Tree Singer by Jacci Turner (best novels for beginners TXT) 📕

“I’m sorry we haven’t had much time to talk. The king wanted me to stay with the queen right up until we left. He was really worried about her.”

An image of last night’s dinner came to mind. A celebration, the king had called it. The queen had been there, too, a babe sleeping in a basket next to her chair. She was beautiful, a reflection of the prince with some laugh lines added, and had seemed to glow with health.

“You worked your magic.” Mayten smiled at her friend.

Cather smiled, her dimples showing. “I don’t think queens have many people they can talk to. All the castle healers are men, and she didn’t want to burden her husband. She mostly needed someone to listen, needed to talk about the children she’s lost and how exhausted she is.”

“I never thought about how isolated she must be.”

“Family and servants, and she doesn’t feel comfortable sharing that kind of pain with the servants.”

“Is that what healed her? Listening?”

“Her body is worn out from birthing. I gave her the herbs she needs to keep from getting pregnant. I think just having a choice gave her strength and hope. I also think that’s one reason she is excited about the school idea. She could have more kids around without having to give birth to them.”

Just thinking about the school—suggested by Nan at dinner and approved by the king immediately—made her excited and nervous and a bit overwhelmed. Nan wanted a school for all the callings, not just singing and botany.

Having his queen at the table had put the king in an exceptional mood. He’d toasted their success, his wife’s loveliness—and had approved the school as well as . . . Tom’s . . . apprenticeship.

A commotion ahead—one of the woodsmen?—made Mayten pause. She put out a hand, holding Cather back. Had something happened . . .

To her relief, Rafe stepped out of the woods. Holding a rabbit.

He’d looked confused and more than a bit awkward at dinner last night, but he seemed to be on the mend.

“Do you think I was wrong to try and heal Rafe?” The guilt she’d felt at overstepping her training had kept Mayten awake even after their lovely dinner.

“You didn’t try, Mayten.” Cather rolled her eyes. “You healed him. I couldn’t have done it any better. And no, I don’t think it’s wrong. Odd that no one has thought of that before. I think it’s a wonderful skill to have. And I love that you want to cross-train others. I hope the elders agree.”

Mayten was afraid to ask the next question. “When I healed him, when I . . . it’s like I tasted his human spirit . . .”

“It tastes good, right?” Cather said the words as if they were common fact.

“Yes. But . . . are you ever tempted to take that spirit? Like the count was doing?” Something else that had been keeping her awake at night. She remembered the count’s words—

“We take a vow.” Cather looked more serious than Mayten had ever seen her. “We vow never to take from our patients, only to give. It’s a choice, and not hard once you make that choice.”

Fear lifted from Mayten’s heart, leaving her feeling giddy. Of course, it was a choice, just like the tree singers made a pledge not to harm the plants.

Anatolian bounded past just as a field of small purple flowers spread before them.

“Listen.” Cather held up her hand. A broad smile spread across her face.

Was she hearing the trees? A light melody had followed them on their trek home, fading then growing more intense—

Then she heard it. Not trees. Human voices. Raised in song.

The clan was singing them home!

She grabbed Cather’s hand and started to run.

It seemed like forever and no time at all before they broke out of the forest into the square. The entire clan had gathered where the stage used to stand.

“We welcome you back with open arms, our hearts rejoice at your return.”

Mayten searched the crowd as the song drew her in. A figure broke from the crowd, running toward her with open arms.

Mother!

Mayten broke into a run, and they collided in a mix of arms and laughter and tears. Mother kissed Mayten’s face as if she’d come back from the dead while she touched her mother’s face. “I’m so sorry, Mother.”

“Nonsense,” her mother said. “It is me who is sorry.”

Small arms wrapped around her knees. Mayten pulled back gently from her mother’s embrace, smiling down at Wollemi.

“I knew you were okay,” he said. A new tooth peeked out where the gap had been. “I asked the stars to watch over you every night.”

Mayten kneeled beside her little brother, tears again clouding her eyes. “I can’t tell you how much it helped to know you were with me. When I got lonely, I’d look at the stars and know you were there.”

He grinned.

A light touch on her arm brought Mayten back to her feet. Taiwania looked at her hesitantly. Mayten pulled her sister into a hug, not knowing what to say. But the trees had taught her how to share, so she opened her heart to her sister.

She didn’t hesitate to share her jealousy of Taiwania’s beauty and standing in the community. Mayten wanted to start over with her sister. The images she received in return set her back on her heels. Taiwania was jealous of her, of her close relationship with her da, and the training that took so much of her mother’s time.

Mayten pulled back and the two looked at each other in shock. How much time they had wasted.

“I don’t know what just happened,” Taiwania said, “but thank you.”

Mayten smiled, brushing the hair back from her sister’s lovely face. “I’ve missed you!”

They laughed and hugged again.

“We are so proud of you, Mayten,” Mother said. “The trees are singing your praises. And to reach Level Seven, Unity! I want to hear all about it.”

Level Seven? Mayten looked at her mother in confusion. Is that what happened when she’d joined with the trees?

The pride in her mother’s face drew tears to her eyes