Welcome to Stories from Among the Stars.

You're listening to Nettelin Bone by T. Kingfisher, narrated by Amara Jasper.

Chapter 5

In the spring of Mara's 15th year at the convent, a fever went through the kingdom.

It laid Mara low for many days, and when she struggled to her feet at last, it was to discover

that the abyss was near death.

For nearly a week, it was touch and go.

Because she had recovered, Mara was allowed to tend to the older woman. In truth, there was not

much to be done except sit in the room and practice her needlework and listen to the rattle of

breathing that would not quite be still.

The abbess recovered, but there was white in her iron-gray hair, and she moved more

cautiously than she had done. She needed a cane to go upstairs, and it clearly infuriated her.

The abbess had never been patient with her own weakness. Mara herself recovered well,

though there were days when she only dozed at the window and could not will herself to move.

Even the view from the window reminded her of plague. They lost two novices, and the old man who sold

goat milk was replaced by his son,

who told them quietly that his father would not be coming back.

She was gazing out the window, not quite awake, thinking long, unraveling thoughts,

when there was a tap on the door and the sister apothecary was waiting.

"'It's bad news,' she said, holding out a letter.

The Abyss asked me to bring it to you. She would have done it, but she can't handle the stairs.

I don't know what it is, but it's not good. Mara broke the seal. If the sister said something else, she didn't hear.

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