and there are animals and other dangers too. Whatever attacked me, whatever planted the darkness within me, is still out there somewhere. And, as I said before, if I truly wished you harm what could have stopped me hurting you while you slept?”
“ And that is meant to make me feel better? Do I have any choice though? I saw you fight the outlaws. I wouldn't stand a chance of hurting you. What choice do I have?”
“ You could ask me to go, to leave you alone.”
“ And would you?”
“ I would leave, yes. Would I truly be able to leave you alone? I don't know. I feel I am in your debt, all of you. I owe you for the terror I caused, even though it was outside of my control. Could I walk away, leave you to face danger without my protection? I truly don't know.”
With a deep sigh she lowered the knife, seeming to shrink within herself. Her eyes were bright with tears that she refused to let fall.
“I have no choice it seems, but mark me well. If you harm my daughter then no matter what powers you have I will carve out your heart and trample it in the dust.”
“ And if I was to harm her I would hand you the knife. I give you my word, worthless as that may be, that the darkness is gone and I mean your family no harm.”
Whilst clearly far from convinced Sarah turned to more practical matters. Checking on the other two as they slept she then opened her pack and pulled out several pieces of dried meat and some vegetables, together with a small cooking pot. She stood and looked around.
“I don't suppose there's a freshwater stream around here. Sea water will have to do. Would you mind…?”
“ No, of course not.”
Daniel took the pot from her and walked towards the waves, thinking about Sarah's hostility. It was understandable, in fact it would be amazing if she didn't have doubts about him, but he could think of nothing to say, nothing to do, that would convince her.
Filling the pot turned out to be harder than he'd first thought. The water where the waves pounded the shore was heavy with sand. After several failed attempts to get cleaner water he shrugged and took off his boots, rolled up his trousers and waded into the water. It was numbingly cold, within seconds he lost feeling in his toes. Instinctively he reached out to his surroundings, pulling energy into his body. He was surprised to find that the sea itself was a deep well of energy, easily tapped. Almost immediately his legs felt warmer. A few seconds later he realised he had overdone it, as the water by his legs started to steam and boil. Daniel reduced the level of energy he was pulling in then waded out till the water reached his knees. He filled the pot with water, checked and found that it was much clearer than before then turned and waded back to the beach.
Grabbing his boots he walked barefoot across the sand, still drawing energy from his surroundings to keep his legs and feet warm. By the time he reached the fire he was completely dry. He passed the pot to Sarah who added the meat and vegetables then set it in the side of the fire to start boiling. Then she stared at Daniel without speaking. As the silence stretched he felt more and more uncomfortable, but could think of nothing to say that wouldn't make things worse. Finally she spoke.
“I'm sorry. You did save Jon's life. Mary's too. She would have given too much of herself, I could see that. Since you arrived this morning you have done nothing but good for us. As you said, if you meant us harm you had every chance while we all slept. From everything you have said and done, I have to believe you mean us no harm. Yet.”
“ Yet?” Daniel asked, confused.
“ Yes, yet. For a start I only have your word that the… darkness that possessed you last night is gone. As far as I can tell you honestly believe it was destroyed, but how can you be sure? Maybe it's lurking inside you still, waiting for
“ And that is meant to make me feel better? Do I have any choice though? I saw you fight the outlaws. I wouldn't stand a chance of hurting you. What choice do I have?”
“ You could ask me to go, to leave you alone.”
“ And would you?”
“ I would leave, yes. Would I truly be able to leave you alone? I don't know. I feel I am in your debt, all of you. I owe you for the terror I caused, even though it was outside of my control. Could I walk away, leave you to face danger without my protection? I truly don't know.”
With a deep sigh she lowered the knife, seeming to shrink within herself. Her eyes were bright with tears that she refused to let fall.
“I have no choice it seems, but mark me well. If you harm my daughter then no matter what powers you have I will carve out your heart and trample it in the dust.”
“ And if I was to harm her I would hand you the knife. I give you my word, worthless as that may be, that the darkness is gone and I mean your family no harm.”
Whilst clearly far from convinced Sarah turned to more practical matters. Checking on the other two as they slept she then opened her pack and pulled out several pieces of dried meat and some vegetables, together with a small cooking pot. She stood and looked around.
“I don't suppose there's a freshwater stream around here. Sea water will have to do. Would you mind…?”
“ No, of course not.”
Daniel took the pot from her and walked towards the waves, thinking about Sarah's hostility. It was understandable, in fact it would be amazing if she didn't have doubts about him, but he could think of nothing to say, nothing to do, that would convince her.
Filling the pot turned out to be harder than he'd first thought. The water where the waves pounded the shore was heavy with sand. After several failed attempts to get cleaner water he shrugged and took off his boots, rolled up his trousers and waded into the water. It was numbingly cold, within seconds he lost feeling in his toes. Instinctively he reached out to his surroundings, pulling energy into his body. He was surprised to find that the sea itself was a deep well of energy, easily tapped. Almost immediately his legs felt warmer. A few seconds later he realised he had overdone it, as the water by his legs started to steam and boil. Daniel reduced the level of energy he was pulling in then waded out till the water reached his knees. He filled the pot with water, checked and found that it was much clearer than before then turned and waded back to the beach.
Grabbing his boots he walked barefoot across the sand, still drawing energy from his surroundings to keep his legs and feet warm. By the time he reached the fire he was completely dry. He passed the pot to Sarah who added the meat and vegetables then set it in the side of the fire to start boiling. Then she stared at Daniel without speaking. As the silence stretched he felt more and more uncomfortable, but could think of nothing to say that wouldn't make things worse. Finally she spoke.
“I'm sorry. You did save Jon's life. Mary's too. She would have given too much of herself, I could see that. Since you arrived this morning you have done nothing but good for us. As you said, if you meant us harm you had every chance while we all slept. From everything you have said and done, I have to believe you mean us no harm. Yet.”
“ Yet?” Daniel asked, confused.
“ Yes, yet. For a start I only have your word that the… darkness that possessed you last night is gone. As far as I can tell you honestly believe it was destroyed, but how can you be sure? Maybe it's lurking inside you still, waiting for
Similar Books
