Read Caught in Crystal: A Lyra Novel for Free Online

mother warily.
    “You thought it was coming for your aged mother and you came running home to defend me, hmmm?”
    Mark looked down, and nodded. “I guess it wasn’t very smart,” he offered.
    Kayl snorted. “Not at all. Brave, perhaps a little, but not smart.”
    “Really?” Mark’s head came up. “You really think it was a brave thing to do?”
    “Were you scared?”
    “No!” Mark said indignantly. Kayl looked at him, and his eyes dropped. “Well, maybe a little.”
    “If you were afraid and you came in anyway, you did a brave thing,” Kayl said. “That’s what being brave means.”
    Mark considered. “But you said it was a stupid thing to do.”
    “Being brave doesn’t automatically make you smart,” Kayl said. “They’re two different things.”
    “You mean I have to be both ? At the same time? That’s not fair!”
    Kayl laughed and rumpled Mark’s blond hair affectionately. “Lots of things aren’t fair. Enough talking; we’ve a new guest and there’s work to do.”
    “A new guest?”
    “Tully saw her arriving.”
    “In the black coach?” Mark cast a dubious look at the stairs, as if he expected a Wyrm to appear around the corner at any minute.
    “It was just a travel-chariot. Now, you go and—”
    “Where is she?”
    “Mark! Don’t interrupt. She’s in the room at the head of the stairs, and you’re going to take up water right away.”
    “Do I have to?”
    “Yes, you have to. Go on!”
    Mark left, looking much put-upon. Kayl watched him until the rear door of the inn closed behind him—with a bang—and shook her head. Mark would never make an innkeeper. He might become a good fighting man, if he could only control his impulsiveness long enough to survive the learning. And if Kayl could find a way of training him. Dara, on the other hand…
    “Mother?”
    Kayl turned. Dara was peering around the edge of the front door, her brown eyes wide. “What’s the matter with you?” Kayl said crossly.
    Dara flushed and stepped inside. She tossed a long strand of dark, fine hair defiantly over one shoulder and said, “I saw a black chariot stop here, and, well…”
    “Not you, too.” Kayl rolled her eyes. “It was just a guest.”
    “Oh.” Dara studied Kayl. “You’re sure?”
    “Of course I’m sure,” Kayl said with what she hoped was sufficient firmness to discourage further questions. Dara was four years older than Mark, and far more perceptive.
    “Huh.” Dara scowled. “I thought that it might at least be somebody special.”
    “Special in what way?”
    “Oh, you know. One of Father’s friends, from before.”
    “I hardly think any of your father’s friends would come looking for him five years after his death,” Kayl said sharply. Dara was closer to the truth than she could suspect, though it was not her father’s past that was the problem.
    “Well, who is it then? Driving around in something like that and scaring everybody.”
    “She calls herself Corrana, she’s paid for an evening meal, and you’re going to run over to the market and get what we need to feed her decently. That’s all you need to know right now.”
    Dara groaned. “Errands? But, Mother, I went last time. Can’t Mark—”
    “Mark’s drawing water for the new guest. Do you want to trade chores with him?”
    “No.”
    “All right, then. Get greens and a little meat, if you can find any that’s not too dear. And we’ll want more bread; stop at Brazda’s on the way back and see if she has extra today.” Kayl handed Dara three of the copper pennies Corrana had given her. “Oh, and while you’re out, try to let a few people know that I haven’t been killed or cursed or carried off. One customer won’t even begin to pay Islorran’s tax, especially if she drives everyone else away.”
    Dara’s eyes narrowed in sudden thought. “That’s right, people will be worried. I’d better go right away.” She shoved the coins into her pocket and darted for the door.
    “Dara!” Kayl