Trudi Canavan - Voice of the Gods (Age of the Five) Book 3

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Many thanks:

Firstly to The Two Pauls and Fran Bryson who read the roughest of the rough drafts. Also to Jennifer Fallon, Russell Kirkpatrick, Glenda Larke, Fiona McLennan, Ella McCay, Tessa Kum for their feedback. To all the readers, especially all my friends on Voyager Online. And, finally, to Diana Gill and the Eos team, and to Matt Stawicki for the fabulous cover illustrations.

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T he man staggering through the hospice door was covered in blood. It streaked his face and clothing, and leaked from between fingers pressed to his brow. As the occupants of the greeting hall saw him they fell silent, then the noise and activity resumed. Someone would take care of him.

Looks like that someone will be me this time , Priestess Ellareen thought as she glanced at the other healers. All priests, priestesses and Dreamweavers were occupied, though Dreamweaver Fareehs bandaging of his patients arm had quickened.

When the newcomer saw her approaching he looked relieved.

Welcome to the hospice, she said. What is your name?

Mal Toolmaker.

What happened to you?

Robbed.

Let me see that. He reluctantly allowed her to lift his hand from his brow. A cut to the bone seeped more blood. She pressed his hand back over the wound. It needs some stitches.

His gaze slid to the nearest Dreamweaver. Youll do it?

She suppressed a sigh and indicated that he should follow her down the corridor. Yes. Come with me.

It was not unheard of for a visitor to the hospice to request a Circlian healer, but it was unusual. Most who came here were prepared to accept any help. Those who did not like or trust Dreamweavers went elsewhere.

Dreamweavers worked with Circlian priests and priestesses readily enough, and vice versa. They all knew they were healing many people who would not have received any help before. But a century of prejudice against Dreamweavers could not be erased in a few months. Ella had not expected it to be. Nor did she even want it to be. Dreamweavers did not worship the gods, so their souls died when their bodies did. She had great respect for them as healersnobody who worked alongside them could deny being impressed by their knowledge and skillbut their dismissive, distrustful view of the gods irritated her.

I dont approve of blind intolerance either . The tendency in some people to fear those different from themselves to the point of irrational hatred disturbed her more than the common violence and miserable poverty that brought most patients to the hospice.

Recently a new group that called themselves true Circlians had begun harassing the hospice workers. Their arrogant belief that their worship of the gods was more worthy than hers irritated her even more than the Dreamweavers indifference. The only issue she agreed with them on was the Pentadrians. Unlike Pentadrians, Dreamweavers never claimed to follow godsgods that didnt existor used that deception to convince a continent of people that Circlians were heathens and deserved to be exterminated.

At least this man isnt too proud to seek our help , she thought as she led him down the corridor into an unoccupied treatment room and directed him to sit on the end of a bench. Scooping water into a bowl from a trough of constantly flowing water at one end of the room, she warmed it with magic. She took some cloth from a basket, shook a few drops of wound-cleaning oil onto it, dipped it into the water and cleaned the mans face. Then she began stitching the cut.