Balance (The Neumarian Chronicles)
Page 27
My gaze swept the area, settling on Ryder. “Will we be ready for tomorrow’s guests?” It was the same question I’d asked him numerous times over the last few days, but my husband was being difficult.
When he didn’t answer, Raeth did as she rubbed her belly. “I guess so. If I can fit through the door.”
Penton wrapped his arms around her. “You aren’t fat, you’re pregnant.”
“I know.” She lifted her soft cotton dress and stared in disgust at her perfectly cloned leg. “I miss my old leg, though.”
“Why?” Ryder asked, shock plain in that one word.
“Because my cloned one gets fat with the rest of me. With Katie, I could stare at the other one and pretend I wasn’t as massive as a sermechtapede.”
“They’re extinct, Raeth,” I said at the same time that Penton tried to wrap his arms around her and failed. “You need cheering up. I know just the thing.”
Raeth clapped her hand to her cheek. “Oh, goody. You’re going to create a Penton special and make me thin.”
“No.” He tapped the end of her nose with his fingertip. “I have news. Dred’s coming to visit the Resort. He says he needs some R and R.”
“Not likely. The Council’s probably sent him to do their dirty work and drag us back to Acadia for their next meeting.” I glanced at Raeth. “At least you have an excuse for not going.”
“So do you. Lanena’s a newborn and her mommy’s feeding her.”
“Nah, I tried that with Bendar. They told me to just bring him along.”
Ryder slipped his arm around my waist. “Sweetie, give in. You know you’ll go just as you did when Bendar was a newborn. As you preached to anyone who would listen—along with those who didn’t—everyone must do their part, be it speaking out, voting, or serving as a council member. Remember, my lady Councilwoman?”
“Yes. But why can’t we use the hologram table? Why do we need to meet in person?” I said, sounding like my pouting son.
“It’s our duty,” a soft, gravelly voice said.
“Thanks, Dad.” Turning, I took in the sunset. Strips of orange, red, pink, and lavender painted the sky. “I love it here and never want to leave it.”
Ryder kissed my cheek and whispered, “I know, but it isn’t a fantasy. We’ll be back.”
I wanted to protest, but he was right. It had been a long, hard five years. I’d thought the war with Mandesa was difficult, but it had nothing on hammering out a worldwide constitution and choosing candidates for a council. The people’s trust in their elected council—be it regional or world—had been slow in coming.
“I guess we can head to Acadia in a few days. It’ll be nice to visit our friends. Let’s throw two parties, one for the council and one for our friends.”
Ryder nodded. “Good idea. Think Rolanda will come this time?”
“If she doesn’t, we’ll go to her.” When we found Rolanda five years ago, she was more dead than alive. Mandesa’s ghouls—they claimed to be doctors—had used scalpels to cut Rolanda’s face into a patchwork quilt. The last time we’d been to Acadia, Rolanda refused to see us. “Mona called last week. She said Rolanda’s now going out in public and attending council meetings. But she wears a long, black veil and gloves so nothing shows.”
“That’s improvement. Think she’ll ever have them smoothed?”
“No. She uses the scars to remind herself to speak out early.” Thinking about what the brave woman must have gone through filled me with grief. Wanting to change the subject, I walked over to Raeth. “Are you going?” At her shrug, I grimaced. “You aren’t due for six weeks.”
“I could come early.”
I knew she was teasing, but if I had to suffer so did my best friend and sister. “I went with Bendar three weeks out.”
“I know. I should be fine, but I’m coming home in four weeks. Uncle Fallon said he’d be here a week before the baby’s due. He’s been buried in council business and governing the Mining Territory. Poor man needs help, or a wife.”
Ryder nodded his agreement. “Do you really want to take all the children with us to Acadia?”
I watched the little ones splashing in the water and spotted Annie and Grace leaning against a tree. At ten and eight respectively, they were lovely young girls. “Dad, I know you dulled all memory of Grace’s actions during the war, but do you think she’ll be safe there?”
He glanced at the two girls giggling and sharing secrets like any sisters. “Yes. She understands what happened and that she wasn’t responsible. Besides, what did she really do? True, she cost Ryder an arm, but it got replaced by a cloned one.”
I gnawed my lower lip. “What if someone recognizes her?”
Ryder snorted. “Semara, you’re borrowing trouble. Grace looks nothing like that bleached-blond child anymore. If you want to worry about something, worry about who’s going to run the orphanage while we’re away.”
“Hello, paint me old and call me worthless. I think I can manage with the help from the staff,” Mags said in a huff.
I chuckled. “You’re right. The children will be in good hands with you at the helm. Just promise you won’t teach them how to make firebombs this time. I don’t want to have to rebuild a wing.”
Lip curled, Mags sauntered to the shoreline, paused, and shot me a smirk over her shoulder. “I agree with the kids. You’re an old fuddy-duddy. For once, do something wild, something ya’ll never forget.”
Laughing, I snuggled into Ryder’s arms and whispered, “Ljubim te.”
“Define Ljubim te.” Ryder tilted my head back and cupped my cheeks. “Remember my rescuing you from Mandesa’s doctors?”
I nodded.
“There you were, bleeding, your chest open. Yet the instant I touched you, I wanted you. Then I healed you and I knew I’d never let you go. Before you, I’d forgotten anything besides pain and death existed for me. But in that moment, I discovered hope.”
The End
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Other works by Ciara Knight:
Battle for Souls Series
Love’s Long Shadow
Rise From Darkness
Fall From Grace
Ascension of Evil
The Neumarian Chronicles
Weighted
Escapement
Pendulum
Sweetwater County Series
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
The Gremdon Chronicles
The Curse of Gremdon