Nekdukarr by Chris A. Jackson & Anne L. McMillen-Jackson

Author:Chris A. Jackson & Anne L. McMillen-Jackson [Jackson, Chris A. & McMillen-Jackson, Anne L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Jaxbooks
Published: 2011-10-09T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 21

There are occasions, Avari thought, when those pointy elf ears would be handy.

Her notion was based on her inability to hear more than bits of Shay and Lynthalsea's conversation. Avari sliced salt beef into the bubbling pot of stew and tried to listen.

The sun had set more than an hour earlier, leaving them exhausted, hungry and chilled, but also well east of the glacier. The gems pointed just south of east, but north of Zellohar, which was encouraging. Avari parted her cloak for a little more light.

"Too bad that glow o' yours don't put out heat," DoHeney said as he added fuel to their fire and rubbed his hands in the warmth. "Ye'd be the center o' attention."

"Thanks, but I'd just as soon be quenched."

DoHeney, she noticed, was too busy making 'Gran-mammy's Own Prize-Winnin' Biscuits' to pay attention. Avari finally swung the pot back over the fire and leaned back in a strategic direction to listen.

"You mean you knew we were related even before you saw my books?" Shay asked.

"I didn't know; but your scent was familiar. When I saw your spell books, the coincidence was too much to ignore, but I still wasn't sure. It took some time, but little things you did or said reminded me of mother. Finally, I just accepted that it was true, but I didn't know how to broach the subject."

"But my mo— our mother never mentioned you," Shay said with a confused wag of his head. "In fact, she never mentioned a previous marriage. She said the books were family heirlooms."

"True enough, as far as it goes; they were my father’s. When he was killed she packed them away. Too many painful memories. Easier to explain that way than to dredge up the subject of a dead husband and a werewolf daughter."

"Well, she's in for quite a surprise when we both turn up on her doorstep! I have a few questions for her."

Lynthalsea smiled, but concern etched her forehead. "Do you think that's a good idea? What if she doesn't... I mean..."

"Mother will be delighted to see you," he promised, taking her hands in his, "and let me tell you why. When she gave me these books and I managed to puzzle out one spell, my father warned me about practicing magic within church walls. I asked mother what I should do." He squeezed his sister's hands and held her gaze. "She said, 'Follow your heart'."

Lynthalsea smiled, but Shay was not finished.

"When I was excommunicated..."

Avari stifled a gasp.

"...my father was forced to reject me. Once again, I sought mother's wisdom. Her advice was the same: 'Seek with your heart. Nothing else will make you happy.' So I left to find a temple that would allow me to study and worship in my own way." Shay fell silent, but his face relaxed, eased with his confession.

"You must seek what you think best for you, Lynthalsea!" He gave her hands a heartening squeeze. "If you want to go to mother, I will be there with you.

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