Ava didn’t know what to think, it was all so confusing. Sleep deprivation and an overload of new information were messing with her mind. She just wanted Nathan back. She remembered the wolf in the forest, it seemed so long ago, but now she realized it must have been magic. But, it mattered not. Ava didn’t care about magic, she cared about Nathan.
Verin thought about it for a moment. If Nathan could sense Ava, surely the girl could do the same. Verin thought back to how Theron had taught Nathan about his connection with Thorn. Inspired, Verin spoke to Ava, “Close your eyes. Think only of Nathan. Picture his face and talk to him inside your head.” He saw her reluctance, her doubt. “Do it, trust me. Imagine him, talk to him. You and Nathan are connected; it is how we found you.”
Ava wondered what good that would do. She was afraid she would just break down and cry, but Verin looked so insistent she gave in. Eyes closed, she pictured blue eyes, bronzed skin, and the warmth of his hand holding hers. Nathan Stoneblood, you get your ass back here! We need you and if you don't get back here soon, I'll kill you myself, you jerk! You are needed right here. I miss you. Rose misses you. Hurry, please! Nothing happened, but Ava was thinking back. Over the last few days, she had felt something different, like something was in her mind. She had attributed it to stress but what if that feeling was this connection Verin spoke of? Ava focused her thoughts again. The feeling was still there, like a dull reassuring pulse in the back of mind. Maybe that was Nathan and he was still alive.
Suddenly, Rose, who had been watching the shoreline, spoke out. “I see him, right there coming up the docks.” She squealed and clapped her hands, jumping up and down for a second.
Ava looked up incredulously. She saw that Rose was right. Ava ran down the plank off the Lady Bonita and towards Nathan, with Rose close on her heels. Nathan grinning from ear to ear said, “Hey!” dropped his gear and quickly caught the flying girl, letting her momentum knock him over. Rose piled on top both of them.
“Oof," said Nathan as he enjoyed the girls embrace. “Am I always going to be looking up into the sky when you around, Ava?” said Nathan. His Ava appeared unharmed, just slightly disheveled and dirty. She never looked prettier to him than at that moment.
“Oh shut up you big jerk. I missed you so much." Ava looked closer at Nathan’s face; the cut made by Bailmont’s gauntlet still was caked in blood. She ran her hand over the wound “You’ve been bleeding again.”
“It’s just a scratch, a small price to pay for a good hug.” Nathan remembered Bailmont’s last words, but his memories would not be of the vile man, but instead what he regained.
Nathan and Ava sat up. Rose wiggled between them to give Nathan a hug. Nathan laughed. Rose was Rose! Nobody moved for a moment. Rose sighed, “Nathan, you rescued us again,” Rose bounced. Nathan winced as his sore ribs took the beating. Ava noticed his pain and moved to get off him, taking Rose with her.
“I’m just glad you are all safe now,” Nathan said sheepishly, not wanting the praise.
Rose looked at Nathan, her expression sad and serious. “Mom and dad and Bends are all dead. We don’t have a home anymore.”
Nathan took the sisters hands and gripped them tight, and looked Ava in the eyes. “You’re coming with me. We are going to Balta. We will have a home in Balta.”
Ava smiled. There was so much to learn about his new handsome version of her old friend. Her heart was more than happy as Nathan held her hand and led them back to the Lady Bonita. Nathan had a lot of explaining to do. He smiled as if he read her mind.
Authors Notes
Available now: THE MISSING MAGE Book two of the Stoneblood Saga
http://goo.gl/TbMY49
and SORON’S QUEST the prequel to Son of Soron
http://goo.gl/oEkAMv
twitter: https://twitter.com/robyn_wideman
webpage: www.robynwideman.com/blog
Table of Contents
STONEBLOOD SAGA: BOOK ONE
Prologue
Chapter one
Chapter two
Chapter three
Chapter four
Chapter five
Chapter six
Chapter eight
Chapter nine
Chapter ten
Chapter eleven
Chapter twelve
Chapter thirteen
Chapter fourteen
Chapter fifteen
Chapter sixteen
Chapter seventeen
Chapter eighteen
Chapter nineteen
Chapter twenty
Chapter twenty one
Chapter twenty two
Chapter twenty three
Chapter twenty four
Chapter twenty five
Chapter twenty six
Chapter twenty seven
Chapter twenty eight
Chapter twenty nine
Chapter thirty
Chapter thirty one
Chapter thirty two
Chapter thirty three
Chapter thirty four
Chapter thirty five
Chapter thirty seven
Chapter thirty eight
Chapter thirty nine
Chapter forty
Chapter forty one
Authors Notes
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
STONEBLOOD SAGA: BOOK ONE
Prologue
Chapter one
Chapter two
Chapter three
Chapter four
Chapter five
Chapter six
Chapter seven
Chapter eight
Chapter nine
Chapter ten
Chapter eleven
Chapter twelve
Chapter thirteen
Chapter fourteen
Chapter fifteen
Chapter sixteen
Chapter seventeen
Chapter eighteen
Chapter twenty
Chapter twenty one
Chapter twenty two
Chapter twenty three
Chapter twenty four
Chapter twenty five
Chapter twenty six
Chapter twenty seven
Chapter twenty eight
Chapter twenty nine
Chapter thirty
Chapter thirty one
Chapter thirty two
Chapter thirty three
Chapter thirty four
Chapter thirty five
Chapter thirty six
Chapter thirty seven
Chapter thirty eight
Chapter thirty nine
Chapter forty
Chapter forty one
Authors Notes
Table of Contents