Angel-Seeker by Sharon Shinn Read Free Book Online Page A

plague flags.”
    â€œI don’t mean to be fretful,” she said quickly. “And I don’t mean to complain. It is just that—well, it will be better now that you’re here.”
    â€œHow’s Nathan holding up?” he wanted to know. “It is a daunting task to lead a host, I know—and in a place like Cedar Hills, where everything is so new—”
    â€œHe is so busy all the time that you would think he would be exhausted, but the work seems to energize him,” Maga said. “Or perhaps it is Gabriel’s faith in him that gives him so much strength and resilience. Nathan would do anything to please his brother—”
    â€œGabriel would entrust anything to Nathan,” Obadiah said gently.
    â€œYes, but you don’t understand exactly,” she said. “Nathan is so grateful for everything Gabriel has given him. Not just the responsibility of Cedar Hills, but—well, me. We would never have been allowed to marry if Gabriel hadn’t needed us here so desperately. And we both know that. And Nathan is determined to prove to Gabriel that he made the right decision by installing us here—together.”
    Obadiah watched her closely. “And you don’t think it was the right decision?”
    â€œOh! Of course I do! It is just that—it has been so hard. And the summer has been so hot.” She had said that already. “And—and I have so much on my mind. But it will be better now that you’re here.” She smiled over at him. “We must have a party in your honor right away so that you can meet all our important local merchants—and some of our major landholders. They are all quite angry at having been duped by Raphael, and so they are very interested in hearing all our plans and offering their ideas on everything. They can be quite opinionated.”
    â€œHave you made allies among them?”
    â€œOh yes, everyone loves us,” she said with the carelessness of the charming girl who, indeed, had always been loved by everyone. “Nathan listens to them all quite attentively, and so they always leave feeling that their every concern has been heard.”
    â€œAnd you flirt with all the men and coo over all the women,” he said with a grin.
    â€œObadiah! I do not! I am just very friendly with everyone.”
    â€œI will see for myself at this party you’re planning. But I warn you, Rachel has told me not to let you interfere in my life.”
    â€œInterfere! What does she mean?”
    He held up an admonishing finger. “She doesn’t want you to set out finding me a bride. She’s reserved that privilege for herself.”
    Maga smiled again. “Oh, no, she’s had her chance this past year, and she hasn’t managed to get the job done. It’s my turn now. I’ll find you a proper young woman—”
    â€œNot too proper,” he teased.
    â€œHush. A nice young girl who will be infatuated with your blond hair and your muscular shoulders. I would think you’d be very easy to marry off, in fact.”
    â€œThank you, angela. You make me feel quite eligible.”
    They talked and bantered for another half hour, and Obadiah had the satisfaction of seeing some of the worry lift from Magdalena’s face. She had always been one of his favorites—she was a favorite with everyone—though she didn’t have Rachel’s force of will or her sister Ariel’s strength of personality. She was merely a kind, gentle soul who had only once, in her entire life, fought for something outside the orderly dictates of a conventional life—and that was her union with Nathan. Angels had been forbidden to intermarry by decree of the god. And yet, it was the god who had given dispensation to these two particular angels a year and a half ago, when the whole world was in chaos. Surely Jovah had had a reason for that.
    Obadiah wondered if her pale face and listless