Heart Thief by Robin D Owens

Author:Robin D Owens [Owens, Robin D]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-01-19T00:22:58+00:00

The program continued, "This symbol indicates unreliability, betrayal, spying, the failure of a plan. An undesirable action. Beware."

Ruis stopped in his tracks as he saw the next card. "Where did you get that image?" he croaked. A blond maiden with a heart-shaped face sat with a unicorn's head in her lap. Ailim D'SilverFir, shown in the vision as the GreatSuite card, Lady and Unicorn.

Ship answered him. "We obtained it by holos of yesterday's Mabon festival and OathTaking. We must comment that the ceremony has changed—"

"Stop," Ruis said.

"Lady and Unicorn, a good omen. She brings blessings, power that guards, nourishes, empowers. Your constructive creativity develops, especially at home, in orderly, serene surroundings. Healing and recovery."

Mmmrrroww? Are you coming! Samba asked. The saucer settled gently to the floor. Samba was wearing a huge cat grin. She pressed a round green paw-sized button. / stick good inside saucer. And the bigger I am, the better I stick. She raised her nose smugly.

Ruis smiled halfheartedly. "End program." He was glad when the holos vanished. "We have to hurry." He stepped over Samba, left his quarters with her trotting beside him, and took an omnivator to the northeast portal, thinking of the divination.

Uneasiness filled Ruis on the way to FirstGrove; he thought he'd seen the flash of the first sunlight on a silver-gilt head, a Holly head, either Holm or Tinne.

He waited until he was sure he and Samba were alone, then continued. Bel was just sending blue-white rays over the tops of the trees surrounding him when he entered the Grove.

The Ship had discovered some interesting information on Nightshade. As the boy stated, his triad brothers were dead—after tangling with T'Ash. Shade was nearly as "wanted" by the guards as Ruis. Shade had escaped All-Class HealingHall before answering criminal charges. At the time he'd had a "DepressFlair" bracelet melded permanently around his wrist by T'Ash. Shade had severed his own hand to remove the DepressFlair cuff and regain his psi power.

Ruis shivered from the chill of the morning, the idea of crossing T'Ash, and Shade's desperation. No doubt Shade believed that T'Ash was Ruis's number-one enemy, since Ruis's stealing of T'Ash's HeartGift necklace had led to the Council taking notice of Ruis and Ruis's subsequent imprisonment and banishment.

Ruis had automatically followed Samba, who now sat at the bottom of an oak, looking up and lashing her tail. He was unsurprised to see Shade stretched out on a huge limb a meter or so above his head.

Shade scowled down at them. "Send Fam away. Don't like fliggerin' cats."

Ruis noticed thin scars of cat scratches on Shade's face, and Ruis gestured to Samba to go.

Samba whipped her tail back and forth and lifted her muzzle in disdain. / never "fliggered" in My life.

Ruis believed her. She was neutered.

Boy is Downwind scruff. He's fliggered plenty. Probably with Triad brothers.

"Go," Ruis said to Samba.

She let out a nasty little chuckle. / go. I talk better than him. Only young Fams of Zanth breeding, or stupid puppies, talk in Downwind shortspeech.

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