Free Ashes Under Uricon (The Change Book 1) by David Kearns Page A

Taid passed the loaf to me, but before I could take the knife, Eluned leaned forward and took it, cutting a slice and putting it on my plate. She followed this by spreading butter on the bread before pouring me a cup of milk. I sat doing nothing, wondering if I would be allowed to eat it.

    Eluned withdrew behind me and, without waiting, I picked up the bread and took a large bite from it. I could not for the life of me work out why everything was being done for me. Eluned seemed to operate as a servant, but only for me. Why?

    At this point, Mererid came in. She was carrying a large book, which she placed on the end of the table. As she opened it she looked at me and said, “This is for you, Non. You will, in time, understand why you are being treated differently. And why.” She began to read aloud. At first I did not understand a word she was saying, until it dawned on me that the language was Welsh.

    Taid leaned towards me. “Ardderchog. Excellent,” he whispered.

Chapter 16

    Eventually, after the eggs had passed round the table and Mererid’s reading had finished, it appeared that breakfast was over.

    “Eluned will take you for your first lesson,” Matthew announced.

    “My first lesson?” I repeated, kicking myself.

    “You have much to learn, my dear. And we have much to learn from your grandfather. We have no time to waste if we are to fulfil our tasks here.”

    I turned to Taid. “What is he saying?” I asked him.

    “We are all here for a very serious purpose, cariad. My place is with these other scholars. There is a great deal of work to be done. In a very short space of time, as Matthew suggested.”

    “Your grandfather,” Matthew continued, “is the key to the success of our small venture in this place. Until you and he came, we were not sure that we could complete the task we have been given. But you are as important as he is in this. Perhaps more so. I fear there may be great danger ahead for you, and we must make sure that we prepare you for what you may find as best as we can.”

    “There may be great danger?” I knew I was repeating again, but I did not care this time. “Do the Guards know we are here? Has someone informed The Apostles?”

    The others in the room were now looking at each other and murmuring. Mererid spoke for the first time since she stopped reading. “As you see, my companions, she has much to learn. The Change system works thoroughly, as we know. This is how it corrupts the mind of a child. You see that the only words she associates with danger are those of the System – ‘Guards’, ‘Apostles’.”

    “Mais, c’est impossible,” the woman who spoke French said. “Il est trop tard pour elle, la pauvre.”

    “No, Mere Rhiannon,” Mererid said. “It is not too late. We must not accept that what needs to be done is impossible. She is strong and comes from good stock. We will succeed.”

    “We must succeed,” Matthew said. “There is no question of that, Mere. Now, before we fill the child’s mind with more fearful things, let her go with Eluned to begin her work.” He looked at me, his eyes brimming with tears. “Much depends upon you, my dear. More than you could possible imagine at this stage.”

    “Imagination may be the greatest stumbling block,” Taid said. “It has been eradicated from our children, Matthew. I hope that you have a method to bring it back.”

    “We have a method. We have never had cause or need to use it before, but I believe that it will work. Eluned, my dear, we place her in your charge.”

    Eluned came forward and took my hand. I stood up as she pulled the chair away from me. Turning me to face Matthew, she bowed slightly. It seemed that I was expected to do the same, so I did. As we left the room, the French-speaking woman cried out, “Bonne chance, ma petite. Nous vous saluons.”

    Led by Eluned I returned to the room that I had left earlier that morning. She sat me at the table then turned to lock the door. My