Ghost's Dilemma by Morwen Navarre

Author:Morwen Navarre [Navarre, Morwen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Torquere Press LLC
Published: 2015-02-03T17:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

Ghost could feel Gerry's stare at his back, but he couldn't turn around. He would drop his pouch and water skin and run to the safety of Gerry's strong arms. He knew he would. Ghost had forgiven Gerry with one look in those amazing green eyes with their flecks of rich brown. For a moment, he contemplated abandoning this futile quest and remaining here, with Gerry, to deal with the epidemic as best he could on his own. But he steeled his will. His purpose repeated like a mantra in his head. The Witch holds the solution and my duty is to seek her out. To save lives. I will return to you, love. Hold me in your heart until you hold me in your arms again.

Ghost shouldered his pouch and walked the path to the Witch's house. He had told Natali how to find the Witch's house, so she would have a place to stay if she needed some respite from tending the sick of the village. It was a perfect place for a witch, after all, and she could use the witchglass there to feed her own gods' light. For himself, the path would take him along the edge of the ruined city where he had hidden when young and heartsore.

A peculiar sense of loss enveloped Ghost as he walked past the yard. He had spent most of his life in this small house with the Witch. She had been everything to him for so long. Perhaps she had not been the warmest of people, but she had made sure Ghost knew he had a home with her. When he had shown an interest in her lore, the Witch had taught him with unexpected patience. Her home had been a haven for a lonely boy filled with visions. Just for a moment, he let himself have the luxury of wanting to be the Witch's apprentice once more.

The formulary indicated the station was located outside the ruins, north and west of the former city. Ghost decided to take the trail that skirted the ruins because what was left of the city was unstable and often impassable due to collapsed buildings.

Prudence also dictated he avoid the ruins, although Ghost knew several paths through the city itself. As Gerry had pointed out, he was alone, and exiled rangers prowled the ruins. While they were generally more intent on scavenging what relics they could, he was not willing to take more risks than strictly necessary.

From this vantage on the outskirts, Ghost could tell the city must have been breathtaking when it was still thriving and vital. The ravages of time and scavenging had left their mark, and many of the buildings had all but crumbled to the ground. Still, enough of the city remained to spark imagination. The Witch had shown Ghost a book once, with crystal-clear images of the cities, the tall buildings lit with glowing points of light like an array of stars.

But Ghost needed to get to the station, and he couldn't afford to waste time.

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