The Adventures of Nathan Saint-Cloud by Eusebius Webster

Author:Eusebius Webster
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Palladium Imprint
Published: 2015-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10: Mask of the Dark

Far north in XanderDark, where feet and eyes do not pry, Addison Main sits in a worn chair next to a closed door. No one else is in view but she begins speaking. “I know you don’t want to hear this but you need to come out. I am just going to say this to you as plainly as I can. Sitting in a dark room for more than a day, does not help your wife and daughter. Helen would agree with me you, you know. She would drag you out of there.”

There is silence.

“Marlborough Seven, you must know that each of us would do anything to help you. I don’t know your loss but I know my own. I lost my husband, all my children and grandchildren and I had no home until you took me in.”

Still silence.

Addison Main closes her eyes. “M7, you spent the effort to save me, and you trust me to run your household. Now please trust what I say to you. Come out and let us help you plan to rescue Helen and Emma. We may be old but we are wily. Oh, and Guthrie has made your favorite lunch, chopped salad. Homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for desert.”

The door opens, just an inch, and a different voice speaks. “Guthrie can’t see the kitchen, and it wasn’t that much effort by the way.”

Addison Main smiles and stands. “I know. And we help Guthrie find things without letting on. He is very entertaining when he fusses over the onions and then puts them on the floor. M7 please come out.”

Marlborough Seven comes out. He is pale and stooped and moves slowly. Not looking so much like the greatest warrior in all the land, thinks Addison Main, but looking very much like the last of the Paladins. Those days are long past. Marlborough Seven stumbles and Addison catches him. “Look, there is another letter tucked into your boot top.”

She leans down, plucks the letter from his dusty boot, and hands it too him. He grips it like a life preserver. “How long since the last one?”

Addison shakes her head. “It’s been a while.”

M7 hands the letter back to Addison. “Read it for me. My eyes are weak.”

The envelop is unmarked. Addison Main opens the letter and at first it looks like there is nothing on the paper. She hesitates and then touches the letter to Marlborough Seven’s hand. Writing appears. Addison reads,

Dad,

We are alive. Mom has been sick but she is better. She says to remember Haven Island. We close our eyes and can see you. Our prayers reach out to you and hold you fast, as yours hold us. We trust the hours. Each one brings us closer to when we will see you again. Stand and rejoice. The traveler is rising.

With love greater than life,

Emma.

Addison finishes with a catch in her voice. Marlborough Seven sits in the chair.

She hands the letter back to him. “Where did this come from?”

“Somewhere in the dark.

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