Free Ever by Gail Carson Levine Page A

water.
    â€œEverything is wavery!” she cries. “You should see it.”
    I hesitate, although the ledge is hardly confining. Only water will separate me from open air.
    â€œCome, my love!”
    Love? Her love! Of course I join her.
    In the dim light her face glows. She is blushing and her hand is over her mouth, but she doesn’t take back the words. Although I’m uneasy in the small space, I lift away her hand and kiss her. I taste the water on her lips. Afterward she clings to me, a closeness I don’t mind at all.
    â€œWhat do you think?” She gestures at the water.
    â€œVery wavery, my love.” I don’t want her to be alone in saying my love .
    She slides out of my arms and spreads her arms to embrace the rock wall. “I like Akka.”
    This is not my favorite spot.
    â€œLook!” She has found a narrow opening that leads into a cave.
    I watch as she slips through the fissure. I imagine myself being trapped inside, the fissure closing.
    After a minute she emerges. “There’s enough room for us both. In the cave, the falls boom. Do you want to hear it?”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œOh!”
    I fly my quick wind back onto the grass, ashamed at the relief I feel.
    After a short while she joins me. She gestures and asks, “Are these mountains?”
    â€œFoothills. The mountains aren’t far.”
    â€œOlus! If these are the feet, how tall are the mountains?” Before I can answer, she sinks to her knees and runs her hands through the grass. “Smooth! Hyte grass is spiky.” She stands. “Was there something dangerous in the cave?”
    â€œNo.” I’m embarrassed to tell her about my fear.
    She takes a deep breath. “I’ve never met a masma before.”
    â€œI’m not a masma.”
    â€œPlease forgive me.” She touches my arm. “I was taught that masmas are evil, but you’re good. I think you’re Admat’s masma.”
    I decide to confess. “I was afraid to go in the cave.Small spaces frighten me.”
    She smiles. “I used to be afraid of pigeons.”
    I smile back. “Why?”
    â€œTheir red eyes. I thought they killed people at night.”
    â€œHow did you stop fearing them?”
    â€œI don’t remember.” Her smile fades. “Now I’m afraid of the priest’s knife.”
    It is time. “I’m truly not a masma. I’m the Akkan god of the winds.”

30

    KEZI
    â€œ D ON’T SAY THAT !” I want to run back into the cave for safety, although my love has boasted all safety away.
    A minute passes. The sky is still blue. The forest that climbs the feet hills does not catch fire. Olus is not covered with boils.
    He shouts, “I am the Akkan god of the winds.”
    I shout, too. “Admat, you are the one, the all.”
    â€œWhat can I show her?” he says to himself.
    â€œDon’t show me anything.”
    Two large rocks bounce out of the forest, coming toward us. Admat’s punishment! I throw myself on the ground.
    My bones are not crushed. I hear two thuds and raise my head. The rocks are planted in the ground, side by side.
    â€œMy clever wind found them. See? They’re both chair shaped.” He sits in one.
    The one he’s in is narrower than the other and has a more sloping chair back. Each is chest high with a lower shelf for sitting.
    â€œSee how my clever wind—”
    â€œAdmat’s wind.”
    â€œSee how it placed them to face the falls.”
    I stand, but I don’t go near the chair rocks.
    â€œKezi, I have just one power, the winds. But I’m immortal, and I can see and hear and detect scents at greatdistances. All the Akkan gods can. My love, believe me.”
    â€œIf you can see so far, what is my pado doing?”
    â€œI can’t see as far as the city from here.”
    If not for the oath, Pado would be in his counting room, but I don’t know where he is now. If