Otherworlder Quadrilogy by D.M. Turner

Author:D.M. Turner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy with a Christian worldview
Publisher: Dawn M. Turner
Published: 2016-08-17T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 25

OF those in the room, Philip was the only one to witness the light that briefly touched Zara just before her eyes opened and she took that deep, unsteady breath. He’d heard stories of other gods but never believed them. Watching Zara sit upright without aid when she should be dead, he realized he needed to re-evaluate his understanding of the world beyond.

“Tarsius.” Philip laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

Tarsius opened his eyes and straightened his shoulders to look up at him, his gaze skidding to a halt on Zara.

She smiled slightly.

“Zara.” Tarsius surged to his feet, drawing her into his arms, mindless of the water soaking his clothes. She submitted to his enthusiastic embrace.

Everyone rose.

Tarsius drew back with obvious reluctance. Camilla and Shin’til embraced Zara in turn.

This family truly cares for one another. Philip watched them embrace each other and Zara in relief and joy. They had accepted a thief in their midst. He suspected they would die for one another and felt a fleeting touch of envy. His family would never go out on a limb for one another, much less risk life and their twisted form of happiness for each other. “I need some air.”

Tarsius nodded.

“Go with him, Tarsius,” Camilla ordered gently. “Zara needs to change clothes.”

Philip didn’t linger, to see if Tarsius broke away. He retrieved his cloak from an acolyte in the foyer and went straight out the front door. He huddled on the front steps, wrapped in the thick woolen cloak. A cold breeze blew across the snow-covered compound, kicking up the ends of the garment. He shivered but not from the cold. The door opened behind him. He glanced back.

Tarsius emerged, tossing a cloak about his shoulders.

They stood in silence for a time. The other-gods issue, he wasn’t ready to discuss. The other issue, Zara, was safe. “I can’t rid my mind of the look in Zara’s eyes before she ran.”

Tarsius’ expression turned guarded. “She was afraid. Not her doing.”

“It wasn’t fear. That is what concerns me.” His gaze went across the compound. “Good sense says forget it ever happened and keep my mouth shut. Another part says I can’t walk away with this on my mind.”

“What did you see that bothers you so?”

“Desire.” The word was just a whisper. Philip studied his friend.

Tarsius didn’t look as shocked as he’d expected.

“I’ve known that look in a woman’s eyes” —he smiled without mirth— “ever since I understood what a woman was capable of giving me. I don’t understand why attraction to you would frighten her so.”

“Zara is as multi-faceted as a gemstone, and just as precious.” A sad smile touched Tarsius’ face. His gaze skipped away.

Philip found that highly unusual and waited.

“She loves another, and her desire for me was a betrayal of that.”

“Who is he?”

“It is a very long story, my friend. We are both exhausted. Perhaps it should wait for another day.” He moved away, hesitating with his hand on the door. “And someplace warmer.” He grinned.

“I’ll hold you to that.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.