'Thank you, Brother,' she breathed, then realised that her grandfather was speaking again.
'Your Erlic's a likely lad,' Kensin was following his own train of thought. 'He doesn't fret a person with foolish empty talk. He's good in the woods, too. He'd make a fine hunter, except he won't kill anything.'
'I've never liked killing animals, either.'
'No, you never have.' They sat on together for a while in a companionable silence that needed no words, then he said quietly, offering her the only comfort he could, that of his faith in the ultimate triumph of good over evil. 'Our Brother will look after that husband of yours, I'm sure of it, lass.'
She could only see the fire as a blur of dancing light. She blinked her tears away and gathered her forces in a quick Discipline of Self Control. 'I'm just indulging in a moment of weakness, grandfather. Pay no attention to me. I'll be all right in a minute. I, too, am sure that our Brother will bring Davred back to me if he can, for he has whispered as much in my ear. Davred and Alaran, and Herra, too, I hope.'
'Mak is missing that wife of his, as well.'
Katia nodded. 'Soo. Many folk have been separated or made bereft by this evil. But in his heart, Mak feels that Soo is alive somewhere. And he's learning to trust his feelings.'
In the end Kensin went off to sleep in the small shelter he’d built for himself away from the main settlement because he could never bear to live among crowds. Katia sat on by the fire for a little longer, alone with her thoughts. No one disturbed her. They were all tired, too tired to sit up late, even on a night of celebration. And besides, she was a Sister, a Sister with great Gifts. When she looked like that, so remote and grim, they left her alone. Sisters carried the worries of the world, and the little Brothers of the God too, now.
The folk of the settlement slept soundly, for they worked all the hours of daylight. Idle hours were a thing unknown. There were more houses to build and food supplies to lay in before the worst of winter clamped its icy grip upon them, though they’d done well in these early days. Here in the high reaches there’d soon be snow, deep enough sometimes to catch out the unwary and put them in danger. Soon, all too soon, the cold would hem them in, keeping them prisoner for a while, but also keeping their enemies at bay.
As the second moon vanished below the horizon and the shadows grew darker, Katia shook her head and stood up. No use in sitting here all night. 'Brother, look down on us all,' she said softly as she went to seek her bed. 'Give us the time to prepare ourselves for a confrontation.'
That night she dreamed of Davred, saw him standing in the forest with Herra, Alaran and a small woman with sallow skin, blue-black hair and eyes which slanted strangely. And Davred seemed to see her, too, turning to hold out one hand towards her as he mouthed the words, 'I shall be with you again, my love, my Katia,' so that her cheeks were wet with tears of joy, even as she slept.
When she woke, hope was renewed in her. She knew her beloved would come to find her. She knew that together they would continue their Brother's Quest. And she knew that if they fought hard, gave everything that was in them, even their own lives, then the Kindred would have a chance of winning peace again for the Twelve Claims.
About the Author:
Discover other titles by Shannah Jay at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk: The Chronicles of Tenebrak
Book 1. Quest http://www.annajacobs.com/book.asp?pageID=18
Book 2. Lands of Nowhere http://www.annajacobs.com/book.asp?pageID=19
Book 4. The Price of Wisdom http://www.annajacobs.com/book.asp?pageID=21
Also
Envoy http://www.annajacobs.com/book.asp?pageID=22
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1 KATIA ALONE
CHAPTER 2 JEDDIAK TOWN
CHAPTER 3 MAK'S LANDING
CHAPTER 5 MIST AND RAIN
CHAPTER 6 FEERA'S GUT
CHAPTER 7 THOSE WHO WATCH
CHAPTER 8 DENNIL'S REBELLION
CHAPTER 9 SEA OF GRASS
CHAPTER 11 THE CLAIM OF TENEBRON
CHAPTER 12 THE HASHITE GUILD
CHAPTER 13 LORD BENNER'S INTERVENTION
CHAPTER 14 THE LORD EVREN
CHAPTER 15 EVREN'S REVENGE
CHAPTER 16 REBELLION RISING
CHAPTER 17 THE SEABLOWN COAST
CHAPTER 19 THE SERPENT'S REACH
CHAPTER 20 THE FOREST TRAILS
CHAPTER 21 THE HIGH ALDER
CHAPTER 22 HASHITE WAYS
CHAPTER 23 CHERAL'S HONOUR
CHAPTER 24 TROUBLE RISING
CHAPTER 25 TRACES OF EVIL