Quest for the Moon Orb: Orbs of Rathira by Laura Jo Phillips

Author:Laura Jo Phillips [Phillips, Laura Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781479139316
Amazon: 1479139319
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2012-08-15T14:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Zakiel caught up with Karma just beyond the edge of the flickering light thrown by the torches in front of his tent. She stood with her face tilted toward the stars, Nikura by her side, her back to him. He suddenly realized how small she was. Her personality was so bright and bold that, for some reason, he had never really thought about her physical size.

He’d held her in his arms, more than once, and knew that she was almost petite with slender limbs and delicate bones. She was strong, though, and fast. He had sparred with her several times now, and greatly respected her skill and battle instincts. But why had he not realized before how finely built she was?

“I apologize for Tomas,” Zakiel said gently as he stepped around her. “I assure you, his thoughts are his own, and are not shared by anyone else as far as I am aware.”

“I know that, Highness,” she said. “But I think that what he said to you earlier today may have some merit.”

Zakiel frowned, wondering if she were teasing him as she so often did. But no, her expression was serious. “Please explain.”

“The demons are after the Ti-Ank. There is no reason for so many men to risk their lives to protect the Ti-Ank when I am capable of using it to protect both myself, and it.”

Zakiel bit back the words that instantly rose to his lips, and forced himself to think before speaking. Karma was not a fool. So why would she say such a thing? He studied her face for a long moment, realizing with some surprise that she meant exactly what she’d said. She was worried for the men.

“Lady Techu,” he said, choosing his words carefully as he spoke, “Have you considered your importance to Rathira?”

“My importance?” Karma asked in surprise.

“Yes, your importance,” Zakiel said. “Without you, we have no hope of saving our world. You are the single most important person on all of Rathira right now.”

“I don’t like the thought of anyone dying because of me,” Karma said. “I am not sure I could live with that.” Suddenly Karma gasped in shock, a wave of horror racing through her with such force that she fell to her knees in the sand.

“What is it?” Zakiel exclaimed, his eyes searching for the cause of her sudden distress. Seeing nothing, he wondered if another apparition had appeared. But Karma’s head was bent, her eyes on the ground before her, not an empty space as before.

As he watched, she began rocking back and forth, her arms wrapped tightly around herself, gasping as though she couldn’t breathe. He went to his knees in front of her.

“Karma, please,” he said, not realizing he was using her name. “Tell me what is wrong.”

“You died,” she whispered hoarsely. “That was what I couldn’t remember today. You died. I was there, and I tried to stop it, but I was too late. You died.”

Zakiel placed his hands on her shoulders and shifted closer to her, then pulled her body against his own.

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