Rising From the Ashes: The Chronicles of Caymin by Caren J. Werlinger

she could speak, Enat said calmly, “She doesn’t know how to lie.”
    Ivar opened his mouth to retort, but Enat continued, “You forget – all of you – that Ash was not raised by humans. She has not been taught in the ways of guile or deceit. She does not know how to fight when there is no reason to, but she will defend when threatened. Because that is how her clan raised her.” She turned to Timmin. “If there is fault, it is mine. I knew that Ash would act to protect me, and I allowed myself to be made vulnerable so that we could see just how strong her instinct to protect would be. I confess, I did not expect it to be so… potent.”
    A few chuckles came from those around the table. Ivar glared at them.
    “Sit, Ivar,” said Timmin. He returned to his regard of Ash. “Enat tells me you were raised by badgers after they saved your life.”
    “Yes.”
    “May I?” Timmin gestured to Ash’s face.
    She nodded and stepped closer. He reached up to touch her scars and lifted her sleeve to inspect her arm. Ash could see movement from the table as others, curious about her burns, craned their necks to see as well. Timmin, who still held Ash’s hand, placed his other hand over top of hers and looked into her eyes. At last, he released her and turned to the others.
    “I’ve no right to order you to keep her here, but I sense no malice in what she did. I would suggest a more prudent approach to teaching her in future.” He gave Enat a wry smile.
    “Thank you, Timmin,” Neela said. She stood, and the others rose as well.
    “Enat, a word, if you please,” said Timmin.
    The others glanced back curiously as Enat stood with Ash in front of Timmin.
    Timmin waited until they were alone before saying, “Do you remember anything from before the badgers rescued you, child?”
    Ash shook her head.
    He looked at Enat. “It is time she had her name.”
    Enat inclined her head. “I’ve been waiting for her to settle in with us, as everything was so new to her. You feel it’s time?”
    “I do.”
    “We’ll see to it, Master Timmin. Thank you.”
    Ash looked back and forth between them, not understanding. Enat laid a hand on her shoulder and led her from the meetinghouse. Cíana, Daina and Diarmit were waiting. Off to one side, Gai sat by himself.
    Enat nodded. “Go to them.”
    Ash trotted over. “I do not have to leave.”
    “Oh, good,” Cíana said, taking Ash’s hand. “I was so afraid for you.”
    “I’ve never seen Ivar so angry,” Diarmit said, his eyes wide.
    Ash glanced toward Gai. “He will be disappointed.”
    “You are wrong.” Daina got to her feet and went to where he sat. “Come and join us. We should celebrate. Ash is not going to be dismissed.”
    Gai glanced in Ash’s direction. “I don’t –”
    “Stop pretending you don’t care what happens,” Cíana said impatiently. “We want you to join us.”
    “She doesn’t.”
    They looked over and it was clear from Ash’s expression that Gai was right.
    “Stop it, both of you!” Cíana stomped her foot. “We’re all here to learn together. We can help one another if you two would stop picking at each other. Now come join us.”
    Gai obediently followed her back over to where Ash sat with Diarmit and Daina.
    Diarmit, lowering his voice, said, “Did you see how far she threw Ivar?”
    For a tense moment, everyone was silent, then they all burst out laughing.
    “How did you do it?” Daina asked.
    “I do not know,” Ash replied.
    “Have you ever done that before?” Gai was looking at her with an expression Ash had never seen on his face before. She shook her head.
    “Only one time did I do something like it, when Cuán was attacked by wolves and I healed him.”
    “What?” Cíana and the others gaped. “Tell us.”
    Ash told the story of that awful night. “That was what led Enat to me. I do not know how I did it. And I did not mean to hurt Ivar.”
    Diarmit snorted. “Hurt his arse more than anything.”
    “And his