The Crimson Brand by Brian Knight

Author:Brian Knight [Knight, Brian]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: JournalStone Publishing
Published: 2014-03-14T04:00:00+00:00

* * *

“In the time since you sent Tovar off, I've been doing more than just searching for the stray mirrors he left behind.” As always Ronan seemed to consider his words carefully, measuring their need to know with his own internal yardstick. As always, it drove Penny nuts.

“What exactly have you been doing?” Katie pressed him. Her voice displayed some of the irritation Penny felt. “And why haven't you told us before now?”

Zoe cut in, drawing his impatient orange glare to her. “Yeah, have you ever considered the very slight possibility that we could actually help? We’re not completely useless, you know.”

“Are you bulletproof?” he snapped, moving suddenly in Zoe’s direction.

She flinched back a step, then moved forward again, determined to hold her ground.

Katie stepped to her right side in a silent show of support, and Penny joined them on Zoe’s left.

After a silent moment, when Ronan visibly worked to calm himself, he spoke again, adopting a gentler tone. “The place I’ve been going is guarded. I can sneak in but it’s hard work not being seen. You girls wouldn’t be able to.”

“Fine,” Penny shouted, losing her temper. “We’re not sneaky enough for you, but you could at least tell us what’s going on.”

“I could,” Ronan agreed. “And then endure the constant fear that you might go there yourselves.”

“But what if something happens?” Katie finally spoke from near Zoe’s elbow. “What if you never come back?”

“How could we look for you if we don’t know where to start?” Zoe spoke again, though her anger had eased.

“If I were to not come back some night it would probably mean I was captured ... or worse.” He paced in front of them now, his agitation growing again. “And if that is to ever happen you must not try to find me.”

Penny was about to share her thoughts on what she must or must not do. Ronan saw the gist of it in her eyes and lost his temper again.

“I’ve told you before that this is not a game! You have a serious purpose here ... more serious than you could understand now, and you will not get yourself killed on my account before you have had a chance to fulfill it!”

He paced more quickly, leapt up into the ash, and resumed his pacing on the low limb he usually reserved for lounging.

“Then why bother telling us anything at all if there’s nothing we can do?” Penny regretted the words as soon as they had passed her lips. She thought she had just made Ronan’s point for him.

“Because the enemy has made his move. He has involved himself with Susan and placed himself within striking distance. You must be on your guard now more than ever.”

Ronan had said what he’d come to say, and before the girls could question him again he leapt down from his perch and sprinted back up the steep path out of the hollow.

“So,” Zoe said, grinding her teeth in frustration. “We just have to let him do whatever he’s doing and just get over it if he never comes back.

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