Magician's Touch (Deadly Touch book 3) Chapter 53: 53: The Beginning

Read chapter 53 of Magician's Touch (Deadly Touch book 3) by Deb E Howell on NovelPedia.

The soft leather-bound, wool-filled ball Rowan had stitched together smacked into Llew’s cheek. She feigned sprawling backwards, splaying her legs and arms to the delighted giggles and squeals of Joelin, the ball thrower. The boy had a good eye. Llew ‘recovered’, grabbed the ball and threw it back, though her aim could not be so accurate. It splatted the ground just off to the side of the toddler. Still giggling, Joelin crouched, reaching for the ball, missing, stretching and grabbing it. He jolted his arm as if throwing the ball, but didn’t release it, breaking into a full laugh when Llew flinched. “Tease,” she said, following up under her breath, “As bad as your father.” Speaking of … She couldn’t say what made her look up – some miniscule change in the soundscape – but there he was, appearing over the tops of the Ajnais, clinging to and being clung to by a woman with curly, mousy-blond hair and dressed in Turhmos prisoner garb. “Jo—” Smack . The ball hit her in the face again. Llew breathed off the brief pain. “Look, Joelin.” She pointed. “It’s your dad.” Joelin turned and looked up. “Da! Da!” “He’s back!” Llew called over her shoulder as Jonas lowered himself and his passenger to the ground. And crouched and pressed a hand into the grass, just in case the ball had actually done some damage. Minor. She wasn’t even sure she felt more than the grass itself tickling her palm. The woman stumbled when her bare feet first touched the ground. Llew went to welcome the woman, nearly tripped on a rushing toddler, stopped abruptly, flailing to maintain balance, then carried on once her feet had a clear path, with her hand out. “Welcome to Merrid and Ard’s Aenuk Rescue.” The woman accepted Llew’s hand, tentatively shaking in return. “I assume Jonas told you where he was bringing you.” “’Course I did.” Jonas had crouched to catch Joelin in his arms, and stood, wrapping the boy in his arms. “This is Elinor.” He nodded at the new Aenuk. “Up! Up!” Joelin demanded, pointing straight up. Jonas looked at Llew, seeking her permission. She nodded. A brief flight barely cost her in blood. He could do so much with so little now he didn’t have to fight just to live. Winnie came alongside Llew. “Welcome.” She shook Elinor’s hand while Llew let herself be distracted watching Jonas lift into the air with a delighted Joelin in his arms, her own heart filled with joy. Winnie guided Elinor toward the lodge to acquaint her with her new sleeping arrangement. Jonas indulged Joelin in a couple of maneuvers. Just some sideways darts and gentle spins; nothing too scary as Jonas was still building trust with his son. Lyneth approached. “If things remain peaceful, perhaps we can invite The children of Turhmos to come and experience flight with a magician.” Llew chuckled. “There’d be a queue right across the country.” “We have snacks inside when they’re ready. Ivor and Blink will head to Hindon tomorrow. I had no idea how much a Syakaran could eat. Thank goodness for your friend in Brurun.” Thank goodness for Anya, indeed. Jonas saw them watching him and lowered to the ground in front of them, touching down softly. “Eatin’ time?” “It is.” Lyneth put her arms out to accept Joelin, a bright grin lighting her face. “Are you hungry?” Joelin nodded. Lyneth headed back to the homestead. Jonas slipped an arm across Llew’s shoulders. “Thanks for playing with him.” “He’s fun. Well, except for the broken sleep.” Joelin seemed to have settled in nicely during the day, always finding someone happy to show and explain to him what they were doing, to even to stop and play with him. But at night whatever terrors lived in the corners of his mind emerged. Jonas rubbed her shoulder, pulling her into him. “Has he touched the Ajnais yet?” “Yes. He got curious enough today.” “And …?” Llew shook his head. “No sign he heard anything. Quinn knows him, though, so I suppose that’s something.” “It is.” He squeezed her in his one-armed hug again. “Do you want a flight?” Llew laughed. “I do