Page 12 of The Ranger
“I am not as artistic. Not like Melvale.”
She laughed. “If he were human, he’d make his living as in interior decorator.”
Markhel forced a smile. It hurt. Should he say something?
The Time Master eyed him. “Markhel, it does ye no good to lie to me.”
He sighed. He should know better than to keep anything from the big Scot. “It came on suddenly, Time Master.” He grimaced as pain shot through his back. “This seems, different.”
“How so?” Shona asked.
“It is not centered.” He grimaced again. “It moves.”
Dallan cocked his head. “What d’ye mean? How is it moving?”
“It is not only my heart, but other parts of me. My back…”
Shona’s eyes widened. “Is that bad?”
Dallan’s eyes narrowed. “I couldna say, lass, but we’ll tell Zara and the heathen when they return.”
Markhel smiled despite the sudden onslaught. “I have not heard you call Kwaku by that name for a time.”
“That’s only because you haven’t been around him,” Shona said. “Trust, me, it’s still Dallan’s favorite nickname for him.”
Markhel nodded. Time Master Kwaku had trained Time Master Dallan to take his place. Dallan had only held the position for less than six months. But he was a good Time Master, and his mate, Shona, was very powerful. But not even they could keep Markhel from dying if things came to that. His future mate, Maida Comfort, would have to willingly accept him, then join with him, if he was to survive. And he already knew what she would think of him. He was a brute, a huge man with an appetite for violence. That’s how she’d see him anyway. She might not understand what he was and reject him.
“Yer worried,” Dallan stated. “Try not to be.”
“Weren’t you?” Markhel asked.
Shona laughed then quickly shut her mouth. “Suffice to say, Kwaku and the others who brought Dallan to me, kept him in the dark about a lot of stuff.”
Markhel blew out a long breath. “Perhaps we should do the same with the Maiden who called to me.”
“First, let Zara study her. She needs to determine how much Muiraran blood she has.” Shona’s brow creased. “It’s still surprising how she called to you, even if she carries a just a fractional amount of Muiraran blood.”
“Yes, Princesssss…” he doubled over, unable to finish the sentence.
“That’s a doozy,” Shona remarked and left the cushion. “You okay?”
Markhel, his eyes shut tight against the pain, sensed her hovering over him. “I will… be fine.”
“Ha. That’s what they all say. Me included.” She returned to her cushion and sat.
Markhel opened his eyes and looked around. Melvale must have come and straightened the place up for him before Dallan and Shona delivered him here. There wasn’t a speck of dust, and the torches had been lit. The cave was warm compared to the passageway beyond. Melvale had put a curtain over the entrance to help keep the heat in.
He made a mental note to remove it. He didn’t want to give an intruder the chance to hide behind a curtain.
“How long is this going to take?” Shona asked. “I’d like to visit with the Cookes, Grandma and all the rest.”
Dallan sighed. “It might be dangerous, lass. It’s why yer Da is sending others to help with this assignment. Those that have never been here.”
Her eyes softened as she looked at him, then Markhel. “I’m sorry we can’t stay. But we’ll check in.”
“The king has his reasons,” Markhel said. “I understand what the disruption in the timeline has done. Who is he sending?”
Dallan sighed. “Vale and Makama Berg. They volunteered for the assignment. Duncan Cooke, her father, lived here, and she wanted to meet her relatives. This might be the only chance she has.”