“Oh, love, no, I’m sorry!” Gabrielle was penitent. “That was mean, to keep you waiting while I daydreamed.”
He shifted his weight, like a boy at lessons asked to recite.
“What do you think, then?”
She grinned at him. “Well, you’ll never be asked to sing at a wedding or baby naming.”
He laughed in agreement, the tension broken. Eyed her. “Is there a ‘but’ to come?”
“There is indeed,” she agreed. “BUT—I know of at least two people who will always be glad to listen to you sing.”
“You being one?”
“Me being one,” she said. She kept him waiting just for a heartbeat. “Your child being the other.”
“My—”
Gabrielle watched as the import of her words took hold. She had never seen his eyes so round.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “So soon?”
“So soon?” Now it was her turn to stare. “It’s been six years!”
“That’s what I mean,” he began. Then he closed his mouth. Walked over to her, pulled her up from her log and wrapped her in his arms.
“Even after six years, now and then our worlds bump together, and I am slow to catch on,” he said. “It wasn’t soon for you, was it?”
She shook her head against his chest, a little teary. “I was wondering if it would ever happen.”
They held each other in the snowy silent clearing. Then Gabrielle pulled back a little. “I’m sorry to take you by surprise. Will it be a problem?”
“It will be wonderful.” He meant it. Had she been blindfolded and missed the dazed silly grin that spread across his face, she would still have felt his delight. “Some surprises are good. Some are wonderful.”
“Féolan, I’m afraid I lied to you earlier,” Gabrielle confessed. “You will be asked to sing at a baby naming, after all.”
Holly Bennett is the author of The Bonemender and The Bonemender’s Oath, prequels to The Bonemender’s Choice, as well as the Druidic fantasy, The Warrior’s Daughter. In addition to writing, she is editor-in-chief of Today’s Parent Special Editions. Born in Montreal, Quebec, she lives in Peterborough, Ontario, with a houseful of musicians (three sons and a husband) and a nice quiet dog.
New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age
IRA Notable Book
Canadian Children’s Book Centre Our Choice starred selection
Ontario Library Association White Pine Award nominee
The Bonemender
978-1-55143-336-3 $9.95 CDN • $8.95 US PB
Ages 12+
“...will appeal to fantasy and adventure
fans alike.” —KLIATT
The Bonemender’s Oath
978-1-55143-443-8 $9.95 CDN • $8.95 US PB
Ages 12+
“...engaging characters, suspense, a
subtle dose of humor and wonderfully
descriptive tones...with strong ties to
honor, love, family and friendship.”
—KLIATT
The Warrior’s Daughter
978-1-55143-607-4 $9.95 CDN • $8.95 US PB
Ages 12+
“...told with insight, compassion and
skill...Bennett becomes, book by book,
an ever more accomplished writer of
fantasy...”
—Okanagan College Deakin Newsletter