Julia Gray - Guardian 3 by The Crystal Desert

Author:The Crystal Desert [Desert, The Crystal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-03-11T06:19:37+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Six

You will come with me to Makranash, won't you? Terrel said, hoping Alyssa would not need to 'rest' immediately.

Of course, she replied. I'd rather not travel in this, though.

You may not have much choice, he said, though he was relieved by her positive response. Would being a camel for a long time be such a problem?

Once they reached the area where the invisible forces prevented the ghosts from going any further, Alyssa's spirit would be trapped in whatever animal she was inhabiting at the time. To try to leave would mean annihilation, so she had to choose carefully. Some of her hosts had been a lot easier to live with than others.

It might be, she replied, but, as you say, I may not have a choice. We'll see.

At least I know what I'm supposed to do now, Terrel said. I was right about being meant to come here.

When Alyssa didn't respond to this comment, he wondered what she was thinking about. He was just going to ask her when she spoke again.

There are some corners you can't see round, she told him. That's the trouble with living in a palace.

Terrel did not make the mistake of trying to link these peculiar statements to their earlier exchange. Alyssa's habit of beginning conversations in the middle annoyed many people, including Elam, but Terrel usually enjoyed the challenge of trying to work out what she was talking about. On this occasion, however, he was lost.

The worst thing is, they have perfectly good reasons for everything they do, or don't do, she added.

Who's she talking about now? Terrel wondered.

I'm tired, Alyssa whispered.

Do you have to go now? To rest? Terrel couldn't hide his disappointment, but knew she had to allow her spirit to return to her own body every so often.

No. Not yet, she replied. I just wanted the others to go. I can only take them for so long.

The ghosts? Terrel was uncomfortable at the thought of discord between his allies.

Their business here was finished anyway, Alyssa said. For now.

Is something wrong?

The camel, who had been slumping down as if about to fall asleep, lifted its head. Alyssa looked directly at him through the beast's eyes, but said nothing.

You can tell me, he prompted gently.

Not me. Them.

It took Terrel a few moments to realize what she meant.

The ghosts? he repeated. Do you mean they're not telling me everything?

We don't even know what everything is, Alyssa told him.

Not sure what to make of that, Terrel sought to reassure her - and himself.

Thinking back, Shahan and Muzeni had both seemed tense and worried, and not so full of their usual self-importance. And underneath his humorous cynicism, Elam had obviously been frustrated about something, or he would not have boiled over in the way he had. But Terrel couldn't believe that they would do anything to harm him.

I'm sure they're doing what they think is best, he said. And you said yourself they have good reasons for what they do.

Or don't do, Alyssa repeated. It's a matter of trust.

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