Fall: Cross of the past, key of the future (Numbered Book 4) by Tor Magus

Author:Tor, Magus [Tor, Magus]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Magus Tor Books and Games
Published: 2015-01-19T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Aurelia stared for a moment, not believing what she was seeing, but knowing inside exactly what had happened. Then she collected herself, wiped her eyes on the sleeve of her uniform, and went inside.

“Mum?” She put her hand on her mother's shoulder.

Seeing who it was, her mother stood and immediately took Aurelia into her arms. She could feel her mother's chest heaving as she sobbed. Not knowing what else to do, she held her, stroking her hair as her mother used to do to her when she was small. She didn't know how long they stood there, but eventually her mother's cries became sporadic, and her breathing slowed down.

“You came fast,” said her mother, pulling out of the embrace. “How did you hear so quickly?”

Aurelia didn't know how to explain. “I didn't hear,” she said. She sat her mother down on the desk chair. “I was just coming to visit.”

Her mother's eyes widened. “But...”

“I know,” said Aurelia, gently. And suddenly it seemed incredibly important that she know exactly what had happened. “Can you tell me about it?”

Her mother shook her head but started talking anyway. “There have been random attacks here for the last few days. We think they're just testing our defences, trying to work out how we're getting people in and out, where we're hiding. They usually happen around dusk and dawn, when the light is low and before the heat hits.”

Aurelia perched on the edge of the desk.

“This morning, your father went out with some of the men. I asked him not to, but...you know what he's like. What he was like. He said that if he was going to make a report that risked the lives of others, then he had a responsibility to see what was happening with his own eyes.”

Aurelia found herself smiling. That did sound very much like her father.

“They were hit. About a kilometre or so from here. Ambushed. A force was waiting for them, outnumbering them two to one. They didn't stand a chance. By pure luck, another scouting party heard screaming and went to investigate. They got everyone back here, but...”

“It was too late,” said Aurelia, quietly.

“It was too late,” said her mother.

The problem was that Aurelia knew what battle casualties looked like by now, and she couldn't help but morbidly wonder how her father looked. Was he one of the lucky ones? The ones who looked like they'd fallen asleep, the ones caught by the stunner at just the right angle? Or was he...not? She took deep breaths, trying to get the pictures out of her mind. There was a cough from the doorway.

“May I come in?” asked Nicholas, looking awkward.

Aurelia nodded.

“I've just heard, Aurelia. And I'm very, very sorry.” His eyes were pained, his face pale. “And Mrs. Cole, please accept my sympathy.”

Aurelia's mother looked at him, then recognised who he was. “Nicholas,” she said, her voice not quite breaking. “Perhaps you can call me Sasha now?”

It was those things—the little politenesses, the little normal, everyday things that just kept happening that made Aurelia hold herself together.

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