Sean Russell - Moontide And Magic Rise - 01 by World Without End

Author:World Without End [End, World Without]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-01-07T17:43:33.734000+00:00

TWENTY-FOUR

Tristam was surprised to find himself sore and bruised the day after his climb to the crater's rim, for at the time the tumble down the slope had not seemed to cause much harm. He lay in the bath contemplating the excursion to the Ruin, the odd conversation with the duchess ("Did you not have the fullest pleasure of me this two nights past?"), his strange reaction to the sight of the Ruin itself, and finally the earth tremor and the macabre "voice" that the others had heard.

"Where to begin?" he whispered to the empty room. The duchess There was no understanding the duchess. "/ am so glad you are on this voyage, Tristam. I should be mad without you." Perhaps, but she had not visited him that night as he thought she might. One could predict the moods of the sea more readily than the actions and moods of the duchess. "To open some small part of your heart will not bring you to ruin."

Then why did he feel so wretched this morning? There might be more to life than the purely intellectual world of Tristam's past, but the world of the heart seemed to be composed of constantly shifting ground. It was almost impossible to keep one's feet.

With an effort Tristam tore his thoughts away from the duchess (knowing they would return soon enough).

He still wondered about his reaction to the ruin; it had been such a physical response, as though his body had felt a fear his mind could not recognize. Like the feeling one had when awakened from sleep by a clap of thunder-terrified but unsure of the cause.

Perhaps traveling would always bring up unexpected thoughts and sentiments as new things were encountered and assimilated. Nothing to worry about, he told himself, you are not suddenly losing your grip.

Now the "voice," well As he thought of the group's experiences, the strange feeling that the Ruin was an object of horrible intent crept over him, as though the bath water had suddenly turned cold. This propelled him out of the tub and he began to rub himself down vigorously, as though he could erase any unwanted feelings.

It is possible to think too much, he told himself, and realized no irony in this.

Another fine Farrow day was just beginning as he left his rooms, for he had risen earlier than usual that morning. It was his intention to ride the twelve miles to his uncle's estate that day.

A servant informed him that the morning meal had been set out in the garden and Tristam arrived there to find Lady Galton sipping coffee. The duchess was not in sight.

"The pleasures of the morning to you, Tristam," she said, a look of distraction disappearing immediately. "I hope you don't mind me calling you Tristam?"

"Not at all, Lady Galton." Tristam made a leg. "And the pleasures of the day to you, as well." He took the chair offered and Lady Galton served him coffee. Tristam noticed that her hands trembled as she poured.

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