People of the River by W. Michael Gear & Kathleen O'Neal Gear

Author:W. Michael Gear & Kathleen O'Neal Gear [Gear, W. Michael & Gear, Kathleen O'Neal]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781417636365
Publisher: San Val
Published: 1991-12-31T13:00:00+00:00

Nightshade kept standing, rigid, vigilant.

Locust leaned through the doorway. “Will you need me for anything else?”

“No, thank you, Locust. I’ll escort the priestess back to the temple. Go home and get some rest. You’ll be needing it.”

“Yes, cousin. I’ll see you tomorrow. Good night.” She vanished like smoke in the wind.

When Badgertail turned, he found Nightshade staring at him intently. What was it about those eyes? So black and unforgiving, they made a man feel as though he had been castrated with a dull chert flake. And yet so magnetic; it was like looking into the eyes of a coiled rattlesnake.

“Could I get you something to drink?”

“You could. Thank you.”

“I have a wonderful tea … and, of course, white drink.”

“Tea would be fine.”

He knelt on the hides and poured two conch-shell cups while he surreptitiously watched Nightshade wander his house. She scrutinized the shields, touching the painted designs with the intimacy of a mother tending a hurt child. Did they speak to her? Could she discover their bloody history just by laying a hand on them?

“Why don’t you sit down, Nightshade?”

“I don’t plan on being here long.”

“Please stay long enough to finish a cup of tea.”

She came across the room like Weasel stalking Mouse, unnaturally quiet, fluid. Her red dress spread in a circle around her when she sat down opposite him. Through the doorway behind her, spark flies danced against the pearlescent background of night.

He handed her a cup, noticing how quickly she took it. Their fingers brushed for less than a blink of time. Trying not to touch me. Am I so tainted? Badgertail sank back, bringing his cup carefully to his mouth to sip. The wintergreen tasted rich and sweet. “Nightshade, I wanted to talk to you to—”

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