Shadow of the Lantern Bearer by Chris R Underwood

Author:Chris R Underwood [Underwood, Chris R]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-12T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

Mara cried out in her sleep.

Kole had been slumped down in his chair, lulled almost to sleep by the sound of the rain. Now he jerked to his feet, reaching for the sword he’d propped beside the chair.

“Run!” she murmured, her armor clinking as she tensed. “Quintus, run!”

Exhaling, Kole released the death grip he had on the hilt of Catgut’s sword. He listened for a moment. There was no movement from Redwyn and Juragar upstairs.

“No,” Mara called out. “No, don’t. Wait, just wait!”

Kole stared at her. The fire had burned low. Shadows danced in the corners of the tower.

Was she dreaming about the temple? The gods knew that that horrible place had haunted Kole’s dreams nightly since he’d left. But Mara had always seemed to sleep so soundly.

She gave an anguished moan, as if the sound was being pulled from her throat. She curled up on herself, shivering. No, not shivering. Shaking. She was sobbing.

Kole stood shocked for a moment. Mara, sobbing? It didn’t seem possible.

Shaking off his surprise, he crouched down beside her. Tears streaked down her face.

After a moment’s hesitation, he reached out and took hold of her hand. Her muscles tensed.

“Should have been there,” she murmured. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

He squeezed her hand. “It’s just a dream, Mara.”

Her eyelids fluttered and her hand tightened around his.

“Gili?” she breathed.

He didn’t recognize the name. “No. It’s Kole.”

She opened her eyes and stared up at him. “Kole.” Swallowing, she released his hand.

“You were having a nightmare.”

She sat up, still trembling slightly, and wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. She looked embarrassed. “Sorry. Did I wake you?”

He shook his head. “I was on watch.”

“Of course.” She looked toward the stairs, then at the rain out the window. She lowered her voice so it wouldn’t carry upstairs. “What time is it?”

“I’m not sure. Midnight, maybe.”

“Then you should get some rest. It may be hard to come by until we’re in Locket.” She stood and picked up her hammer.

“Who is Gili?” he asked.

She paused. “An old friend. One I haven’t seen for many years.”

“Is he dead?”

“Get some rest, Kole.”

She put another chair leg on the fire and made her way to the window.

“It’s just the two of us now,” Kole said. “You told me that the other day. We need to watch each other’s backs. That’s what you said.”

She looked back at him, silent.

“I’m trying to watch your back,” he said.

“I know.” She lowered her eyes. “I know. I think it’s just…it’s this place. This tower is full of ghosts. Or maybe I am.” She smiled sadly at him. “This is what I get for drinking before bed.”

The ancient chair creaked as she lowered herself into it, the hammer across her knees. She laid a hand on the hammer’s head.

Kole sat down on his bedroll, but despite the hour he wasn’t tired. He stared into the flames.

“You called out to Quintus as well,” he said quietly. “Were you dreaming of the temple?”

“Yes,” she said after a moment.

He pulled his knees up to his chest.

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