Gene of Isis

considerably.

‘I was speaking metaphorically,’ he replied, managing to regain his smile as he offered his hand to Chavi.

He must be disfigured, I thought, and yet I was sure such a wound would register on his light-body, to some extent at least. I felt awful for raising the subject in any case, damn my curiosity. Still, remorse didn’t stop me from staying to hear what Chavi had to say about the mysterious fellow. Of course, I was tempted to peek inside his thoughts, but after my experience with Devere I decided that people’s thoughts best remained their own. If I had been any other woman, I would still be living in blissful ignorance with a man who made me deeply content and happy.

‘You are very psychic yourself,’ Chavi began, and then raised both eyebrows in surprise. ‘However…this is only a recent development for you.’

Terkari nodded to confirm this.

The old woman closed her eyes briefly, and then gasped, looking at me before her attention darted back to the man she was reading for. She seemed a little hesitant to go on.

‘Please continue,’ Terkari urged.

‘A woman’s love ails you deeply. I’ve never felt such mourning for the love of another.’ Tears filled Chavi’s eyes. ‘She has made you doubt your worthiness, but you are most worthy. She has no idea of the precious gift she has forsaken in you.’ The old gypsy let go of his hand, and sniffled back her emotions to kiss his cheek. ‘So sad, but,’ she held up a finger, ‘you will love again, and soon.’

It was a short reading, but it had me teary and even Cingar was all choked up. It was hard to tell how Terkari felt about the prediction. Was he in tears under that mask?

‘Your reassurance is a great light in my heart.’ He reached for his money pouch, but Chavi wouldn’t have it.

‘That promise comes free of charge.’ She rose and departed to ready herself for the wedding.

‘Well, that’s dampened the mood.’ Terkari attempted to disperse the heavy sentiment of the moment. ‘Curiosity killed the cat.’

‘At least it was good news.’ I encouraged him to look on the bright side and his smile warmed. Damn, now I was even more intrigued, and I felt a kind of electricity passing between us. Oh no, I warned myself, I am sworn off men.

The captain made me promise to take care of his new friend. I think Cingar was trying to play matchmaker, and I didn’t need any persuasion to keep Danior Terkari company.

I had never much enjoyed singing, dancing and parties of a formal nature, but I had never before had the pleasure of attending a celebration so joyous and rowdy as this one. I danced until I was dizzy and was more deeply under the spell of my mysterious companion as every hour passed.

When evening fell the celebration showed no sign of winding up, but I swore I could not dance or laugh any more—surely it was illegal to have so much fun in one day.

The sound of guns firing raised a cry that the caravan was under attack. Panic seized my heart as horsemen began riding through the camp, firing weapons and wielding swords. All I could think was that I didn’t have Albray’s stone on me. It was in my caravan and I immediately ran to fetch it.

Terkari called after me to stay by him, but was forced to draw his sword and engage an oncoming mounted attacker.

Between myself and my caravan a rider reared on his horse to challenge me. Without Albray, my sword was useless, so I pulled my pistol and fired across the front of the horse. The near miss startled the animal, and it threw its rider to the ground. In the commotion I darted past him.

I scampered into my caravan, only to be wrenched off my feet before reaching the stone. I kicked my attacker with my free leg, but he refused to release me and as I was dragged back to the door I held my hand out toward the stone and willed it to me with all the determination I could muster.

The item slapped into my grasp. Albray, Albray, Albray!

I was finally yanked outside, but as my attacker turned me to face him, my being filled with all the strength and stamina of my knight.

‘A woman,’ laughed the man, surprised and delighted.

‘Oui.’ I noted he was French, so I smiled sweetly and belted him right between the eyes.

‘Miss Winston! Behind you!’ cried Terkari as he ran to my aid.

I drew my sword and turned to confront a mounted opponent charging at full speed toward me. To my surprise he did not raise a weapon against me, but was reaching out to grab hold of me. Albray did not hesitate to take his lower arm off as he passed, and he rode from the camp screaming.

‘Are you all right?’ Terkari reached me, looking stunned that a woman could strike such a blow.

No, I was not all right, but, thankfully, I did not have control of my body. ‘Never better,’ replied Albray on my behalf. ‘And you? Duck!’

Terkari had quick reflexes. He dropped to one knee and Albray engaged the sword of the man we had punched earlier. It didn’t take long for Albray to disarm the fellow and with a kick up the behind, Albray sent him running after his handless friend.

Terkari had grabbed the discarded sword and was in the process of fending off two swordsmen at once. Fairly impressive, Albray mused quietly, but I heard him and those were my sentiments exactly. We were hesitant to give Terkari any assistance, as he seemed to be having too much fun.

I heard the hooves too late to turn and I was snatched up into the air by one of the riders. He was surprised to be belted so hard and dropped me on the ground.

‘Come on,’ Albray challenged, sword raised and ready to strike, as the rider turned his horse around. ‘You can be handless, just like your friend.’