The Path of Giants, B.T. Narro [the speed reading book .TXT] 📗

he interrupted. “You’re just going to get to know each other.”

“I hope I don’t offend, but I would prefer to get some rest. It takes a lot out of me to heal, and I plan to offer my healing to everyone in the town who might benefit from it.”

“You plan to just stay the day?” the sheriff asked.

“It’s all the time I can afford.”

“But we got some folks coming in from afar just to see you. They might not be here till the day after. We sent word right after that water mage came by, and they couldn’t get here any sooner.”

I nodded. “I’m glad you did, but I’m sure Kataleya also mentioned that if they couldn’t make it to Granlo by the end of day tomorrow, they should plan to visit Livea if they need healing. That’s my destination after this.”

“Livea is too far for them. There’s one old man, a horse breeder—I see his daughter every month. He doesn’t live in one of the main towns, and it ain’t easy for him to get anywhere these days, but he’s planning on making it here tomorrow. Now his daughter would be heartbroken if she brought her father all this way and you had skipped on over to Livea. At least promise me you’ll wait for him. He’s sick, all the time getting worse. And that water mage said you can cure sickness just as well as you can cure broken bones.”

“I will wait for him,” I answered without hesitation, thinking of my father who had died from an illness. “Let’s just hope he gets here tomorrow.”

“Well if he doesn’t, I’m sure Pilla will keep you entertained. Won’t you, sweetheart?”

“I will.” She sounded eager, but it might’ve been for show.

“Now show the sorcerer to his room.”

Pilla led me up the stairs, down a short hall, and into one of the bedrooms. I was glad to see that Pilla wasn’t as young as some of the other girls I’d been introduced to, but I was still not inclined to make any conversation.

She had a beautiful face, but she looked uncomfortable. I assumed it wasn’t just from this awkward situation but from the corset squeezing the air out of her lungs.

“I hope this room is to your liking,” she said.

I was just happy to have a mattress. I’d spent many nights sleeping on a bedroll atop the grass. “It’s just fine, thank you.” I sat on the bed and took off my boots. “You don’t have to stay,” I advised her. “In fact, I am quite tired.”

She started to leave but stopped. “Can I ask you something before I go?”

“Sure.”

“Do you not find me pretty?”

I let out my breath, unsure how to answer.

She went on. “I have been told I’m pretty, but I think people are just being nice. I don’t see it myself. I want to know the truth. Are you not interested because you don’t like the way I look?”

“I’m just not interested in marriage.”

“That’s really the truth?” She seemed bewildered.

“Is it normal for girls here to become engaged so quickly without knowing the boy very well?”

“Oh yes, it ain’t strange at all. Most girls are engaged even earlier than my age. I’m seventeen.”

It reminded me of my conversations with Remi about this place. It was disconcerting to think about how Remi’s parents shared a surname with the family of the older boy she had been forced to marry. What had she said their relationship was? Something about her great grandfather was his grandfather?

I didn’t know how I could find out how Gerald was treating his new wife if he didn’t require healing, but maybe Pilla could help me.

“Tell me something, if you don’t mind. Are there any marriages that don’t last very long?” I asked. According to Remi, she had run away after the first night.

“Not often,” Pilla said. “A few have divorced because of infidelity, and one young bride ran away. Everyone else is happily married.”

I doubted they could all be that happy considering that many of these marriages started with the brides at such a young age, but it wasn’t my place to argue. “Someone ran away?” I prompted.

“Yes, she was a strange girl. Nobody liked her, anyway, so we were all glad when she left, except for her husband. He went looking for her for a while, but he never found her. He’s remarried and much happier now.”

Poor Remi. “What about her family? Did they look for her?”

“Why are you curious about this girl? Have you heard of her or Gerald?”

Perhaps I had revealed my cards. “I’m just making conversation.” I wasn’t sure she believed me as she looked at the floor.

“You don’t have to do that,” she said. “I won’t tell anyone you asked about them…if you tell me the truth. You seem to know this girl, Veronica. Did she tell you I was mean to her and that’s why you want nothing to do with me?” Pilla glanced up cautiously.

“What did you do?” I asked, unwilling to reveal what I knew.

“I teased her, but that’s because she deserved it. She was always playing tag with the boys while wanting nothing to do with us girls. She also did disgusting things like looking for bugs to put in places that would startle us. She was foulmouthed, too! I think she said nasty things just for the reactions. She once…” Pilla stopped herself, her face contorted in anger.

“What?” I asked, too curious to let this go. Remi had always been quiet around the boys during our time in the castle, but Aliana had told me privately that Remi did say some surprisingly foul things at times. It was still difficult for me to picture it, but this image of young Remi was helping me come around.

“She put worms down my dress, then laughed and called me the worm breeder for weeks after. She was very mean.”

It doesn’t sound like you were too nice to her, either. But I wasn’t going to find out whose fault it