Magician's Touch (Deadly Touch book 3) Chapter 16: 16: Can We Catch It?

Read chapter 16 of Magician's Touch (Deadly Touch book 3) by Deb E Howell on NovelPedia.

They’d thought Karlani dead. The Turhmos paper had reported as much. Memories of the other woman moving in dance-like combat moves with Jonas, and, worse yet, holding Llew down as Aris thrust a knife into her gut, replayed. Sweat tingled across Llew’s skin and fury simmered through her chest. A rage tempered by fear. In theory, Karlani could kill Llew before Llew took a breath. How a confrontation between them would play out in practice – a Syakaran with her exorbitant strength and speed versus the draining power of a Syaenuk, if the Syaenuk could get a grip on the Syakaran … Llew left those what-if calculations to whir in the back of her mind while she assessed the reality of now. She didn’t like her odds. Karlani paused her surveillance when she saw Llew looking back at her and crooked her lips in a smug smile. Llew swallowed, forcing Alvaro’s words and intent behind her. Karlani was a new challenge and deserved her full attention. Llew may have bested Karlani in a fight once before, but no longer had the physical advantage. As much as she loathed the thought, any dealings with this woman would have to be diplomatic. “Stay.” Llew signaled both Alvaro and Rowan, drew in a breath, and walked towards the well, remembering the first time she’d seen Ard, and him her. On the run in the heart of Turhmos, Llew had stopped for a drink at that well, and Ard had invited her indoors and offered a meal, courtesy of Merrid. Ard had credited the well for drawing in other Aenuk fugitives the couple had helped over the years, hiding them in the bunker beneath their home, and seeing them safely to Quaver or Brurun, or beyond. How many lives had that well saved? She used her momentum to perform a graceful swing with both legs clearing the waist-high wooden fence and allowed herself a little self-congratulation for the ease of the move. Petty and meaningless as it may be to celebrate her physical prowess when facing a full-strength Syakaran, she had to take every win. Besides, she still had to approach Karlani from downhill. Llew paused briefly, knowing full well that in doing so she lost some of her edge in Karlani’s eyes, and also acknowledging she was too close if Karlani decided to go full Syakaran and attack. Llew’s hands flexed, ready to pass the pain and damage right back, if she had time. Karlani could break Llew’s neck, and Llew would survive, out here on this lush ground. Would Karlani? And how much of Merrid and Ard’s farm would suffer? Not too much, if Llew could grip Karlani in time. But it was still too much risk for Llew to volunteer the first move. She walked on. “Technically, that’s thieving, that is.” Llew drew strength in emulating Ard as she approached the other woman. The farmer wouldn’t brook nonsense from the likes of Karlani, and neither would Llew. She folded her arms. Karlani pushed herself off the well and hesitated only a moment, looking Llew up and down before retorting. “I suppose you would know all about the technicalities of theft, leech. Aris filled me in on your previous career. He didn’t think too highly of you.” “The feeling was mutual.” Llew stood watching Karlani, leaving the other woman to decide what she wanted to do, and still unsure how to take this woman who had done so much to hurt her, but now seemed in need. Karlani looked up and down the road, down at the small bucket, picked it up, and took another swig. She placed it down and stood back with a casual air, pursed her lips, then looked back at Llew. “Is Jonas with you?” she asked. “Yes.” Llew filled the word with the assertiveness she needed when facing Karlani. “And his friend?” Karlani looked beyond Llew, likely seeing Alvaro, for she narrowed her eyes at the unfamiliar man. Though Llew kept her mouth shut, she couldn’t help glancing towards the hill over which Hisham may still lie. They hadn’t had time to look, yet. If Karlani believed herself underpowered, Llew had time. She could send Karlani away, but that didn’t guarantee they wouldn’t cross