Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...
Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...
Shadow's Son by Shirley Meier, S.M. Stirling and Karen Wehrstein ...
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Generated <strong>by</strong> ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html<br />
Withone person seeing that I'm not disturbed?"<br />
"Sure, yes,kras kreedo." He called up one of the others, a Brahvnikian. More likely to underst<strong>and</strong> a<br />
Zak; this Lakan wasn't stupid as she'd thought from Shkai'ra's first words of him. "And you, Mad Cow…<br />
you got reprieve. We get you truth-drugged, <strong>and</strong>then chop up your fucking fat ass!"<br />
Megan settled herself with her back against a tree, her wounded leg straight out along the ground in front<br />
of her.A bit of a show … She drew a deep breath when there was only the one watcher sitting his horse.<br />
In the orange-pink light of the setting sun she imagined a faint shimmer of light around herself, heard the<br />
man gasp.Right . It flowed off her, over her head, formed itself into a neat-shimmer-like bird-shape that<br />
hovered a moment, sharp pointed beak shape apparently casting about, then darted in the direction the<br />
Ri had taken, <strong>and</strong> disappeared. The Brahvnikian pretended very hard not to see.<br />
Another deep breath. Not too hard to do because it was faint. She sat absolutely still, breathing very<br />
slow, eyes almost closed so she could still see through the lashes.Remember, when they call you,<br />
you're exhausted .<br />
She heard her Brahvnikian warn off the flankers, heard Bukangkt come back. The sun was almost<br />
down, sending shadows looming along the ground in front of her when the Brahvnikian walked his horse<br />
close, <strong>and</strong> called, "Whitlock." She didn't move. "Megan, calledWhitlock !" Ahead, she imagined the<br />
bright spot of yellow light arrowing toward them, backed <strong>by</strong> the dark-edged fish-scale clouds. She<br />
imagined it flashing like a bolt of lightning, vaguely bird shaped, to angle down <strong>and</strong> strike her in the top of<br />
the head as if she were absorbing it. Then she stirred, made as if to get up, fell back, h<strong>and</strong>s out to catch<br />
herself. She shook her head <strong>and</strong> squinted up at the Brahvnikian, who clearly didn't want to come close<br />
but felt he should help, hesitating on his horse. Behind him she could hear Bukangkt clearing his throat.<br />
"Nothing," she said hoarsely. "I couldn't find her. Give me a minute, <strong>and</strong> a h<strong>and</strong>, <strong>and</strong> I'll ride back to<br />
report."Witchcraft as a game of smoke <strong>and</strong> mirrors- He just said,"Shit. Shit shitshit ."<br />
"You don't think… anything worse could have happened to her than just… going missing, do you?"<br />
The girl poked up the campnre with a stick, making the flaming logs crash together, <strong>and</strong> a shower of<br />
sparks fall upwards into the night sky.<br />
"I hope not." Megan's shrug was slow, as if she were afraid she'd break. She pressed a h<strong>and</strong> to her<br />
middle, though her stomach wasn't acting up. "I have to hope that they'll offer ransom, if that's what<br />
happened. I just don't underst<strong>and</strong> why I couldn't find her, even if I'm not blood-kin." Her folded h<strong>and</strong>s<br />
clutched her sleeves.I've always done my best to tell Sova the truth as I saw it. I hatehaving to lie to<br />
her .<br />
"I guess… we just have to wait, <strong>and</strong> hope she's all right. She… she wouldn't be easy for anyone to kill."<br />
The girl filled her voice with forced hope. "That'sfor sure." She poked the fire again. "I sure wouldn't<br />
want to be an Arkan or even ten Arkans, trying to killher ." The saber was leaning on the log, next to her;<br />
she hadn't let it out of her sight. Now Megan saw her look at it, her eyes widen with a thought <strong>and</strong> then<br />
go casual again, as she decided not to say it.I know what she's thinking. She's thinking, "Maybe<br />
khyd-hirdsomehow knew . …"