Read Ravenwood for Free Online Page A

left too long.” She waved a hand at the hanging materials. “This stuff all looks like it’s been up there since last winter, or longer, and there’s probably little that can be saved. The dust, if nothing else.” She shrugged helplessly. “If there’d been anything that wasn’t too far gone, we would have smelled it when we walked in. We didn’t, so...” Her voice trailed off. “These all must be things that Mother Alderton gathered in the summer and fall of last year, never to be used.”
    Amber looked somberly at all the dried goods hanging from the rafters. “She died shortly after the Ice Moon. We just kept the cabin closed after that. There was no need to come in here.”
    Tanyth looked at Amber and then back at the rafters. “Pity. You might have gotten some use from this, if you’d known what you were doing with it.” She said it wistfully and crossed to look at the containers along the wall. Each was labeled in a spidery handwriting of uncertain provenance but showed the contents and a date. Tanyth realized that Mother Alderton must have been very busy right up to her death.
    “You say the flux took her?” Tanyth turned to look at Amber when she asked.
    Amber shrugged helplessly. “We think it was the flux, but when your healer gets sick, how can you be sure?”
    A cot stood in the corner and a porcelain lady’s chamber pot was visible under it. The cot’s rope bracing was exposed by a complete lack of mattress and it looked somehow indecent, exposing the china resting underneath.
    Tanyth crossed back to the hearth and noted that it had been cleaned and swept some time ago. A fine layer of dust had built up on the fire scorched stones. The andirons and pot hanger were clean and free of rust. Small rodents had wandered through the dust at one point, leaving small turdlets in the trail. She ducked her head and looked up the chimney to see a well crafted fire shelf and throat beyond which was just black.
    “The chimney is blocked?” She straightened and dusted her hands against her pants, looking to Amber for the answer.
    “William put a cap on it last winter when we lost Mother Alderton. It kept the animals and weather out.”
    Tanyth stood on the hearth stone and looked around at the hut. “I’ll need to stay for a day or two to get you settled with some simples.” She looked at Amber. “May I use this cottage for now?”
    Amber looked confused but as realization dawned, joy swept the listless frown away. “Of course, mum! Of course. As long as you want to stay.”
    Tanyth looked around the room once more. “Well, my dear, let’s not get too carried away just yet. We’ll see what we’ll see, huh? And we’ll want to talk about the terms before we get too far along.”
    “Terms, mum?”
    “Come, come, my dear. You’re a goldsmith’s daughter. There are always terms.” Tanyth smiled at Amber to take away any sting. “For now, we have a sick woman who’ll need care, and I’ll help you learn a few simple things like how to gather willow bark and make tea. We can probably find some other simples in the area.” She cast her eyes up to the rafters. “I see cattail and burdock up there and some bundles of mint. I’m sure we’ll find others as we go.” She turned her gaze back on Amber. “In return you’ll help get me a mattress for the cot, some wood for the hearth, and have the chimney opened so I can have a place that’s not underfoot and littered with littles?”
    The shrieking flock of children wheeled past the door in punctuation and the two women couldn’t help but smile at each other.
    “Agreed, and I may come join you!” Amber’s mouth quirked in a rueful grin as she eyed the door.
    “It’s only for a few days, mind. Just until we get things settled here.” Tanyth looked sternly at the younger woman, quashing the look of growing hope there.
    “Of course, mum. Whatever you say.”
    Tanyth nodded slowly to herself, looking around the room once more. “In that