Shield (Bridge & Sword: Awakenings #2): Bridge & Sword World by JC Andrijeski

Author:JC Andrijeski [Andrijeski, JC]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: White Sun Press
Published: 2017-05-02T16:00:00+00:00

27

TATTOO

CASS STOOD INSIDE a different building now.

Sunlight wafted through gaps in the water-damaged wood, making patterns across a dirt floor strewn with sawdust and straw. Swallows and smaller birds flitted in and out of the wide door, leaving and returning to nests high in the rafters above.

Cass knew the seer was reading her.

Chandre stared at the bare skin showing on Cass's arms, her own, darker hands resting on her hips. Cass knew where the seer’s mind had likely gone––to Allie, and what Allie would say if Chandre let this happen.

A lot of seers had been sensitive lately, after the thing with Maygar.

“Are you sure?” Chandre said. “It will hurt you. More than me.” She gestured around at the other seers in the barn, who watched the proceedings with no small amount of curiosity. “…More than any of them. And it is a seer’s mark.”

Cass focused on a butterfly fluttering through a shaft of sunlight. She watched it dip and circle lazily, as if confused by the dust-filled beams.

Chandre frowned, tapping her shoulder with one dark finger.

“It will hurt,” she repeated. “It will hurt a lot. The ink they use… it is not human ink. It is treated, Cassie. It burns, like acid, so it will last through our longer lives.”

Seeing that Cass was already impatient, Chandre raised her voice.

“They use more of it on this mark, as it is religious to us. It will scar.”

Cass smiled wryly, turning on her with a raised eyebrow. “I have a few scars already, Chan. At least this one, I’m putting there myself.”

Chandre’s frown deepened.

“It is a seer’s mark,” she repeated. “You are a fool to wear it.”

Cass folded her arms under her breasts, pushing them up slightly. “I’m not asking to be a member of the club. I’m just asking to wear one of your T-shirts. Figuratively speaking.”

“But why?” Chandre said. “It puts you in danger. Unnecessarily!”

“Well, that’s the point, right? I’m not going to hide behind my human status.”

Chandre waved off the males by the wall as some nodded, murmuring in approval to Cass's words.

“…It is stupid,” Chan said, turning on her once more. “Worse than that, it is worm logic. Not the logic of my people.” She glared around at the other seers, daring them to disagree. “A people who have to hide, who make a lifetime of not being seen.”

“Well,” Cass said, throwing her hands up. “I’m not one of ‘your’ people. As you feel the need to remind me constantly.”

Frowning harder, Chandre stared at her. Her dark-red eyes slid perceptibly out of focus, which told Cass she was probably reading her again. Biting her lip, she waited for the seer to finish, trying to remind herself that this was the other’s way of showing concern.

Clicking out, Chandre folded her arms, clearing her throat.

“Your friend,” she said stiffly. “Alyson. She is my friend, too.”

Cass snorted. “Pathetic, Chan. I mean, really.”

“You would have her hate me? She is the Bridge!”

“Great. And your precious Bridge believes in free will, in case you hadn’t noticed.

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.