Zypheria's Call (A Tanyth Fairport Adventure) by Nathan Lowell Page A

arm from his and gave him a little push. “Git. You got work to do and I need to do some organizin’ myself.”
    He stood there for a moment looking down at her. “All right.” He reached in to peck her on the cheek. “You be careful this morning. You’re a lot tireder than you think.”
    She shook her head in mock exasperation. “Just a few words, Frank. Stop being an old woman. That’s my job. Go play with your horses.”
    She lifted the latch and slipped into the cool dimness of her hut. At the foot of the short stair she turned to watch him walk away toward the barn.
    “Frank?” she called.
    He stopped, turning to look back at her.
    “When you get done with the wagon? You could stop back here. I think I could use a little help stretchin’ after all.”
    His brilliant grin all but sparkled in the morning light. He gave her a jaunty salute with two fingers and turned back toward the barn. He seemed to be walking a bit faster than before.
    Tanyth smiled to herself and eased the door closed. She started to stoke up the banked fire in her hearth and found a long, splinter of kindling in her hand. Before tossing it on the blaze, she pulled the cast out of its sling and struggled to get the rough bit of wood under the top edge. The almost-there feeling of not quite scratching the itch had her pushing harder and harder until something gave and she was able to stick the whole length of the splinter down her arm. With a whimper of relief she worked the rough wood up and down, scoring her arm with scratches where the cast stopped, but getting to the itch at long last.

Chapter Six:
Surprise
    Frank brought the laden lorry wagon down from the quarry late in the afternoon. William and Thomas helped him unhitch the horses. Tanyth watched from the back stoop of the inn as the two men led the team to the barn, then she slipped inside to join the dinner preparations.
    “You sure I can’t help?” she asked, inhaling the homely smell of sourdough and spices that permeated the new building, already beginning to overwhelm the new wood scent of fresh construction.
    Sadie had been baking all day and a wisp of sandy hair fell down across her face and stuck in the sweat honestly earned in front of a hot oven. “Yes, mum, we’re sure.”
    Amber straightened from the kettle of stew that bubbled over the fire and gave Tanyth a warm smile. “You’re the guest of honor, mum. Wouldn’t be proper for you to do the work.”
    “Don’t be silly. It’s your last chance for cheap help,” Tanyth said, waving her free hand as if to bat away the objections.
    “Well, if you must do something,” Amber said, “check that teapot. It should be about steeped. You’ll prob’ly have to try a cup to make sure it’s all right.”
    Tanyth chuckled at the blatant ruse, but did as the younger woman bid, settling on a stool in the corner out of the way.
    “So, you both know what’s in the hut? How to use it?” Tanyth asked.
    Sadie pulled the last loaf out of the oven and slid it onto the worktable. “Yes, mum. We been over it a few times already.”
    “Few dozen, more like,” Amber added. She smiled at Tanyth. “We’ll be fine, mum. Don’t you fret.”
    Tanyth blew across the mug before taking a sip of the hearty tea. “Well, just so long’s you’re not sendin’ after me because somebody got the flux again.” She grinned at them and they laughed in return.
    “No worries on that score, mum,” Sadie said. “We’re in good shape to weather the summer and who knows? By fall, maybe we’ll find another healer to move out here with us.”
    “Frank’s goin’ ta put the word out in Kleesport, mum,” Amber added. “We’ll miss ya, right enough. You’re part of the family, but we’ll get by until you come back.”
    Tanyth sipped again and felt her heart beat heavily in her chest. “You know I’ll prob’ly not be comin’ back, don’t ya?”
    The two younger women shared a glance before Sadie answered. “Yes, mum. We know,