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hour he might call.
In her sleep, Aelliana stirred, shivered, nestled deeper into the cool plastic seat.
Daav sat up, moving with exquisite care. He slipped off his jacket and tucked it around her, turning the
soft leather collar up to shield her face from the eyes of the curious.
Settling back, he thrust his legs out before him and folded his hands over his belt buckle. Eyes
half-closed, he reviewed a linked series of exercises, assigning one segment of his mind to keep watch
while the most of him dozed.
She tried to leave him in Chonselta Port, arguing that there was no call for him to endure a train ride
halfway across the city only to be obliged to return immediately to the Port.
"No, but I shan't be returning immediately to Port," Daav said, sliding his coin into the box and
requesting two tickets. "Unless you live in the station?" He handed her a ticket.
Aelliana stared up into his face, trying valiantly for a glare. "You are quite stubborn enough!"
He sighed, taking her elbow and guiding her toward the platform. "My cha'leket tells me exactly the
same. It's a burdensome nature, I agree, and far too late to correct it. I am on my knees before the gift of
your forbearance."
"Yes, very likely. Daav, nothing ill is going to befall me between here and Raingleam Street."
He looked down at her, eyes wide. "A foretelling, dramliza?"
"I am not a wizard! You, however, are entirely ridiculous!"
"Yes, yes, as much as you like," he assured her over the hiss of the train's stopping. "Is this our shuttle?"
She gave it over then with a laugh and marched before him into the compartment.
That was the last laugh he had from her and very nearly the last word. The closer the train brought them
to her clan-house, the quieter she became, sitting stiffly beside him on the bench, steadfastly staring at
nothing.
The train stopped four times to discharge and admit passengers. As it slowed for the fifth time, Aelliana
raised her face. Daav bit back a cry of protest: The bright green eyes were shrouded in fog, wary and
chill in a face etched with tension.
"Aelliana "
She raised a hand, forestalling he hardly knew what mad speech.
"This is my stop," she said, and the warmth was at least still in her voice. "I suppose it's useless to ask
that you spare yourself a walk and a return alone through an unknown city?"
He smiled for her, keeping his voice light. "I'm a Scout, my friend. Unknown cities are something of a
specialty with me."
Her lips quirked a smile. "I suppose they are," she said and stood, moving toward the door.
She made no protest when he took her hand, though the station was hardly crowded. Indeed, her fingers
tightened about his as she guided him out to the street.
As urgently as she had cried her need to go home, it seemed that now, with home near to hand, her
urgency had deserted her. She led him sedately down thin streets lined with yard-enclosed houses. The
further they walked, the smaller the yards became, the more closely the houses crouched, shoulders all
but rubbing their neighbors.
Raingleam Street was meager, the public walk crumbling and weed-pocked, the houses brooding over
scanty squares of grass held captive by rusting, lance-tipped fences.
"Here." Aelliana stopped before a fence near the top of the way. The grass beyond the lances looked
unkempt in the light from the street lamp, a flowering vine softened the brooding facade of the house.
In the puddle of lamplight, Aelliana spun to face him, catching up his other hand in hers.
"Daav thank you, my friend. For the escort, for the lessons, for for your care. I cannot I don't
believe I recall when last I spent a pleasanter day."
"Well, as to that," he said gently, feeling her hands trembling in his, "the pleasure has been mutual." He
hesitated, glanced over her head to the forbidding house, looked down into a face from which all joy had
retreated.
"Aelliana?"
"Yes?"
"I may I give you my comm number, Aelliana? Call me, if there is need."
She did not laugh, nor ask what need she could possibly have of him, now she was delivered safe back
to her kin.
She sighed, seemed to sag and caught herself, looking up.
"Thank you. You're very kind."
"Not at all." He recited the code for his private line, saw her memorize the digits as she heard them. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]