look in her eyes. She wasn’t one for expensive clothing or excess. But she’s worn it every day since then, even to sleep. To her it represents something more priceless than anything money could buy—true love.” His voice trailed off, but his face continued to glow.
Cody shifted uncomfortably, keeping his eyes downcast. “How did you… know ?” He felt his face flush and was thankful for the shadows.
Tat grinned. “How did I know I loved her?” Tat began drawing a heart in the sand with the arrowhead. “I knew it the day I realized I couldn’t live without her; that life apart from her wasn’t living….”
“Oh.” Cody responded for lack of anything better.
Tat began to chuckle. “Kid, I earn my living by reading the signs and connecting the pieces. You’re conflicted. You care about Jade like no one else. She understands you in ways that no one else ever has. But whenever Tiana looks at you or touches you, you get this feeling…”
Even the night couldn’t hide Cody’s scarlet face. “How did you…” he stumbled, but Tat laughed. “You wear your affections like a banner flown high.” Tat snapped the arrowhead from the shaft and tossed it to Cody. “We don’t know each other well, and it’s certainly not my place to decide for you. But there will come a time when you will need to decide between the wild lightning storm you desire and the steady mountain you need. The question is, when that time comes, which one will you choose?”
16
Carvings and Ink
SAND TRICKLED THROUGH HIS FINGERS into the dish. Cody shook the bowl gently, spreading the sand evenly. The Speaking Sands . His thoughts were racing too fast for sleep. He needed comforting, and Eva had the special knack of doing just that.
This is so strange , he thought, staring at the dish. He began tracing— First day. The Hunter. Two Dead. I Am Safe. He leaned back. Now what? Suddenly the sand began shaking, washing out the words like an Etch-a-Sketch. He watched in amazement as letters were drawn into the sand by an invisible hand. Hail!
Cody blushed, recalling their embarrassing encounter in the storage room. The sand in the bowl shuffled as Eva drew the words: Was worried. Who was lost? Cody quickly recapped the journey’s first day. In turn, Eva updated the affairs of Atlantis. With Cody now out of the picture, Kantan had made a heavy push for the crown and the people of Atlantis were divided.
Thinking for a moment, Cody began writing earnestly: Do you know anything about the creation-which-should-be-one’s-own? He had spent much of the day’s travel pondering Stalkton’s cryptic revelation.
Never heard of it. Cody sighed. It was worth a shot . A yawn forced his jaw open. Goodnight he wrote, then headed to bed.
The moment his head touched his pillow he was blinded by the sting of light—it was morning. He groaned.
Five Days Remaining…
“No-no-no! Feel the rhythm,” Dace lectured as Cody bounced like a rag-doll in his saddle. “ You control the motion; don’t just go limp…well, at least you’re not the most miserable rider…” Dace winked at Poe who was clinging to the side of his reins for dear life, flopping repeatedly against the horse’s ribs.
Several hours later Cody actually was starting to find good rhythm; or at least rhythm that wouldn’t leave his butt black and blue. Despite his outward jesting, Cody knew Dace was deeply disturbed by the previous day’s events. Lacen and Kingsty had been handpicked for the operation. Their swift death was a sobering reminder of their mission’s unfavorable odds.
“Seems like just yesterday I was a’ riding alongside ya’ in a convoy just like this. Only back then you were a dangerous fugitive.” Cody turned to acknowledge the husky guard Wolfrick as he came alongside.
“A lot has changed since then,” Cody responded gloomily. Wolfrick cackled, “Aye, suppose so…although I’m still a lousy drunkard and Sheets still smells worse than dried horse dung.
Cody shifted uncomfortably, keeping his eyes downcast. “How did you… know ?” He felt his face flush and was thankful for the shadows.
Tat grinned. “How did I know I loved her?” Tat began drawing a heart in the sand with the arrowhead. “I knew it the day I realized I couldn’t live without her; that life apart from her wasn’t living….”
“Oh.” Cody responded for lack of anything better.
Tat began to chuckle. “Kid, I earn my living by reading the signs and connecting the pieces. You’re conflicted. You care about Jade like no one else. She understands you in ways that no one else ever has. But whenever Tiana looks at you or touches you, you get this feeling…”
Even the night couldn’t hide Cody’s scarlet face. “How did you…” he stumbled, but Tat laughed. “You wear your affections like a banner flown high.” Tat snapped the arrowhead from the shaft and tossed it to Cody. “We don’t know each other well, and it’s certainly not my place to decide for you. But there will come a time when you will need to decide between the wild lightning storm you desire and the steady mountain you need. The question is, when that time comes, which one will you choose?”
16
Carvings and Ink
SAND TRICKLED THROUGH HIS FINGERS into the dish. Cody shook the bowl gently, spreading the sand evenly. The Speaking Sands . His thoughts were racing too fast for sleep. He needed comforting, and Eva had the special knack of doing just that.
This is so strange , he thought, staring at the dish. He began tracing— First day. The Hunter. Two Dead. I Am Safe. He leaned back. Now what? Suddenly the sand began shaking, washing out the words like an Etch-a-Sketch. He watched in amazement as letters were drawn into the sand by an invisible hand. Hail!
Cody blushed, recalling their embarrassing encounter in the storage room. The sand in the bowl shuffled as Eva drew the words: Was worried. Who was lost? Cody quickly recapped the journey’s first day. In turn, Eva updated the affairs of Atlantis. With Cody now out of the picture, Kantan had made a heavy push for the crown and the people of Atlantis were divided.
Thinking for a moment, Cody began writing earnestly: Do you know anything about the creation-which-should-be-one’s-own? He had spent much of the day’s travel pondering Stalkton’s cryptic revelation.
Never heard of it. Cody sighed. It was worth a shot . A yawn forced his jaw open. Goodnight he wrote, then headed to bed.
The moment his head touched his pillow he was blinded by the sting of light—it was morning. He groaned.
Five Days Remaining…
“No-no-no! Feel the rhythm,” Dace lectured as Cody bounced like a rag-doll in his saddle. “ You control the motion; don’t just go limp…well, at least you’re not the most miserable rider…” Dace winked at Poe who was clinging to the side of his reins for dear life, flopping repeatedly against the horse’s ribs.
Several hours later Cody actually was starting to find good rhythm; or at least rhythm that wouldn’t leave his butt black and blue. Despite his outward jesting, Cody knew Dace was deeply disturbed by the previous day’s events. Lacen and Kingsty had been handpicked for the operation. Their swift death was a sobering reminder of their mission’s unfavorable odds.
“Seems like just yesterday I was a’ riding alongside ya’ in a convoy just like this. Only back then you were a dangerous fugitive.” Cody turned to acknowledge the husky guard Wolfrick as he came alongside.
“A lot has changed since then,” Cody responded gloomily. Wolfrick cackled, “Aye, suppose so…although I’m still a lousy drunkard and Sheets still smells worse than dried horse dung.
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