Nimri held her breath and waited for his answer. It took so long coming, she felt faint. Was it her imagination or was he caressing the Staff of Protection? Was it actually glowing?
“It has everything I ever dreamed of and a peace I never hoped for.” Larwin gave her a smile hotter than a madrox.
Kazza’s tail slapped Larwin across the shin.
“So that is why you sneaked over here in the dead of night.” They all looked over their shoulders at the speaker.
Nimri narrowed her eyes, at the bedraggled man who was limping toward her. If it hadn’t been for the fringe on his jacket, she’d never have recognized Chase. “You didn’t run away, after all.”
“I only needed to run faster than you, and you didn’t run.” He tilted his head. “I couldn’t be letting you out of our agreement, now, could I?”
“What agreement?” Larwin asked, as he looked the dirty, torn and soggy man up and down.
“She knows,” Chase said.
Nimri studied his face, wondering if he’d eaten since he’d left her on the trail. Wondered if he knew how unlikely his story sounded. Wondered how far he would go if she agreed to fulfill this one last pledge. “Are you certain that’s what you want?”
He nodded emphatically.
She sighed, knowing that he must believe that Tansy loved him. Knowing how humiliating it would be for him to learn otherwise. “Fine. There’s no better time than the present.” Chase seemed surprised by her quick agreement. She gestured to the vapor cloud. “The heat is drying the river downstream, but it won’t last for more than a few days.”
He started jogging toward the debris-littered shore.
Larwin's fingers entwined with hers. “Do you think he will need your help?” He frowned. “Our help?”
“It wouldn't hurt.” She paused and looked back at her brother. “Would you like to come, too?”
Thunder motioned toward the bluff. “I must find Gunda and Carn and see how badly the landslide damaged my home.” He grimaced. “Later?”
Nimri nodded. “I’m going to hold you to that promise.” Not wanting to leave him looking so alone, she jogged back and hugged him. “Be safe and if you ever need anything – even if you don’t.”
“I’ll become such a pesky visitor you’ll grow tired of me.” He kissed her forehead.
“To peace,” Larwin said. He stretched out his hand.
Thunder nodded. “To peace.” Thunder placed his palm on top of Larwin’s.
Nimri added her hand. Kazza placed his paw on top. To peace, she thought as she stared at the mist cloud shrouding the dragon.
At that moment, the dark clouds parted and a shaft of sunlight bathed them. The beam reflected across the river and painted the mist in rainbow hues as if promising lasting harmony.
The End
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Other books by this author
Sci-Fantasy - Kazza's Chatterre Trilogy
Star Bridge
Nimri, an herbal healer and Chatterer's new Keeper of the Peace, must safeguard her tribe from their bitter rivals. To do this, she must find her 'magic core'.
Many light years away, Colonel Larwin Atano, an elite Guerreterre Shadow Warrior, fights to save his intergalactic star-fighter. Despite all efforts, he crashes.
Larwin perceives Chatterre's resources as a means to gain power and prestige and views the planet's inhabitants as a minor inconvenience.
Nimri believes Larwin is a supernatural Guardian, who will protect her tribe from their rivals.
Who will survive the coming conflict?
Thunder Moon
Thunder Cartwright dreams that madrox will invade Chatterre and destroy his world unless the Star Bridge is closed.
Raine, a Kalamaran Dragon Shepard, must catch a rogue mooncalf and return it to the herd or face possible death.
Who will win and who will die?
Fire Island
Tem-aki Atano fell through a rift when the Star Bridge was destroyed and now must find a way to survive on an island which worships Fire Dragons.
Cameron must figure out a way to keep the dragons, which are hatching near an extinct volcano at his island's core, dormant, so that they do not destroy things, yet keep the faith alive.
But the beasts are hatching... will they destroy the island and everyone living on it?
Fantasy - Xander's Sea Purrtection Files
Latitudes & Cattitudes
~ a short & free prequel to The Sea Purrtector Files ~
Xander de Hunter is a rising star on Catamondo's kick-boxing circuit and dreams of becoming a Purrtector. After a match in Seattle, he is asked to help find Cha-Cha, a white Norwegian beauty, who is missing.
With Merlin's assistance, they follow Cha-Cha's trail into the Puget Sound where Xander must face his biggest fear – water.
The Red Claw
Dame Esmeralda, the Purrsident's littermate, has been catnapped. Xander de Hunter, Catamondo's Sea Purrtector hurries to Jamaica to help rescue her, even though Jamaica is one of Dogdom's strongholds.
Could this be a trap?
Purr-a-noia
Catamondo and Dogdom's peace treaty is in jeopardy. In Haiti, witchcraft and voodoo seem to be involved in a plot to hex the Purrsident.
Will Xander be able to restore the peace?
The Vi-Purrs
(coming in 2016)
The Daily Mews reports continued violence in the Dominican Republic Purrtectorate.
Xander discovers that the Moreau situation is still affecting the ability of Catamondo to purrtect cats. Worse, the office of the Purrtectorate seems to be involved.
Will Xander be able to save the integrity of the Purrtectorate and restore peace?
Contemporary Suspense/Romance
Deadly Rumors
Kelsey MacLennan and Devlin Doran both want to make the world better.
Doran believes the rumors about the MacLennans dealing drugs, so his goal is to bring them down.
Kelsey MacLennan wants to make the world better, but her senatorial political campaign turns deadly and rumors abound, when the incumbent must win or be killed by his backers. Devlin Doran's younger sister died of an overdose, so his goal is to prosecute pushers. Rumors abound that the MacLennans are high in the local drug network and he is targeting Kelsey MacLennan.
Will they be able to separate fact from fiction or will the rumors be deadly to them?
Fatal Attractions
Ariel and Tempest Danner have escaped Tempest's homicidal father for the sixth time in five years. Armed with new identities and disguises, they are determined that Fairbanks, Alaska will be a sanctuary where they can live in peace.
Stone O'Banyon, their new landlord, has been divorced for three years. All his energy is focused on his job and Dolly, who would never hurt him.
The last thing Ariel needs or wants is the attraction she feels for another tall, dark man, who seems hard as the granite he is named for, but the fascination will not go away. Stone isn't any happier with his obsessive thoughts concerning Ariel.
Things seem calm, then Ariel and Tempest catch sight of the man they had hoped they would never encounter and things turn fatal...again.
Passion's Fire
Prior to the blaze that killed her husband, Jacqueline Cardew believed her husband wrote the "fiery messages' she received. Now she finds a new note inside her locked house. Jacqueline suspects her faceless stalker murdered Adam and she is next. She flees north, where she joins Link Gavallan's group on a two week long Alaskan wilderness canoe trip. As they float down the desolate river, she receives another message…
Instead of finding a sanctuary, has she made it easier for the unknown person
to trap her?
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Star Bridge (Chaterre Trilogy Book 1) Page 30
