Part 5 (1/2)
The old man stepped forward. ”Ah, you're an empath, aren't you, my dear?”
The wild edge immediately returned to her eyes.
”It is fairly common in our time. And certainly among your kind.”
”My kind?” she whispered. Her face was losing color, except for two bright
pink splotches high in her cheeks.
”You are a healer, as well, Talia,” Baleweg said kindly. ”Your mother came
here, to this time, to protect you, but it seems as though she was taken from you before she could explain your destiny. She said nothing at all to you?”
Talia's mouth opened, then shut again. She blinked a few times, as if seeing
something inside her mind, then shook her head. ”No. No, she didn't.”
”You're lying again.” Archer knew it, just as he knew they'd run out of time.
Her eyes flew to him, the bright spots in her cheeks heightening further, her eyes growing gla.s.sy. ”No! I don't know anything about what you're telling me.”
”You recalled something, just now. What?” He took her arm. ”Tell me.”
”They were just a bunch of fairy tales! They didn't mean anything.”
Baleweg shook his head and smoothly relieved her arm from Archer's grasp.
”Archer, really. Not all things can be solved with your bullying ways. And here I had heard stories of your prowess with the fairer s.e.x. Propaganda I'm beginning to disbelieve.”
Archer tossed him a look. ”This isn't a seduction, old man.”
”I should hope not. You'd be going about it all wrong.”
”This is why I always work alone,” he muttered.
Baleweg turned his gaze to Talia. ”I don't know about the bedtime tales your
mother told you, but I imagine a goodly part of them were based on her life in court. Perhaps she'd have explained that in time. We'll never know. But that can't be helped. The queen needs your help. It is time for you to return and take your rightful place.”
”I'm not a... I can't-this is crazy.” Her voice was a strangled whisper.”Yes, you can,” Archer said firmly. ”I will pay you very well. Riches beyond your imagination. And as soon as you help the queen, I'll make sure you're brought back to this very spot.” He carefully averted his gaze from Baleweg.
He had no idea if Catriona would let her leave, but that wasn't his problem at the moment. ”Do we have a deal?”
Her gaze bounced almost frantically between Archer and Baleweg. Her throat
worked, but she said nothing.
”Really, Archer,” Baleweg implored, ”money is not the solution here-””Money is always the solution,” he shot back.Whatever Talia might have said was drowned by the sudden wail of sirens.
Two vehicles spun into the side lot. Men in blue uniforms poured out of the doors before the rolling vehicles had come to a complete stop, all of them shouting commands.
”Come, Archer,” Baleweg commanded. ”Our time is up for now.” He closed his eyes and Archer saw the triangle begin to open behind him amid the hedgerow.
Archer pulled Talia around to face him. Her dazed gray eyes finally locked on
his. ”You will help us, Talia Trahaern. We will be back.”
With great reluctance, he released her. Just as the first man in blue planted himself and pulled what must have been some kind of weapon, Archer turned and stepped into the bushes and through the triangle after Baleweg and Ringer.
Chapter 3.
Talia awoke with a start, then slapped a hand on her chest to keep the book
from falling off.
She swung a leg to the porch to keep from dumping herself out of the hammock she'd been reading in. Or napping in, apparently.
She blew out a long breath and lay back, giving a little push before tucking her foot into the hammock again. She stared at the porch roof as she swung gently, the early evening air filled with the sounds of frogs and crickets. But she didn't hear them, nor did she see the peeling paint above her. She saw Archer, his black eyes flas.h.i.+ng, commanding. She heard his dark voice, with that beguiling accent, ordering her to return with him. Aussie, she realized now.