Magician's Touch (Deadly Touch book 3) Chapter 38: 38: Quiet Today

Read chapter 38 of Magician's Touch (Deadly Touch book 3) by Deb E Howell on NovelPedia.

“It’s quiet today,” Llew said when Jonas reached her. Jonas listened to the sounds of the farm; the near-constant baaing of sheep, sawing of wood, hammering of nails, susurration of the wind, the occasional bellow of a cow, squawk of some unknown passing bird. Even the soft tink as Delwynn placed another filled vial into the collection bucket. “Hmm.” “The tree. It’s silent.” The Taither tree was dead? But Llew’s tranquility spoke of something different. “For some reason, Braph is leaving it alone today. It’s …” She gave him a side-eye. “… thinking.” She watched for his skepticism. He didn’t give it. He believed her. “What about?” “You.” She smiled. “I’ve shown it everything I know, and it’s— Well, I don’t know. It’s gone quiet. But I think if it couldn’t help I would feel something.” “Does it know what Braph was doing to it?” “He’s been drilling holes. Draining the sap.” As Rowan had suggested he might. If he could make crystals from the sap, what sort of power would he be able to access? Jonas could barely imagine. Llew’s blood, when he had been a full-powered Syakaran, had been addictive. Sap wasn’t blood, but still, Braph was a genius. “And the trees are connected to everything,” Llew said, her tranquility replaced by haunted anxiety and Jonas wanted to kick himself for turning the conversation. “If he can draw power from that, it’ll be even more than his son can provide, won’t it? That’s what he really wants. It’s not back-up. It’s his goal.” She let her head roll back against the tree she sat beneath, defeated once more. “I wasn’t meant to be a fighter. I just wanted to live. And if Braph had never found my mother in Quaver, I would’ve. I would’ve had a mother and a father, and a future. I never thought I could hold so much hate . Not for a single person. But I do, Jonas. I despise him. He took everything from me. And killing him won’t even bring it all back.” Delwynn kept working, though he endeavored to keep his movements small. Llew looked at Jonas. “But, if it wasn’t for Braph, I wouldn’t have you.” Not much of a consolation, especially now. “No good’ll come from thinkin’ on it too much.” Jonas gestured to their new team constructing the new lodge; Syakaran Karlani working alongside Aenuks Sam, Winnie, and Blink, plus the rest of the Turhmos soldiers. “Look what you are buildin’. If Braph is the reason you’re on this path, will you thank him?” Llew laughed. “Gods, no.” Her expression dropped, she scowled, turning inward. “Is Braph back?” Jonas asked. “No. It’s … It’s my ma. She’s been hurt. The Taither tree is healing her.” Karlani arrived with an armload of twigs and placed them in the center of the cartway. She gave Llew and Jonas an acknowledging nod. “Need anything?” They both shook their heads and murmured “No,” which Llew followed up with a quiet “Thank you,” even as she kept her focus inward, seeking to hold the connection with her mother. Delwynn raised a hand. “I’m nearly done here. Can you please spin out this batch?” Karlani nodded and waited while Delwynn stoppered the last vial and placed it with the the others before racing off again. “How did your ma get hurt? Does the tree know?” Jonas asked. Llew shook her head. Delwynn eased the needle from Llew then went to help free Llew’s other hand from the sling that kept it pressed to the tree, but Llew shook her head again. “It doesn’t know. But she’s like me.” Llew looked up at Jonas. “She’s been drained of blood.” Delwynn glanced between them and Jonas acknowledged him with a nod before he left, and he focused back on Llew. Llew’s ma drained? That didn’t make sense. Braph had his Immortal son, and now the tree. “Ma?” Llew drew still, concentrating. Jonas’s attention was briefly diverted as Garnoc arrived with more wood for the pile. He turned back to Llew to find tears rolling down her cheeks. “Llew?” When their eyes met, she said, “Ooh. She does not like you.” She managed a laugh through her tears. “I hope she knows how you feel about Braph.” “She does.” Ll