Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...
Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...
Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...
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"Sometimes."<br />
"Well, I don't think that's right, either. If you feel that way, why don't you talk to me about it more?"<br />
"I knowyou don't think that's right. But shedoes . She thinks you have to, to be a warrior. She thinks I<br />
was mean <strong>and</strong> cruel before, it just needed polishing. But I… well, maybe I was mean to Piatr, I know I<br />
was. But… well, no one taught me it was wrong then, everyone else was doing it, he was just a nasty<br />
witch my Pa gave me to torment, that's all I knew, <strong>and</strong> I… I didn't know what was bothering me, so I<br />
took it out on him. I didn'tknow it was cruel; I didn't know what cruelwas , den. I vass chust a stupid<br />
girl!" Suddenly tears muddied the clear young voice. "I vasn'tmean ! I was chust ignorant! I didn't know<br />
how much it hurt!She vould haf donevorse !" Cautiously, ready in case the girl recoiled, Megan touched<br />
her trembling shoulder, then pulled her into her arms. "Khyd-hirdismean ! She'sreally mean! She knows<br />
vat she's doing!"<br />
"Ah, Sovee, Sovee. She does as she was taught <strong>and</strong> does not know better either, though she's so much<br />
older than you are. She says crude <strong>and</strong> cruel things <strong>and</strong> doesn't see how she hurts Shyll or Rilla with her<br />
ignorance, even me sometimes. She doesn't think there's a problem, though she tries—stumbling, bruising<br />
souls, stepping on hearts." Megan hugged the girl, smoothing hair back off her face. "It helps if you think<br />
of her like the pups, all big feet <strong>and</strong> not knowing their own strength. Take what good she can give you<br />
<strong>and</strong> leave her hard-headed idiocies to me. I'll h<strong>and</strong>le them as best I can."<br />
"The pups are just dumb animals, they can't help it. They aren't my teachers, claiming to know<br />
everything. Andshe can't do anything toyou , so you don't know how it feels!"<br />
"Look," said Megan, taking Sova <strong>by</strong> the shoulders. "Talking to me isn't helping, that's clear enough. If<br />
she—when she—comes back, you are going to have to take it up withher . You are a warrior; you can<br />
speak up."<br />
Even in the darkness, Megan could see the girl's lips thin <strong>and</strong> eyes widen. "But Im not really a warrior, at<br />
least she doesn't think so, because she hasn'tsaid I am <strong>and</strong> I'm only a warrior if she says I am, right?<br />
Besides I couldn't…" Her voice thinned <strong>and</strong> trailed off.<br />
"Couldn't what?"<br />
"Couldn'ttake her. She doesn't listen to anyone she doesn't think could… at least make a good account<br />
of demself. She doesn't think anyone who can't fight is any good, deserve anything but pissing on, or<br />
being made a slave of one whocan ."<br />
This might crack my family right in half. My family that isn't yet complete. Maybe it never will be;<br />
if Shkai'ra doesn't come back, if Lix<strong>and</strong> dies. Megan controlled the shudders, so Sova wouldn't feel<br />
them. "Then tell her," she said hoarsely, "tell her I'm behind you on this <strong>and</strong> she'd better listen. She may<br />
surprise you <strong>and</strong> listen anyway because you're family."<br />
"You're behind me? Againsther ?"<br />
Megan felt as if a clawed h<strong>and</strong> had wrapped around one side of her heart, another clawed h<strong>and</strong> around<br />
the other, <strong>and</strong> they were pulling, tearing it in two. "For herlistening . And paying some damned good<br />
attention."<br />
She heard Sova's h<strong>and</strong>s fidgeting, nails scratching the bedroll. "If," the girl said quietly. "If she comes