Heir of Hope (Follower of the Word Book 3)
Page 43
He winked. “I don’t run along the wall during my inspections.”
She smiled back. “Trygg thinks you do. He said he wants to be just like you when he grows up.” The baby sent a kick across her belly. She rubbed the area with her stump. It had taken months to adjust to doing ordinary things without her right hand. Lore had encouraged her and helped her through the process.
Lore noticed. “Is the baby moving?”
“Yes.”
He placed a hand over the end of her arm and across her extended stomach. A serious expression came over his face. She had seen the same one with Trygg. She might not have her mark anymore, but would their children?
“Lore.” She placed her hand over his.
He closed his eyes. “I know.”
“Whether they have the mark or not, they will still have to choose. I had to choose whether I would follow the Word. You had to choose.”
Lore leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “I know,” he said softly. “I just wish I could make life easier for them, especially if . . .”
Rowen rubbed his hand. “Especially if they end up with the Mark of the Word. If they inherit my Eldaran blood.”
“Yes.”
She let out a slow breath. “We can’t. We might not be around. They will have to make their own choices. All we can do is teach them now and be an example. And tell them our story.”
“Story?”
Rowen and Lore looked back. Trygg came stumbling toward them from the bed, rubbing his eyes. His hair stood on end and there was a flush across his cheeks. “Story, Papa?”
“Yes.” Lore turned and picked Trygg up, holding him close. “A story.” He stepped outside and started across the field. “Would you like to hear this story?”
Trygg beamed. “Yes!”
“In the beginning, the Word spoke . . .”
Rowen watched them make their way across the field toward the White City. The breeze blew gently through the flowers and in the distance the dark blue banners of the city fluttered. She sighed and leaned her head against the doorway. Theirs was a story of faith, trust, and sacrifice. The same story lived over and over again with each generation.
A story about the Word and His love for mankind.
About the Author
Morgan L. Busse is the wife of a pastor, mother of four children, and the author of the Follower of the Word series.
From the moment she first read The Hobbit, she fell in love with the fantasy genre. Both J.R.R. Tolkien and Terry Brooks are the inspirations behind her writing. Her debut novel Daughter of Light was both a Christy Award and a Carol Award finalist.
Morgan lives on the west coast with her family.
Website: www.MorganlBusse.com