Sanctuary by R. Dawn Hutchinson

Author:R. Dawn Hutchinson [Hutchinson, R. Dawn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781733838306
Published: 2019-05-05T04:00:00+00:00

∙ Chapter Twenty-Four ∙

I n, two-three-four. Out, two-three-four. In, two-three-four.

Frankie’s back began to ache from sitting up straight for so long, so he slouched forward. He, Elise, and Onora were sitting cross-legged in a loft area above the horse barn. Frankie had begged Elise to help him ask their taciturn bodyguard if she would teach them how to meditate. Onora had been sharpening one of her swords when they arrived, which made Frankie more nervous. Onora carried what she called dragonfly blades. The falchions and two daggers were forged by a master swordsmith from the same piece of steel. Apparently, they required a lot of care. That, or she just liked touching them a lot.

To Frankie’s surprise, Onora enthusiastically agreed to his request. Perhaps enthusiastic was the wrong word for her response, but she didn’t furrow her brow when she said yes. That was a good sign. Of course, he didn’t mention why he wanted to learn how to meditate. Admitting he wanted to purposely open portals would have guaranteed that Onora would not only put a stop to his plans but also follow his every move. If she knew Frankie was planning on going back to Stromboden to face their problems once and for all, her eyebrows would have furrowed for sure.

Frankie realized he was thinking about Onora’s brow instead of focusing on his breathing, as she had instructed them. Ignoring his aching back, he sat up straight and began again. He breathed in to the count of four, and then out to the count of four. In, two-three-four, out, two-three-four.

“Become aware of your body, the feeling of air expanding your lungs, the beating of your heart,” Onora had instructed during their first meditation session. “Be conscious of any emotions that arise, and how they affect your body.”

Frankie thought that part was funny. Meditation must be extremely easy for Onora, considering she only had one emotion: dead seriousness.

Bah! His thoughts had drifted from his breath again. He recomposed himself. In, two-three-

How am I supposed to pay attention to my breath and emotions at the same time? he thought, then checked himself. Good grief, I’ve done it again.

He jerked his body up straight, squeezed his eyes shut, and began again. He would do it this time for real.

In, two-three-four. Out, two-three-four.

In, two-three-four. Out, two-three-four.

The darkness was suffocating. The silence, excruciating. The nothingness, unbearable. He risked peeping an eye open.

No glowing wavy circle of light. No portal. It was just Elise and Onora sitting quietly, breathing in slow rhythm. This was their third day of meditation practice. Each day after their morning chores were finished, Frankie and Elise would meet Onora in the hayloft to meditate. He still had nothing to show for it except a squished bum from sitting so long.

Frankie slouched again in defeat and threw his head back quietly. His eyes rolled back, and his tongue lolled out of his mouth. This is how they would find his body. Frankie St. John: Dead from boredom.

A warm drop of drool traced from the tip of his hanging tongue down his cheek.

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