Death's Avenger- The Malykant Mysteries, Volume 2 by Charlotte E English

Author:Charlotte E English [English, Charlotte E]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy, Mystery, Speculative Fiction, Dark Fantasy
Google: BvptDwAAQBAJ
Amazon: B07H8DY6X8
Goodreads: 41809051
Publisher: Frouse Books
Published: 2018-10-04T23:00:00+00:00

‘It is hosted by Eino Holt,’ said Nanda happily, once all four were ensconced in the promised carriage and rattling their way out of the north gate of Ekamet. ‘An old friend of my mother’s. Charming man, you will love him. And Kati Vinter will be there — a thousand years old if she’s a day, but livelier than the four of us put together, I swear. Marko Bekk! And if we are lucky, Lilli Lahti! I have not seen her in years! I could not pass up the invitation. We are to be there for two, perhaps three days.’

None of this speech cast any light whatsoever upon Nanda’s reasons for hauling Konrad along to Eino Holt’s house party. Perhaps she simply wished for his company, which would be gratifying, but why had she insisted upon Alexander Nuritov’s presence besides? And Tasha’s? Was it merely her customary kindness of heart? They made an odd company of fellows for days of idleness at the house of an eccentric gentleman (he must be eccentric, Konrad knew; those who held house parties in isolated mansions always were, and the more eclectic the guests, the madder the host).

Konrad could not ask such an insensitive question aloud, of course, and Nanda chose to ignore his pointed questioning looks with smiling serenity. At length he abandoned the endeavour, resolved to squeeze her for information at his earliest opportunity, and devoted himself to dozing through the journey.

Only once along the way did he venture to question her, and on a different topic. He tried to sound casual as he said: ‘Travelling long distances is so tiring, isn’t it?’

Nanda’s response was only a mildly suspicious stare.

‘And staying away from home, so very—’

‘Konrad.’

‘Yes?’

‘You are working your way around to casting aspersions upon my fitness to travel. Aren’t you?’

‘Well, I—’

‘Am I perchance displaying an Interesting Pallor?’

‘No more interesting than usua—’

‘Does a sheen of perspiration glisten upon my fevered brow?’

‘No no, you look perfectly—’

‘I tottered into the carriage, perhaps, too weak and frail to move far unassisted.’

Konrad sighed. ‘Point taken.’

Nanda directed her gaze out of the window. ‘When I appear infirm or in distress, then you may assist me, and with my gratitude. Until then, please do not fuss.’

Konrad made no response, uncertain what to say. He had only recently learned of Nanda’s illness, and still had no real idea as to what it consisted of. She did appear hale to him, but how long would that remain true?

He worried for her, but he could not express it without receiving a faceful of irritable discontent. Knowing Nanda as he did, he suspected that she resented his solicitude because she was worried for herself, too. But she would never admit it.

If all he could do was stay nearby in case she needed him, well… he could do that. If that meant suffering himself to be hauled over fifty miles or more of frozen, uneven roads to some distant town and spending days hobnobbing with strangers, so be it.

But when at last they

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.