Magician's Touch (Deadly Touch book 3) Chapter 45: 45: Tell Me Your Secret

Read chapter 45 of Magician's Touch (Deadly Touch book 3) by Deb E Howell on NovelPedia.

Llew had continued to doze while giving blood. Her connection to the Ajnai kept bothersome aches and muscle stiffness at bay and, apart from having to eat, drink, and relieve her bladder and bowels, she could simply sit. Others were better equipped to keep their eyes to the sky. Besides, Llew wouldn’t be expected to fight when Braph finally did make an appearance, . So, although an anxiety still gnawed at her about what was yet to come, she closed her eyes, relaxed, and focused all her attention on her soundscape, identifying ‘normal’, and alert to change. Work on the farm had largely come to a halt, with only Lyneth and Elka keeping food coming during their waking hours, and Karlani collecting vials from the Gravinator and spinning them out. They had moved the converted butter churn into the house; closer to Llew, but still under cover, allowing Karlani to keep her energy up with frequent snacks, and move blood and power faster. Usually, the occasional laugh or murmur of louder voices distinguished themselves from the industry of food. The homestead remained silent this day. As did everyone outside, who stood beneath eaves and trees, trying to give themselves whatever advantage they might have before Braph knew they were there. Over leaves in the breeze, sheep, cattle, and the occasional clothing rub or boot scuff of their guard, Llew perceived new sounds: thick material flapping, and a child’s voice. Not knowing if anyone else had recognized the danger she shouted “Braph!” just as he touched down on the cartway, releasing his son to stand beside him. At Llew’s exclamation, he turned to her and bowed his head with a smug smile. Karlani burst from the kitchen. Braph seemed to do nothing but look at her. Mid-stride, she clutched her chest, blood trickled from her nose, and she collapsed. Llew sat shocked for a moment. Had he just killed Karlani? She unhooked her hand that had been in contact with the Ajnai, pulled the Gravinator needle from her skin, and unhooked that wrist from its sling. She allowed herself a brief contact with the Ajnai in the vain hope she did so to protect Karlani from her touch, and scrambled over to the fallen Syakaran. Braph watched on, looking around at who else might have him in their sight. He wouldn’t see everyone, and they’d all seen what he could do. No one moved. Llew hoped that would keep his focus on her. She could probably survive whatever he threw at her, right? And, so far, he hadn’t wanted her dead. She could survive Braph. Llew reached Karlani and felt for a pulse. The Syakaran’s eyes stared at nothing. Otherwise, her features were relaxed, almost as if she slept. No pulse. Someone grunted. Sam? Llew looked to where he had been crouched. He was already toppling and soon sprawled on the ground. Llew gaped at Braph again, somehow still surprised by his cruelty. “Why?” “Braph.” Jonas stepped from the shadow of the farmhouse interior, his gait on the new prosthetic awkward but stable. “Ah, there you are. Looking healthier than I could’ve predicted. You will have to tell me your secret.” Jonas shook his head, pressing his mouth into a dismissive frown. “Nah.” A tension hung in the air while Braph considered Jonas’s attitude. Llew drew some assurance from his confidence, even as her mind leapt ahead to him collapsing just as Karlani had. Please, no . Everyone else seemed to be hoping that if Braph didn’t notice them they could survive this. Llew hoped so, too. She looked down at Karlani. Her feelings about the Syakaran woman were complicated. In death, Karlani posed no threat to Llew, so all that was lost was the helper she had cast herself as and whom Llew had been increasingly relying on. And Braph had felled her with a thought. Llew looked back at Jonas. He stood on the farmhouse porch in the midday sun, his hat shielding his eyes, watching Braph coolly. Braph gave a frustrated sigh. Jonas seemed to tense, grimaced as if in pain. He relaxed and a glassy chink sounded near Llew. A dark, nearly