Born to Rule by Kathryn Lasky Page B

wider than an egg? She peered at the tree. There were two knotholes side by side that looked almost like eyes—rather baggy eyes, at that. Then she noticed a kind of knob between the eyes that could have been a nose.
    The bark of the tree moved! Alicia caught her breath as a figure stepped forward. Her heart skipped a beat or two. What in the world?
    “Not in the world, my dear. In the Forest of Chimes. That is all. All one needs, some might say.”
    Standing before her was a woman, a very old woman, garbed in a tunic of bark and leaves. She was wearing a cloak made of moss, and her long, white hair was caught up in a net of spiderwebs. A spider or two hung about her ears. On her shoulder perched a peregrine, a large bird with a black hood of feathers. Would this crone help her find a female weeb?
    “There is much to be done, girl, beyond finding you a songbird.”
    On the bones of Saint George’s dragon, how does this crone—Alicia’s thoughts were interrupted by the words of the old woman.
    “Now, now, girl, don’t be swearing on poor old Saint George’s beast and don’t be calling me a crone. So, you wonder how I know what you are thinking? It’s my gift, girl, my gift. With some it’s harder to read the mind than others. But you’re clear, girl. Clear as the clapper in the tree bells that chime. You’re true. That is why you were chosen.”
    “Chosen? Chosen for what?”
    The ancient woman stepped forward. She smelled like pine trees. She was very short—she only came up to Alicia’s chin. Her eyes were colorless but had a bright spot in them. Alicia quickly realized that it was a reflection of the moon.
    “’Tis your fate, your destiny.”
    “Destiny?” Alicia was completely baffled. “Who are you?”
    There was a kack kack sound.
    “Hush, Percy,” said the old woman. She reached up and stroked the peregrine’s feathers. “I am Berwynna of the Chimes.”
    “Berwynna?” Alicia said.
    “Think, girl, think hard,” Berwynna said.
    Alicia opened her eyes wide. Could this be like…like…Merlin? She had barely even finished the thought when Berwynna shrieked, “Like Merlin! I am the sister of Merlin! But I am nothing like him.” The spiders quivering over her ears hoisted themselves up on their silken threads into the hair that was piled like a bird’s nest on Berwynna’s head.
    “Merlin’s sister? I didn’t know he had one,” Alicia said.
    “Nobody does. It’s always Merlin this, Merlin that!” Her voice was shrill. “It’s enough to drive one mad.”
    Alicia collected herself. Merlin’s sister? Had she not wished for just this very thing? A Merlin!
    “What is my destiny?” Alicia asked again.
    “You think I’m going to tell you right off the bat?” Berwynna asked.
    As if on cue, a bat flew out from Berwynna’s hair. “Yikes!” screeched Alicia, but she pressed on with her questions. “You claim there is much to be done. So what is it that I must do?”
    “Look, my dear, you have proven your courage and your determination by coming into the forest on a cold night when you have been castled.”
    So she agrees that it was perhaps wrong that I was castled, Alicia thought.
    “Of course I agree. What do you take me for, a nitwit?” This time a very tiny insect crept out of her ear.
    Holy monk bones, she’s got lice! “Oh, yuck!” Alicia muttered.
    “I’m a friend to all creatures. If some decide to live on me, far be it from me to evict them.”
    “But what is it that you want me to do?”
    “Restless spirits lurk, my dear.” Berwynna stepped closer to Alicia and stood on her tiptoes. The reflections of stars now danced in her eyes. Berwynna smiled and then began to speak in a singsongy voice that scratched the night.
“Now listen closely to my tale
Though it may turn your pink cheeks pale.
There’s still a story incomplete;
Look closely and you’ll see, my sweet.
Two spirits must be put to rest
Until another dream is blessed ,
And then, when every stitch is sewn