Weave the Lightning by Corry L. Lee

Author:Corry L. Lee
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
Publisher: Rebellion Publishing Ltd

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

TWO STEPS FROM the snake trailer, Celka collided with someone coming the other way.

In the dark, the impact flung her off-balance. She tripped over a shrub and would have fallen, but the person caught her, both of them stumbling, spinning in an impossible dance that somehow kept them on their feet. When they came to a stop, Celka laughed, dizzy and relieved she hadn’t face-planted in mud.

Lightning cut the sky, shattering the darkness like a flash-bulb. Ctibor held her, hands warm on her rain-chilled arms. “You startled me,” he said.

“Feeling’s mutual.” Realizing how close they stood, she stepped back. “Thanks for the, uh, rescue.”

“Heroics on-stage and off.” A tightness in his voice belied the wry response.

She frowned. “Why are you here?” She’d fled after he’d saluted, so he could have followed for an explanation... but that must have been twenty minutes ago. She glanced up at the night sky, getting rain in her eyes, wondering how much time had passed.

“You forgot your little snakes. I thought I’d save you the trip.”

In the darkness and rain, she had a hard time reading his expression, so she edged into sousednia. He smelled like Ctibor, oiled steel and old books, except... She wafted a breeze across him, stirring his almost imperceptible smoke-form. The difference was subtle, but he smelled too of lilacs and turned earth. She tried to understand what it meant, but she didn’t know him well enough. It didn’t feel like a lie.

“Celka?” he asked, concerned.

She started. “Yeah, the little snakes. I was just going back for them.”

“I brought them.” He grabbed a wire mesh cage in each hand and held them up. “Want me to bring them inside?”

“No! I mean, no thanks.” She interposed herself between him and the door. “Nina’s really scared... I guess the storm... I only started the snake act a few weeks ago, and I think the change upset her.”

Ctibor set the cages down and took her hands. Concerned and serious, he held her gaze. “Are you all right?”

A laugh caught in her throat. Her snake had been scared; she’d crashed into Ctibor and they’d nearly fallen. Of course she was fine. But the springtime garden scent of him strengthened, and Celka could almost feel moist black earth beneath her hands and sun warming her face. Whatever this meant, it made her want to answer his question honestly.

Because no, she wasn’t all right. These last few weeks had been terrifying, and the future seemed even more perilous.

Hands clasped in his, Celka opened her mouth. But she couldn’t find words.

What was she doing? Shaking off his touch, she backed up, bumping into the trailer steps. “Of course I’m fine.” She forced out that laugh. “But what took you so long? The sideshow must have ended”—she cocked an ear; she could gauge time by what the circus band was playing—“half an hour ago.” Strange timing to bring her snakes and—she realized with a start—he hadn’t been holding them when they’d collided. What had he been doing?

“You seemed... upset.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.