Balmythra

by Linda Palmer

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  The Quests

  I quickly left my cushion to greet my brother and the mist being with hugs. But Tirafalen barely responded, and soon left us to join Cadrow, who stood near the fountain in the square with his wife, Usunna, several yards away. I watched their earnest conversation.

  "What's up?" I whispered to Rocc.

  "She's worried about being called away while so many are still sick and injured. It doesn't seem right since the Sunsanean is needed right now."

  That made sense to me, so I monitored the conversation with interest. Minutes later, Tirafalen rejoined us.

  "Well?" Rocc softly asked.

  "Cadrow says that I've done enough. Apparently it's very important that I leave when the rest of you leave, no matter how soon that is."

  "Then it's all okay," I said. "How are you feeling about our quest otherwise? We're all a little anxious."

  "So am I." Tirafalen frowned at Rocc. "Your brother has made so much progress lately. I really don't want to be separated from him."

  My heart lurched. "You mean you think they're going to split us up?"

  Tirafalen shrugged. "I just assumed.... Taurelle said there were four pillars. It will take too long if all of us search for them one at a time."

  "Oh great. Something else to worry about." Whirling, I left Rocc, Tirafalen, and my meal to escape to the solace of a nearby meditation kiosk. Constructed of rose quartz that soothed the emotions, these small chambers randomly dotted the city and provided a haven for troubled minds.

  I slipped through the opening and sank down on the narrow bench inside, my stomach roiling with anxiety. I closed my eyes and tried not to think about beginning a quest without Matt or Jor or Rocc by my side. It wasn't easy—especially since Matt slipped into the kiosk seconds later and somehow managed to squeeze himself onto the bench beside me.

  "What is this place?" He tried to find space for his right arm but gave that up and draped it over my shoulders, a move I felt all the way to my toenails.

  "A meditation kiosk."

  "Oh. I thought it was a portable john or something."

  I laughed in spite of myself. "And you barged in anyway?"

  "Not until I knew it wasn't." Completely unflustered, Matt examined his surroundings and then caught my eye. "So what are we meditating about?"

  "Tirafalen just told me that she thinks the group will be split up…"

  Matt went rigid. "Not know, but hell no. You're not going anywhere without me, Leah."

  "But Taurelle—"

  "If that guy knows me one tenth as well as he claims to, then he knows I'm not taking one single step unless you're right beside me."

  "But, Matt—"

  "No more buts." He cut off my attempted protest with a surprise kiss right on my mouth that was longer, wetter, better than any so far. And I kissed him right back. "I love you, Leah. You know that, right?"

  I nodded. "I love you, too."

  "And I've made myself clear about the splitting up thing?"

  I barely managed another happy nod before we kissed again.