Bastian by Elizabeth Amber Read Free Book Online

stood a girl of six years of age or so. Save for a shock of long, wild hair, she was pale as a wraith. And just as unreal. Excitement shot higher in him. A vision. He hadn’t had one in months. He’d begun to wonder if his gift had deserted him. Every muscle drew taut as he slowly rose from the leather chair at his map-covered desk.
    When he didn’t respond to something Sevin said, his brother straightened from his sprawl in the opposite chair, his boots hitting the carpet that covered the dirt floor. Quickly gauging the nature of what was going on, he said, “Less than an hour till Moonful, big brother.”
    The vision started in surprise, as if she hadn’t realized there were two men in the tent. Bastian followed her gaze to his brother, staring in an unfocused way that caused Sevin to curse. Sevin was right in his dismay, of course, he thought with detached interest. The Calling beckoned and the entire family was soon to engage in the ritual tonight on his land. His body was already beginning to quicken in anticipation of it. His skin was heating, his loins tautening, and his cock had grown hungry for the taste of a woman. Yet at the moment, all that seemed singularly unimportant.
    His eyes swung back to the vision, and he took a careful step in its direction. Seeing that, the girl exploded into action, bolting off and disappearing through the solid wall of the tent in a whirl of filmy blacks, whites, and grays.
    And he was right behind her, ramming his bulk through the tent door. Outside, he searched the landscape for her.
    â€œTwenty hells! Bastian!” Sevin swore as he leaped to his feet. “Not tonight. It’s damned inconvenient. Can’t this—whatever it is you’re chasing—wait?”
    Ilari ran over, peering inside the tent at him. Keeping one eye on Bastian’s rapidly disappearing figure in the distance, he asked with barely contained excitement, “What’s happened? Is it a new discovery? Did he say?”
    â€œIt’s nothing. Here, put this somewhere.” Tossing the urn to the startled man, Sevin threw on his overcoat and snatched Bastian’s from its hook. Seeing his brother atop a rise some forty feet from the tent, he took off after him.
    The landscape of the Forum was eerie in twilight. Slabs of stone rose here and there like the ghosts of their ElseWorld ancestors, who’d once populated Italy. Lanterns in the hands of workmen bobbed among them like giant fireflies.
    Catching up to his brother, Sevin murmured, “High time we made our way to the safety of your home on Esquiline, don’t you agree?” He said carefully, “Dane and his wife are likely there already, awaiting us.”
    Unhearing, Bastian remained still as death, waiting for another move on the part of the wraith. She stood a mere ten feet ahead, her back to him. And of all those in the Forum, only he could see her. “What have you to show me?” he murmured under his breath. His words were caught in the wind and whisked in her direction. Did she hear? Though an impatient man, he had the patience of Saturn, the Roman God of Time, in certain matters. Such as the divining of the secrets of the ancients, or those of a female.
    The object of his fascination began walking again, now and then glancing back to ensure that he followed. He did. Her dainty feet scarcely touched the ground, and made no impression on it. Behind her, his black leather work boots struck the earth soundly, crunching rocks and punching thumbnail-sized mosaic tiles deeper into the dry, volcanic soil of the Forum floor.
    Sevin trailed him, silent and watchful now. As far as he could see in any direction, there was nothing unusual on view. But his brother saw something others could not, and every eye was on him. All around them, the slam of picks and scrape of whisks dwindled as minions stopped their work to follow in his wake. Excited whispers were exchanged. One workman gestured to