It’s #BookQW and ‘undo’ describes how scared Daeryn is!
More from Chapter 6:
Daeryn nodded. How could he ask what her plans beyond today were? He couldn’t. But he could tell her his suspicions about something. “So, I hope you don’t take this wrong, but during the time I spent in your room, I noticed you have a new doodem. It came from the old lady at Market Day, correct?”
“Yes,” she said slowly. “Do you know Old Terry?”
His hands clenched. It might be his undoing, but he couldn’t be less than honest. “No. I saw her give it to you. I was…sneaking about that day.”
There, he’d said it. Her eyes widened a bit, but Annmar just nodded for him to continue. “I’d hoped to have a word with you about my healing and be able to reveal to Miz Gere that I could work, so I followed you. Then Paet didn’t seem inclined to leave you alone, so…” He waved a hand. “That lady is a…hedge-rider.” Although he suspected the woman had worked her Knack on Annmar, he couldn’t outright accuse Old Terry of being a Basin witch. “They mostly keep to themselves, just mixing with the rest of us enough to make their livings. I found it unusual she gave you a doodem. They tend to be rather tight-fisted. I think she had a reason to make the gift, like to encourage you to see her again.”
Annmar looked at him uncertainly for a moment, then stepped to the wing chair and picked up her sketchbook. “I’m sure you’re right. My drawing doesn’t do justice to that underground tunnel she took me to, but between it and Old Terry’s mention of my parents, I do want to talk to her again.”
Just as he’d feared. She thumbed through, found the sketch she wanted and scooted beside him to show the page.
Daeryn closed his eyes. He hadn’t thought she’d ever let him look at her sketchbook again. Or stand within a hair’s breadth of her. He wrestled his body from those thoughts and studied the drawing. Rough walls arched over a surprisingly clear pathway twisting into the distance. Closer, roots and a couple of insects skittered over the dirt sides, but stones dotted the majority of the surface. Annmar had drawn radiating lines from each one, so varied and delicate that his mind instantly converted the lines to sparkles.
He turned his face to hers. “You’re too humble. I run burrows. Fox, badger, hare. Lots of underground tunnels. Your sketch captures them perfectly, though I’ve never seen sparkling stones.” He tapped one of the rocks. “That is what you mean, isn’t it?” Annmar nodded. “I can see why you find it fascinating. I wonder what Old Terry wants.”
Annmar sighed. “Do you think she’s dangerous?”
~~~
This teaser comes from The Twisting, Volume 2 in a serialized novel. Please read the first in the series about Annmar and Daeryn — and The Unraveling is free right now!
Download The Unraveling
And if you must have The Twisting, buy it here!
Get all three on my Payhip Store!
Leave a Reply