Chapter Three
Now, Thorn Blossom tried to maintain her house, but the income from her
artwork was simply not enough to maintain herself, and, her child. One
day a distant cousin knocked on her door. He was a Speaker from the new
city of Water, built on the western side of The Dove's Canals. His mate was with him, a beautiful young woman, but
who seemed distant and afraid. Whenever The Young Speaker
approached her, she moved away.
2 "I am so pleased to see you, Little Crow!" admitted Thorn Blossom, "I
am glad you came now. As you can see, I'm packing. I'm not sure where
I'm going yet, but I've got to get something cheaper than here."
3 "I have heard of your problems," announced her cousin, "and have come
to offer a solution. My Temple provides me a nice house, and my mate,
Shining Blossom, serves as my secretary. It makes it very hard for her
to do that, and all the housework, besides. IF you were to come and
live with us, and share the housework, you would still have time to
paint your pictures, and perhaps increase your income until you can
afford a decent place of your own. It should be beneficial to both us
and you. There's plenty of room, you can have the whole attic for your
studio, and a separate room for you and the boy."
4 The Young Speaker climbed up in a chair beside Shining Blossom. "It
won't work," he announced, "not as long as she's afraid of me, and
afraid you'll take my mother as a second mate. Why did you take a
daughter of The Oneness as a mate?"
5 Shining Blossom began to shiver, and Little Crow went over to her. "I
thought we had this settled," he told her. "She's not a daughter of The
Oneness any