Digital Magic (The Chronicles of Art Book 2) by Philippa Ballantine

Author:Philippa Ballantine [Ballantine, Philippa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-02-26T16:00:00+00:00

11

Precipice

Makara looked very small from the top of the hill. Aroha hitched her pack higher on her back and tried to find the will to turn away. Nana had not waved her off as she usually did—even for her trips to Sally’s house. She’d packed her bag with enough supplies to last for days, though Wellington was not even one day's walk away. “You never know what you’ll find the city like.”

Aroha felt a hard ball tighten in her throat.

“We better get going.” Daniel’s voice was kindly, though tense.

The tramp was easy really, for though the road might still be dangerous, it was the best way to get through the tangle of windswept hill and the broken ranks of gorse bushes with their unfriendly spines. The Folk were silent, perhaps feeling Aroha’s back turned to them and knowing they had driven her on.

Daniel tramped at the front, rifle ready, his shoulders somehow showing more tension than when they were hunting the bot. Aroha felt really sorry for him, she at least could feel the call of the Folk, but he was completely blind to that world. But someone had thought that she needed him and as Nana said, don’t fight the universe.

While Aroha was turning these thoughts over in her head, Daniel was circling behind her through the bush. She barely noticed, keeping her mind open, trying to sense any whiff of the Folk.

That was, until the soldier erupted out of the ferns, with a red haired bundle tucked under one arm. Sally was kicking and hissing like a feral cat, but Daniel held on regardless: perhaps he had younger sisters.

He plunked Aroha’s friend down in front of her with a shake of his head. “This was supposed to be a two person outing.”

“I don’t like being left behind,” Sally huffed and glared at Aroha, “So it’s not my fault if I had to catch up.”

Aroha was glad her friend wanted to be in on everything, but she also knew that this wasn’t the time. Daniel at least could look after himself, but Sally was not only blind, she’d be defenseless.

“I’m not going back,” Sally said when Aroha opened her mouth to say something, “Not unless you want to carry me back home.”

Daniel shot her a glance. They couldn’t do that either. Sally grinned, her gaze flickering triumphantly between them. “Got ya!”

Aroha flushed, partly because she didn’t like losing and partly because she only had one choice if she was to avoid that happening. Once this was done, there would be no going back, her friendship with Sally would be irretrievably altered. However there was not much choice: Wellington was just too dangerous for her.

“So you did,” she said and gave her friend a hug. She smelt of concealed candies and childish sweat, a good honest smell that had nothing of the Folk about it. That made Aroha’s mind up. She kissed her friend gently on the side of the head and whispered a benediction into her ear.

With the way of all earth magics, it was not a command, but a wish that Sally be safe.

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