Rain Glade Read Online Free

Rober were both
asleep, much to Rain’s relief. She lifted her dress and looked at
her stomach. Her side and belly were bruised ugly black and blue.
Rain curled up on the deer pelt next to the children and buried her
face in her hands as she cried, each sob making the pain worse. She
just couldn’t help it. Eventually she fell asleep.
    The baby woke her up with a wail of
displeasure. It also woke up Rober, but Rain was able to get them
both calmed down quickly after she changed their soiled bottoms.
Tia took the bottle and Rober drank some water while Rain washed
the diapers. The rest of the day went fairly well even though Rain
didn’t get any cleaning done as she had hoped.
    “Rain? Rain, are you alright?” Tonia’s voice
seemed far away. Rain looked up from where she was sitting on a
chair next to the empty hearth. She had been staring at the floor
with Tia in her arms while Rober played quietly nearby. Tonia was
kneeling in front of her with an expression of worry.
    “Yes. You’re back early.”
    “No. It’s late afternoon. You look terrible,
Rain. Here, let me take Tia.” Tonia took the sleeping baby out of
Rain’s arms. “The children behave so well for you.”
    Rain stood slowly, hiding her pain. “I’m
going to go home now. Let me know when you need me again.”
    “I will.” Tonia put a hand on Rain’s
shoulder. “ Are you alright?”
    “Yes, just tired.” Rain gave a feeble smile
and left, ignoring the concerned gaze following her out the
door.
     
    ***
     
    Even though she moved slowly, Rain was
determined to take a proper bath when she reached the pool. Soap
was one of the treasures in her pouch and she put it on a rock
before climbing into the water. Shivering made the pain worse, but
it lessened as her body became accustomed to the cold water.
    After a while, she took her dress off and
began scrubbing it with the soap. When she was done, she left it on
a rock in the sun to dry. She sat on another rock with her feet in
the water and studied the bruise.
    “Whoever did that should be put in stocks,” a
deep voice said from nearby.
    Rain yipped in surprise and slid into the
water until it was up to her chin. She turned and saw a young man
in the red leather jacket and pants of Lord Greffen’s personal
guard.
    He ran fingers through curly black hair that
nearly reached his shoulders. His other hand rested on the hilt of
a sword at his waist. “I saw you walking down the road from that
woman’s house and it looked like you were in pain. I promised the
woman, Tonia I think her name was, that I would check on you and
make certain you were safe.”
    Rain continued to hide in the water, covering
her body the best she could. She noticed that his eyes were pink,
common in most lands, but something she had never seen in
Cothbern.
    “I didn’t mean to watch you.” He looked at
the trees around the pool for a moment. “It’s just that you’re so
pretty, I couldn’t stop staring.” The soldier looked at her
again.
    Pretty? No one’s ever called me
pretty, Rain thought to herself. Why would he say I’m
pretty?
    “I was going to slip away, but then I saw
that bruise. It’s bad. I don’t know anything about healing though.”
He moved to the edge of the pool and squatted. “I’m worried about
you.”
    Rain stared without knowing what to say. He
was handsome, with a stubbled chin and strong cheekbones. His
uniform was clean, bright and looked as though it had been made to
fit him. Why did he call me pretty? she wondered.
    “I’ve scared you, haven’t I?” The soldier
stood and dusted off his knees even though there was no dirt on
them. “My name is Jacob Miner. I’m in Lord Greffen’s personal
guard. My dad’s a copper miner in Tilbern, north of Seyten, which
is why my last name is Miner. Lord Greffen recruited me before
winter because I’m strong. I’ve been training all winter.” Jacob
sat on a rock near the small waterfall and crossed one leg over the
other. He tugged at a leaf