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Whatever
stood before us was huge, had too many teeth, and didn't like us. I could see and feel all of that. I didn't care. There is a point where any person can be
pushed beyond all hopes of logic. I had
just hit that spot.
"I
don't know what the hell you are and personally, I don't care!" I stalked forward. Maggie grabbed at my arm and made a soft sort
of whimpering sound. "What do you
want?"
"You. Dead."
"Not
going to happen," I said. I did
stop moving forward when Davis took hold of my other arm. He was stronger than Maggie. "Go away."
"You
not master me."
"I
don't care. You are not going to kill
me."
I
had, I realized, confused the thing. It
wasn't stupid. I could sense
intelligence there, and then realized something else. It hadn't come up from behind us.
"The
local people sent you. Go tell them we
are simply passing through. We will do
them no harm if they do us none. You
have my word."
The
word of a Protector. I was testing it
out, here in this place that none of us really understood. I think Maggie caught on first. She brought her staff around and up, the
light glowing softly and without any menace.
We have power, I thought.
"Will
speak to they," it said and seemed to shrink and disappear.
"We
better get moving," I said. "A
show of good faith and to prove we really are trying to get out of this
place."
"That
was -- that was --" Edmond repeated.
He walked past me and then looked back over his shoulder. "That was insane. Don't ever do that again."
"It
worked," I reminded him, but didn't deny the insanity part.
"We
can't just keep walking and walking," Davis said, though he was the first to
start out. "We'll have to find a
place to rest before too much longer."
I
started to argue, but then realized how much my legs ached. "Yes, you're right. Let's go as far as we can. I can carry you, Edmond."
"Are
you going to fall again?"
"I
hope not."
"Huh." He came over and rubbed against my legs. I had to brace myself to keep from falling
over. "Okay," he said. "You seem steady enough. You can pick me up."
Maggie
turned away. I didn't know what Edmond
would do if she started laughing out loud.
I wasn't even certain what I would do.
Maybe throw Edmond at her.
We
started on.
I was
aware of the others watching us now and then.
As long as they kept back, I didn't care.
"They
must have had some battle with the people in that damned glowing city," I
said as I walked by Davis. I noticed he
was starting to look very tired. We'd be
stopping soon. "I suspect they
don't get many strangers wandering around here."
"None
that survive for long from the sounds of things," he agreed.
"Do
you think Lord Snow and Lord Cayman came through here?" I asked. I could not make myself refer to the fae as
my father. That was going to take a
while longer.
"I
don't think so," he said.
"They weren't that far ahead of us and I sensed no real travel in
time as we came here. Did you,
Maggie?"
We
caught her in mid yawn. She shook her
head.
"Time
to rest," I said. Edmond was asleep
in my arms.
"Do
you think it's safe?" Maggie asked.
She glanced to the right, knowing someone was there, just as I did.
"Not
safe, but not safe to go on like this, either."
There
was a bit of a cleared area just ahead.
I thought that might be the best place to settle in, where we could hear
and see anything coming for us. We would
need a guard and to take shifts. I wanted to say so to the others, but as soon
as I sat down, I lost all idea of what I should say or do. I had to leave it in their hands. I closed my eyes.
Odd
dreams that were not entirely dreams. I
could tell. Something looked down at me
from a great height. Found me interesting
but not something she would trust. Too
much like the others. But the magic --
oh yes, that intrigued her. Not safe to
leave us with such powers --
"Wake
up!"
Edmond
bit my ear. I cursed as I came awake,
and the sound woke up the other two. We'd
put Edmond on guard? I didn't remember
--
I
realized there was a glow to the air around me, like a search light. I looked up to find the source, not at all
surprised to find the city directly overhead.
With a snarl and a wave of my hand, I dispersed the light, which had
been trying to drain magic from me.
In
the last moment I felt the surprise of whomever had been invading my
sleep. Whomever it was -- and there was
a human enough feel -- I had surprised her.
"What
is going on?" Maggie asked.
I
told them what had happened.
"Thanks for waking me up, Edmond.
Though my ear still hurts."
"We'll
get you an earring," Maggie offered with a smile. Davis looked it over and it felt better.
"Get
some rest, both of you. And Edmond. I'll be awake now." I looked up at the sky and the odd city. What
was up there? What did it want with us?
I had
a long, quiet time to think about it.
The place was unnaturally silent.
The glowing city stayed in place, as though tethered to the ground. Why didn't it fall? Magic, of course -- but the amount made me
realize how much power we were dealing with this time.
I
wanted to find the door and leave.
Whatever had happened here was dangerous, but not my problem.
Oh,
but I knew it would be.
To be continued. . . .
1000 Words
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