A Shadow's Tale by Jennifer Hanlon Read Free Book Online Page B

more, I felt the sensation of jumping into cold water as Merlas crossed dimensions in mid flight.
    Merlas landed in the courtyard outside the war pegusi block,barely pausing before she trotted towards her stable. I clung to her mane with one hand, the other holding the edge of my cloak over the wound, tears and blood streaming down my face, my magic sparking in the air around me. Merlas folded her limbs beneath her, lying on the feathery ground of her stable. I slipped off her back, sobbing still, to rest against her side. She nickered gently, folding a wing around me as she nosed my hand away from the cut. Dust started to settle on the exposed flesh, irritating the wound. I scratched at it desperately, ignoring the pain as my claws tore into my skin. Pushing my hands away, Merlas set about licking the deep gash clean, taking care to be as comforting as possible. I relaxed into her touch. The touch of a mother to her child. Each gentle rasp of her tongue helped me to calm myself, to stop shaking. The sound of feet running down the aisle jolted us both from the moment of tenderness. Merlas quickly covered me with a wing, hiding me from sight. Armen appeared, breathless and wild-eyed
    â€˜Did you find her?’ he asked Merlas. The doe cautiously lifted the wing. He breathed a sigh of relief. Reaching out a hand, he helped me to my feet, supporting me in his arms. I hugged him tightly, unwilling to let go. Armen held me, murmuring reassuring words to me. ‘Come, Shadow, we’ll keep you out of sight with your mother until we can send you to another dimension to hide.’
    Armen took me through the outskirts of the city to a small house where a lamp burned with a silver flame. He knocked three times on the door. It opened immediately to show a pale-looking Arellan. She wrapped me in a bear hug so fierce I thought my bones would crack under the pressure. Ushering Armen and me into the house, she quickly shut and barred the door. Only then did I realise that there were tears streaking down my face once more and that my limbs were still quivering in shock. Arellan knelt down in front of me, rubbing my arms in reassurance.
    â€˜It is okay, Alexai, it is okay. It is over now. He cannot hurt you. You are safe.’
    She took my hand, leading me up the stairs to a bathing room. She directed me to sit on the raised side of the bathing pool as she began running water into it. Taking out a small chest from one of the many storage holes in the walls, she knelt in front of me, gently taking my face in her hands and turning it so as to be able to see the wound better. I flinched as she touched it, instinctively pulling away. She softly shushed me, murmuring reassurances as she took a small jar from the chest, using a finger to gently use the cream to clean out the wound as I tried not to squirm.
    After bathing and eating, Arellan took me to a small room close to hers. I nestled under the blankets, clean, warm and fed. She gently dropped a kiss on my forehead, smoothing my hair and checking the dressing she had put over my wound before straightening up, moving towards the door. I squeaked in fear, suddenly afraid of being left on my own again, jumping out of bed and racing to her side.
    â€˜Please don’t leave me,’ I begged, knotting my fists in her robes.
    â€˜It is okay, Alexai,’ she said quietly, leading me back and tucking me under the blankets again. Instead of leaving, she sat on the edge of the bed, stroking my hair. ‘I will not leave you.’ I felt my eyelids droop as she began to hum softly, then to sing in a quiet voice. ‘Sleep well, my little one.’
    I stayed with my mother for almost a month. I had been away in Aspheri for nearly a week, according to Arellan. Time passed differently between the dimensions. Now that Arias knew I was no longer in Aspheri, regular patrols of the City Guard searched the streets and houses. Armen thought it better that I didn’t go to see Merlas as