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CHAPTER ONE:

Ces

Lia lived in the Alder else in the world, she craved knowing how to read But she had no fa to teach her the secrets, and no hope of it ever happening because she was a wretched Nine years before, soate and that should have put an end to her ambitions Only it did not One can not live in a sweet-scented kitchen without hungering after pulaze And one could not live at Muirwood Abbey without longing to learn the wisest of crafts – reading and engraving

Thunder boomed above Muirwood Abbey and water drenched the already rounds Lia’s companion, Sowe, slept next to her in the loft, but the thunder and the sharp stabs of lightning did not wake her, nor the voicesfrom the kitchen below as the Alder Sowe under any circu drips dampened their blankets and plopped in pots on the kitchen tiles below Rain had its oay of bringing out smells – in wet clothes, wet cheeses, and wet sackcloth Even the wooden planks and the eaves had a daray cassock and over-robe were soaked and dripping, his thick, dark eyebrows knotted orry and impatience Lia watched him secretly from the shadows of the loft

"Let eted ast the pots, sieves, and ladles "A fresh batch was pressed and boiled less than a fortnight ago It will refresh you Nohere did that chatteling put the s? Here we are Well now, it sees, you know It was probably Lia She is always snitching"

"Your gift of observation is keen," said the Aldermaston, who seemed hurried to speak "I am not at all thirsty If you…"

"It is no trouble at all In truth, it is good for your huht to crack one over the both of their heads, I should But that would be wasteful"

"Please, Pasqua, soirls and start the bread now Stoke the fires You uests, Aldermaston? In this storm? I doubt if a skilled horsees I have seen uests should brave the storuests, Pasqua The rivers may flood I will rouse the other help, ht flood?"

"I believe that is what I just said"

"It rained four days and four nights nigh on twelve years ago The Abbey did not flood then"

"I believe it round They will look to us for help"

Lia poked Sowe to rouse her, but sheat her own ear She was cohshod, as if he were always trying to keep hi and it throbbed with ie Not only our crops chance being ruined Bread Make five hundred loaves We should be prepared…"

"Five hundred loaves?"

"That is what I instructed I arateful you heard me correctly"

"From our stores? But…what a dreadful waste if it does not flood"

"In thisadvice I a It is heavy onfor it For the footsteps For the alarht I dread news of it"

"Have so orry "It will calht?"

Straightening his crooked back, the Aldermaston roared, "Do you not understand me? Loaves! Five hundred at least Must I rouse your help h with my own hands? Bake, Pasqua! I did not coht his voiceof it, the heat of his anger It made her sink deep inside herself Her heart pained for Pasqua She kne it felt to be yelled at like that

Sowe sat up i her blanket to her mouth Her eyes ith fear

Another blast of thunder sounded, its force shaking the walls