mirror of
https://gitlab.silvrtree.co.uk/martind2000/booksnew.git
synced 2025-02-15 11:49:15 +00:00
109 lines
5.3 KiB
HTML
109 lines
5.3 KiB
HTML
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
|
|
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
|
|
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
|
|
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
|
|
<head>
|
|
<title>The Shadowmaster - Chapter 35</title>
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="imperaWeb.css"/>
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" type=
|
|
"application/vnd.adobe-page-template+xml" href=
|
|
"page-template.xpgt"/>
|
|
</head>
|
|
<body>
|
|
<div id="text">
|
|
<div class="section" id="xhtmldocuments">
|
|
<h1>35</h1>
|
|
<p>
|
|
Jack picked up the great sword and slung the amberhorn bow on his back. Corriwen had sheathed her knives. Kerry's short-sword was gone, lost in the battle,
|
|
but he still had his sling. Rionna walked with Megrin's staff and they approached the Homeward Gate of Uaine.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
Kerry stopped some distance away. Between the carved stone pillars the air twisted and shimmered like a mirage. Beyond them stood the Cromwath Ringstones,
|
|
and home.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
But Kerry walked no further. Jack already knew.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
For a while he had been utterly alone with his thoughts, feeling he would die from loss and grief. He thought the pain of it would never stop. His heart
|
|
felt as if it had been wrenched out of him. Corriwen, Kerry and Rionna left him to grieve and he sat for a long time on a hill beyond the forest, lost in
|
|
his own memories.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
Now he was facing a second loss.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"I need a break, Jack," Kerry had said, pleading for Jack's understanding. "Honestly I do. Back there, back home I'm just the bottom of the heap. Just the
|
|
raggedy-arsed Irish rascal. There's nothing for me there."
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
Jack felt his stomach clench again. He wouldn't take losing Kerry too.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"But after all we've been through," he began. "You can't just…walk away."
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"Who said I'm walking away? I never said that! I just want to sit down and not have to run or fight all the time. Jeez, Jack, we're not even sixteen. I
|
|
want to enjoy myself for a bit."
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"Why not enjoy it back home?"
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"Because all the other places we've been, I've been <em>somebody.</em> Even if it was somebody everybody wanted to kill. Over there, I'm <em>nobody</em>."
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"I spoke to Rionna and I want to see her place. Look around, you know? Spend some time fishing. Maybe have a picnic."
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"But something else is going to happen," Jack said. "Some time. Who knows when? And I'll need you with me."
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"I didn't say I'm <em>quitting</em>," Kerry assured him, eyes bright with tears that he brushed away angrily. "No way Jack. Just let me have some time to
|
|
catch my breath where things aren't always trying to do me in. When you need me, I'll be right there."
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
Kerry grabbed him in a tight hug and held him close.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"You and me and Corrie. All for one and each for everybody else. Same as always."
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"I'll come for you when the time's right," Jack said.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"I'll be there."
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p class="break">
|
|
***
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
Jack Flint and Corriwen Redthorn stepped through the Homeward Gate.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
There were thirteen standing stones and twelve gateways between them. They stood together inside the ring.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"It's that one," Jack pointed, preparing himself for this parting.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"I know where it is," she replied, eyes bright. "But that's not the way for me. Temair doesn't need me. You do."
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
Corriwen strode forward and held him tight.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"My place is at your side. I knew it from the start. Who knows when the next fight will be, the next quest. You need me at your back, and that's where I'll
|
|
be."
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
She smiled at him.
|
|
</p>
|
|
<p>
|
|
"Always."
|
|
</p>
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
</body>
|
|
</html>
|