The Poison Season(16)

They were both startled by a splash on the far side of the lake. They rose and peered into the distance. A group of villagers stood on the shore, throwing rocks into the water and singing a made-up rhyme in high, irritating voices. This wasn’t uncommon. The younger villagers would sometimes dare each other to come to the lakeshore, just to prove they were brave enough to face the islanders, that they weren’t afraid of the Endlans’ songs.

Leelo thought again of the ritual tonight and wished these fools would leave. They had no idea what they were dealing with.

“Should we report them?” Leelo asked.

Sage stared at the villagers for a moment, then shook her head. “No. Our shift is over, and they’re harmless.” She picked up her bow and linked her arm through Leelo’s. “Come on. Mother needs help with the lambs today. There were twins born just last night.”

Leelo smiled as they left the villagers to their rude words and name-calling, happy to have something else to think about. “Can Tate come? He loves the lambs.”

“Oh, I suppose it can’t hurt. We just have to make sure Mother doesn’t see.”

Leelo squeaked in delight, which made Sage laugh, and for a moment Leelo felt a surge of hope. Even Fiona seemed a little better today. When they got home, she was in the rocking chair by the fire, knitting. She smiled when the girls entered, still wearing their boots.

“And where are you headed now, my love?” she asked Leelo.

“To see the lambs. One of the ewes had twins last night.”

“I hope you’ll take Tate with you. He’s been moping all day long.”

“We will,” Leelo said, kissing her mother’s forehead, which was blessedly cool and dry.

“You should stop at Isola’s house and see if she’d like to come. Rosalie said she hasn’t left the house in days. Some sunshine would do her good.”

Sage looked appalled. “We’re not supposed to talk to her. Mother said the council forbid it.”

“The council doesn’t need to know,” Fiona replied curtly. “Go on now. I’ll tell Tate to meet you at the pasture.”

Sage complained the entire way to Isola’s cottage, trying to convince Leelo to change her mind. “We’re going to get in trouble. And why should we risk our reputations for her? She did a terrible thing, Leelo.”

“She made one mistake, Sage. How long should she suffer for it?”

“I’m not saying she has to be punished forever. I’m just saying I don’t think we should be the ones to stick our necks out for her.”

“Then who should?”

Sage rolled her eyes. “You sound like Aunt Fiona.”

“We’re at least going to ask her.” Leelo knocked on the cottage door while Sage tapped her foot impatiently as they waited for Rosalie. When she finally answered the door, she looked exhausted, but she let Leelo in.

“It’s good of you to come. Perhaps you’ll have better luck than I have,” she said, closing the door behind them.

Isola was sitting by the window, staring into the woods with a faraway look in her eyes. Leelo knew without asking that she was thinking about Pieter.

“We’re going to see the lambs, Isola,” she said gently. “We thought you might like to join us. Some fresh air might help.”

Isola dragged her glassy eyes from the window up to Leelo’s. “I doubt it.”

“Well, at least the lambs will. It’s impossible not to smile when a lamb is frolicking for the first time.”

For a long moment, Leelo was sure Isola would refuse. But then she rose to her feet and nodded. “All right.”

As they made their way to the pasture where the sheep were kept, Leelo breathed in the scents of spring: worm-turned soil, new grass, sun-warmed stone, and damp moss. In the shadows, the ground was spongy from spring rains, but the trail was dry, and there were patches of flowers growing in every clearing: lily of the valley, daffodils, and hyacinth. Leelo had exchanged her Watcher leggings and tunic for one of her mother’s spring dresses. To ward off any lingering chill, she’d added her favorite sweater today, a soft cardigan with bright knit stripes.

There were five ewes nursing lambs, all creamy fleece and knobby knees. The ewe with twins was the most docile. Tate was already at the fence, trying to tempt her with a handful of grass. She made her way over eagerly, her babies tripping along as they attempted to walk and nurse at the same time, a skill they had not yet mastered.

“She’s such a good mother,” Tate said, patting the ewe on her woolly head.

Sage nudged him out of the way. “It’s her nature.”

Tate and Leelo shared a glance; they knew that not all mothers were as kind and loving as theirs, that not every woman took to motherhood so readily. Perhaps it’s different with sheep, Leelo thought.

“What are their names?” Isola asked, lifting her chin at the babies.

Sage rolled her eyes. “Names? They’re not pets, you know. We’ll keep the female for breeding and wool. The male will likely be eaten at some point. You don’t name your dinner, do you?”

Leelo frowned at Sage. Isola was showing interest in something, and her cousin was doing her best to squash it.

“I think we should call that one Fleecy,” Tate said, pointing to the little male.

Leelo smiled when she saw Isola’s eyes light up just a bit. “And what about the other one?” Isola asked Tate.