Free Elphame's Choice by P.C. Cast Page B

asked.
    The same soft voice answered from the rear of the group. “I am Brenna.”
    “Come here, I can’t see you,” Elphame said impatiently.
    The group parted to let a petite brunette woman through. Her head was bowed and her face was obscured. Elphame noticed immediately that the rest of the women averted their eyes from her, as if the sight of her made them uncomfortable. Then the small woman lifted her head. Elphame felt an unexpected jolt run through her body as she looked the woman full in the face, and El had to force her expression to remain impassive.
    Brenna was young, and had once been pretty, Elphamecould tell that from the left side of her face. The right side of her face was a ruin. A terrible burn scar ran from her neck all the way up to cover the entire right side of her face. It was thick and mottled with the shiny pink and white pigments that distinguished the deepest of burns. The right side of her mouth was missing its lip line, which was all the more horrible when compared to the smooth fullness of the unharmed lips on the other side of her face. Her right eye was clear and appeared unharmed. It was the same doe brown as her left eye, but the scars at the corner of it seemed to pull it down, giving it a droopy appearance.
    She stood very still, letting Elphame study her. She met the goddess’s gaze unflinchingly.
    “I believe I can draw your castle for you,” she said in a clear, confident voice.
    “Are you an artist, Brenna?” Elphame asked.
    “I have a small talent for sketching, especially for sketching things that I imagine in my mind.” She smiled a crooked smile that Elphame was surprised to find endearing. “So I think I might be able to sketch things that you imagine, too, if you can describe them to me.”
    El nodded enthusiastically, but before she could speak Brenna continued, “But you should know that I do not consider myself an artist. I am a Healer.”
    Elphame’s face split into a wide smile. “Then you are most welcome, Brenna. With all these workers lugging this and building that, we are bound to have several mishaps that will require a Healer’s touch. I know my own brother, though an accomplished warrior, is uncommonly prone to cuts and scrapes.”
    For an instant Elphame saw Brenna’s expression change, and it was as if a shadow passed over the young woman’s ravaged face. But she responded with no hesitation.
    “Of course, my Lady. I am always pleased to be where I am needed.”
    “Elphame!” Like a masculine tornado, Cuchulainn strode through the group of women. Eyes sparkling, he nodded to several of the prettiest before he reached his sister’s side. “The supply wagons are bottled up in that mess that was once called the main road to the castle. I have dispatched the centaurs to meet them and to hack a path through to the front walls. When the wagons get here I think it best that we set up tents outside the castle walls, at least until we can make that monster inhabitable again.”
    Elphame raised on arched eyebrow at him and crossed her arms.
    Cuchulainn laughed. “Okay! Forgive me for calling your palace a monster.”
    “It is not a palace. It is a castle,” she corrected him.
    “Well, your castle is not fit for man nor beast.” He winked at the pleasingly plump Caitlin, who blushed a becoming shade of mauve. “Nor lovely lady.” He gestured behind them. “The area of grasslands there, southwest of the castle that runs from the southern wall to the edge of the sea cliff, will be the easiest to clear. In a couple days we should have the tents erected and a camp set up. Until then the people of Loth Tor will be pleased to board us.” Cu grinned at Elphame cheekily. “If that suits you, my Lady.”
    Elphame restrained herself from boxing his ears. “Yes, yes, that’s fine. But I will need some men to accompany my head cook and her staff. It’s important that the kitchens are restored quickly.” She jabbed at his ribs. “Men need more than