A Ripple in Time by Julia Hughes

Author:Julia Hughes [Julia Hughes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Goodreads: 12388488
Published: 2011-07-11T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Eight

But before the Blonde showed up another woman arrived at dawn’s break.

She was expected, as soon as Wren learned of her existence he’d sent out an urgent call for her to be found. He needed her. She had knowledge of the deepest darkest secrets of the universe. According to Julius anyway.

Gia’s dark brown hair reached her knees as did her belted tunic. Gia herself barely reached Rhyllann’s chest but she insisted she was tall for her race. She was a Pict. Her people roamed Britain’s hills and valleys long before the Brits arrived to name the misty isle for themselves. At first glance her face looked covered with liver spots but closer inspection showed hints of blue tattoo darkened with age. She knew how to bring Stonehenge shuddering to a halt then turn back the wheel of time, reversing the stars in their firmaments. So Julius said anyway. And that’s why Julius remained. To act as interpreter.

Before she revealed anything about time travel though she squatted beside Carrie, who twitched and burned with fever. Gia’s hand hovered back and forth stroking the air inches above Carrie’s body. Taking a pouch from her belt she tugged at the twine, collapsing it into a rough circle of leather. Pawing at the contents she selected a couple of dark roots, hesitated, before nodding to herself and adding a pinch of moss green powder. This she masticated, her jaw gyrating like a cow chewing cud. Spitting the resulting mess into her hand, she smeared the paste over Carrie’s forehead, chanting.

Rhyllann sniggered and Wren frowned.

Carrie’s eyes flew open, her body stiffened with alarm. Then with a deep sigh like a child waking in the night to realise the stranger in the room was dressed in red with a snowy white beard, she rested her head on Wren’s lap and fell back to sleep.

Gia’s monkey brown eyes examined Wren’s face for approval. He touched his fingers to his lips then rotated them quickly in her direction. “Thank you.” When he bent over Carrie he detected a smell similar to strong tea laced with a bitter underlay. He eased her head from his lap, padding Rhyllann’s jacket underneath, gently soothing the tartan rug over her shoulders.

A toe stirred him. Julius. He thumbed impatiently towards the fire embers, where Rhyllann and Gia waited, watching the druidic society’s solemn welcoming-in of the sun. They clutched each other shaking with mirth when the Hairy Legged One finally fulfilled Wren’s expectations and fell off the Altar Stone backwards.

It took Gia twenty minutes to explain how to turn back time.

‘That’s it?’ Rhyllann said, astonished.

Gia touched the sword at his side, babbling and scolding when Caliburn let off a few lazy sparks.

‘From the stars.’ Julius translated.

After that Wren wanted to question her about Merlin. Julius refused to translate and once Gia understood who they were talking about, she grew fearful and shook her head violently, even pushing at Wren to show her displeasure. Rhyllann merely looked at him as though he’d lost it.

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