The Pillars Of The World

bookcase with leaded glass doors.
    The bookcase was the finest piece of furniture in the cottage, speaking of a time when Ari’s family must have had more wealth than was apparent now. Peering through the glass, Dianna frowned. The books inside didn’t look impressive. All about the same size and thickness, they were bound in leather and reminded her more of the journals she’d heard gentry women were fond of keeping than tomes that had any value. Opening the bookcase, she took out the last book and opened it to the first page.
    I am Astra, now the Crone of the family. It is with sorrow that I have read the journals of the ones who came before me. We shouldered the burden and then were dismissed from thought — or were treated as paupers who should beg for scraps of affection. We have stayed because we loved the land, and we have stayed out of duty. But duty is a cold bedfellow, and it should no longer be enough to hold us to the land. I don’t think my daughter will listen, but I hope I can find the words to tell Ari —
    “What are you doing?”
    Dianna jumped, surprised by Ari’s sudden appearance as well as the anger in the girl’s voice. “I saw the books and wanted to look—”
    “Those are my family’s private journals. They weren’t written as entertainment for the gentry .”
    “I—”
    Words of apology and explanation died when Ari snatched the journal from Dianna’s hands, carefully replaced it in the bookcase, and closed the leaded glass door. Keeping her back to Dianna, she said, “
    Even a friend should respect privacy.”
    “I meant no harm, Ari. Truly. I thought they were just books, and I was curious.” Dianna paused, wondering how badly her next question would offend. “Have you read them?”
    Ari shook her head. “Only the crone has the age and the experience to read them, and she is the one who records the next chapter in our history.” She turned to face Dianna. “I am in no hurry to read them. I think they have some awful tales to tell.”
    “What could be so awful?”
    “I don’t know. But the year my grandmother’s body declared her fully a crone, she read the journals over the winter. My mother and I watched her grow old during that time, as if a heavy burden weighed on her heart. She didn’t live to see another winter. So I’m in no hurry to find out what bent a strong woman until she broke.”
    “I’m sorry.” She looked at the tunic and trousers, and felt a pang of regret that she wouldn’t feel the earth beneath her hands. “Perhaps it would be better if I didn’t stay today,” she said, hoping Ari would politely disagree.
    “I think that would be for the best.”
    Dianna walked to the doorway, then looked over her shoulder. “I meant no harm. I hope we can be friends again on another day.” When your anger has faded — or you become lonely enough to overlook what was, after all, a mistake .
    “On another day,” Ari agreed.
    The mare was still saddled. A bucket of water stood nearby, still cool to the touch. Ari must have drawn the water from the well and then realized she had sent a stranger into the room that held what her family prized the most.
    When Dianna mounted, the puppy yapped at her as if he knew he no longer needed to fear what she thought of him.
    I hope I did at least that much right , Dianna thought as she took the long way around to reach the shining road through the Veil. And I hope she will greet me as a friend on another day — not just because we need to understand her kind, but also because I like her .

    “Falco!” Hurrying toward her quarry, Dianna ignored the startled looks of the other men standing with the Lord of the Hawks. She also ignored Falco’s protest when she grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the room.
    “Dianna! Is something wrong?”
    “Yes. No. Not exactly.” She’d thought this over on the ride home. Her gift would be enjoyed more if there was a way to feed it, and there was something she could do about that . “I want you to catch a rabbit.”
    Falco started to reply, then changed his mind— twice. “You want me to catch a rabbit,” he finally repeated.
    He was acting like it was an odd request—which it was, but that was beside the point. “Yes.”
    Falco smiled hesitantly, as if he would be willing to share the joke, even one at his expense, if she would just explain it to him.
    “I want you to go down to the human world, shift to your other form, catch a rabbit, and take it to the