Invisible Rider by Lucia Ashta

Author:Lucia Ashta [Ashta, Lucia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Awaken to Peace Press
Published: 2018-09-27T05:00:00+00:00

16

Rane was taking too long. I didn’t know exactly where Traya had been resting, but it couldn’t have been too far away from where I’d slept. I knew my sister well enough to realize that, even while she rested, she wouldn’t agree to being too far away that she couldn’t arrive at my side in minutes should I need her help.

That was the kind of sister she was. And even though she was a part of the Dragon Force because of her own decision, I couldn’t help but feel responsible. That familiar pang of guilt arrived, and I couldn’t shake it loose. Traya probably wouldn’t have joined the force if not for me and the constant danger I was in—or maybe she would have all the more, feeling freer of burdens that shouldn’t have been hers to bear. She was only a year older than Rane and me. She was far too young to shoulder problems such as I posed.

I paced by the stream. This was the place Rane told me to meet them. I kept to the shadows of reeds and rock as I moved. I was nearly as skilled at concealing myself in shadows as the shadow people. Invisible, there wasn’t a chance they’d see me or notice the minor visual distortions I caused to my surroundings.

The rushing sounds of the stream would have ordinarily been enough to soothe the ragged edges of my eternality—but they weren’t then. I moved like an animal anticipating attack, back and forth without further purpose than passing the time until action was required. I was caught in a loop of releasing the tension from my neck and shoulders, only to notice it built again.

I ran what I hoped was a comforting touch along Rosie’s back. I didn’t sense anyone around us, watching; it was highly unlikely that anyone would know Rane and I had chosen this spot to reconvene. But I wasn’t taking any chances. I didn’t speak to Rosie. I probably shouldn’t have moved at all and risked the small ripples I caused to the images of the world through me, but if I were forced to remain still, I might go mad with angst.

They’re taking too long, I thought. Rane must’ve run into some trouble extracting Traya.

I chewed on an already-short nail and moved back and forth along the stream edge.

A pang of guilt strong enough to churn my stomach hit. I stopped moving for a moment and perked my ears to listen. There wasn’t a single sign of anyone’s approach. What if I’d put my siblings in danger by allowing them to assist me? What if they needed my help while I walked the stream?

That wouldn’t do—it wouldn’t do at all.

I chewed on another nail. If they needed me, I had to go to them. But if they arrived here after I’d abandoned the spot, they’d only panic and potentially put themselves in greater danger by setting off to find me.

I dropped my hands from my face in frustration. What should I do?

Guilt rolled through me so hard that I stopped thinking entirely.

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