff. In Avyo, holdings included riverfront warehouses. Village weaver and quilter.

Gallie Emms,
mother of twins, Tadd and Allin, and baby Loee, wife of Zehr. Author and sausage maker.

Good’n’Nuf,
Ropps’ bull.

Hettie Ropps,
daughter of Mimm and Anten, sister of Cheffy and Alyssa, stepdaughter of Covie, stepsister of Roche and Devins. Came to Marrowdell as a child. Village cheese maker.

Himself,
boar.

Horst
(first name, Sennic), former soldier. Took the name of Horst from baby Jenn, who continues to call him Uncle Horst. Hunter and village protector.

Jenn Nalynn,
daughter of Melusine and Radd, sister of Peggs. Born in Marrowdell under magical circumstances.

Kydd Uhthoff,
brother of Dusom, uncle of Wainn and Ponicce. Came to Marrowdell as a young man. Formerly a student at Avyo’s University of Sols. Tends apple orchard. Village beekeeper and artist.

Larell Uhthoff
,
mother of Wainn and Ponicce, wife of Dusom. Died by misadventure on the Northward Road.

Loee Emms,
daughter of Gallie and Zehr, sister of Tadd and Allin. Born in Marrowdell.

Lorra Treff,
mother of Davi and Wen. Great-aunt to Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa. Formerly head of Avyo’s influential Potter’s Guild. Village potter.

Melusine (Melly) Nalynn
(nee Semanaryas), mother of Peggs and Jenn, wife of Radd. Died by misadventure.

Mimm Ropp,
mother of Hettie, Cheffy, and Alyssa, first wife of Anten, sister of Cynd. Died by misadventure.

Old Jupp
(Wagler Jupp), great-uncle of Riedd and Riss. Former Secretary of the House of Keys in Avyo. Currently writing his memoirs.

Peggs Nalynn,
daughter of Melusine and Radd, elder sister of Jenn. Came to Marrowdell as a babe. Village’s best baker and cook.

Ponicce Uhthoff,
daughter of Dusom and Larell, sister of Wainn, niece of Kydd. Died by misadventure on the Northward Road.

Radd Nalynn,
father of Peggs and Jenn, husband of Melusine, brother of Sybb. In Avyo, owned mills and a tannery. Village miller.

Riedd Morrill,
father of Roche and Devins, husband of Covie, cousin of Riss, great-nephew of Old Jupp. In Avyo, was a baron and served in the House of Keys. Died by misadventure.

Riss Nahamm
,
cousin of Riedd, great-niece of Old Jupp. Came to Marrowdell as a young woman. Creates tapestries and cares for her great-uncle.

Roche Morrill,
son of Covie and Riedd, brother of Devins. Came to Marrowdell as a young boy. Hunter.

Satin and Filigree,
sows

Scourge,
the Larmensu warhorse. In Marrowdell, his true nature is revealed.

Tadd Emms,
son of Zehr and Gallie, brother of Loee, twin of Allin. Came to Marrowdell as a babe. Tends livestock.

Tir Half-face (Tirsan Dimelecor),
former Vorkoun border guard. Bannan’s friend and companion.

Wainn Uhthoff,
son of Dusom and Larell, brother of Ponicce, nephew of Kydd. Came to Marrowdell as a young boy. Injured by misadventure on the Northward Road.

Wainn’s Old Pony

Wen Treff,
daughter of Lorra, sister of Davi. Came to Marrowdell as a young woman. Talks to toads, not people.

Wisp, the dragon/Wyll,
the man, Jenn Nalynn’s dearest friend and greatest enemy.

Zehr Emms,
father of the twins, Tadd and Allin, and baby Loee, husband of Gallie. A fine furniture maker in Avyo. Village carpenter.