Nightpeople Read Online Free Page A

answers.’
    â€˜When?’
    â€˜When we get to Woormra. Perhaps even on the way there.’
    â€˜Woormra?’
    â€˜It’s where you were born. The place I carried you from a long time ago. Now it’s time for me to take you back.’
    â€˜I don’t want to go.’
    â€˜You don’t have any choice.’
    â€˜No.’ Saria refused again. ‘I’m not leaving the valley. You can’t make me.’
    â€˜I can if I have to.’
    â€˜He’s a nightwalker, girl.’ Ma said. ‘That won’t mean anything to you, but trust me, if he wants to get you there, he can. Even if he has to carry you all the way.’
    â€˜But I want to stay here.’
    â€˜What you want doesn’t matter any more.’
    â€˜Ma …’ Saria turned to the old woman in appeal, but Ma Lee shook her head.
    â€˜Nah, girl. He’s right. This is stuff going back a long time into the past. You and me are at the end of a long, long journey, and now you gotta step out off the path on your own.’
    â€˜Listen, girl.’ Dariand took a tiny step towards her. ‘I know this is difficult, but there’s no other way. We’ll leave early tomorrow. Dreamer Gaardi will meet us down in the Shades.’
    â€˜Dreamer Gaardi’s coming?’
    â€˜Yes. He’ll keep us company.’
    â€˜Doesn’t matter. I’m still not going.’
    â€˜I know you don’t want to, but there’s a lot more people in these lands than just you.’ Dariand slowly eased himself back to the ground. ‘And now, if you don’t mind, I might sleep. I’ve had a long journey and it will be a big day tomorrow. Saria, you should sleep too.’
    â€˜I’m not tired.’
    â€˜Do as he says, girl,’ Ma interrupted. ‘He knows best.’
    Ma busied herself attaching the tin shutters to the windows to keep the early morning light out. Dariand settled in the shadows beside the door, lying fully clothed on the hard, packed dirt. When Ma went to place the shutter over the door, he stopped her.
    â€˜Leave it, Ma. I like fresh air.’
    â€˜Creatures could come in …’
    â€˜Leave it.’
    Ma leaned the shutter back against the wall with no further argument and raked the coals down, plunging the room deeper into shadow.
    Crossing to her sleeping mat, Saria was aware of the man’s eyes watching, studying her as she prepared for sleep. His stare made her back and neck prickle, and as she went to shrug her robe off over her head a curious self-consciousness swept through her. She climbed under her blanket as quickly as possible and lay facing the wall. Even so, that measuring gaze still itched at her back.
    The light died to a dull glow. Ma’s shadow still bustled around, as she got into her own tattered night robe and rolled her sleeping mat out in its usual place near the food store. Then she did a strange thing, something she’d never done before; she crossed the room and perched on the edge of Saria’s mat.
    Under her worn blanket, Saria tensed. She hadn’t forgotten that earlier Ma had promised her a thrashing. But to her surprise, nothing happened. For a long time the old woman sat there while Saria feigned sleep. Then she reached out and lightly stroked her bony fingers against the girl’s matted hair. The sensation made Saria’s scalp tingle.
    â€˜You’ve been a good girl. But this land’s got bigger plans for you than just stayin’ here in this valley.’ Ma’s voice was a whisper.
    Saria opened her eyes and looked up at the woman. ‘Will I come back?’
    â€˜Don’t know. Wouldn’t think so, but you can’t tell these things. You just be careful, alright? And listen to him over there.’ She nodded at Dariand’s sleeping form. ‘He’s rough, but he’ll do the best he can for you. He’s got a good heart.’
    She stopped her stroking and