Oracle by Kyra Dune Page A

while Selene stood nearby. What
the hem of Anastasia’s dress dragged through as she carefully made her way over
to them was something she did not want to even consider.
         She took
in Lorn’s blood spattered chainmail as she crouched
beside him and felt a hitch in her chest. “ Lorn ,” she
laid her hand on his shoulder, “are you badly hurt?”
         “Not so
badly, my Lady,” he said. “You are well?”
         “Yes, of
course. Thanks to Reaper.” She glanced over at the higher power, who was standing
away from the rest of them, gazing up at the starless sky.
         “My
failure shames me.” Lorn looked to the ground. “As
your guardian, it is my duty to protect you and I could not do so in the face
of those... creatures.”
         “You
failed nothing. Look at me.” She put command into her tone, assuring he would
lift his head to avoid disobeying her. “You have done nothing worthy of shame.
I am fine and you fought well against what you have never before faced. I find
no fault in your actions this day.”
         He
nodded. “As you say, my Lady.” Though it was clear he continued to believe
otherwise.
         Anastasia
bit back a sigh. “Simon, what of you?” He too was splattered with blood, but
she could not tell whether or not any was his own. “Are you hurt?”
         “Only my
hand.” He showed her the marks where the creature he’d saved her from had sank
its teeth into the skin around his thumb. “It’s no longer bleeding. Doesn’t
even hurt, really. Lorn is the one whose wounds need
binding.”
         “What
will we bind them with?” Anastasia asked.
         A
wrapping of white gauze appeared in Selene’s hand. “Use this.” She handed it to
Simon, who set about unrolling it.
         Anastasia
moved back to be out of the way. Having no knowledge of treating wounds, she
could hardly have helped. Instead, she turned to Selene in an effort to strike
up a conversation. “It is a most impressive power you have, to conjure things
out of the air. Can all higher powers do so?”
         “It’s not
conjuring.” Selene spoke the word as if it left a nasty taste in her mouth.
“I’m no Magus. I can simply draw what I need to me from wherever is the nearest
source. Even if it be in another realm.”
         “So
you’re a thief,” Brandon said.
         Selene
scowled. “I am no thief.”
         “You take
things from people without their permission and never return it,” he said.
“Sounds like the definition of a thief to me. Not that I have anything against
thieves, of course. You need something, you take it. Makes sense to me.”
         Selene’s
expression was growing so dark Anastasia thought she should get in-between the
two of them, if only verbally. “Brandon, are you injured?”
         He looked
down at the blood which was all over everybody except Selene, Anastasia, and
Reaper. “Not in the least. I feel great. Nothing like a good battle to get the
adrenalin pumping. Though I have to say, I usually do my work without getting
all bloody. It’s a refreshing change of pace.”
         Though
Selene made a face, she said nothing of whatever was on her mind. “If Lorn can walk, we best keep moving before those things come
back with reinforcements. Surely we’re near the end of the woods.”
         “We
should take a couple of these things with us,” Brandon said. “Fresh meat would
be nice.”
         Anastasia
clamped a hand to her mouth. “You can’t be serious.”
         “Actually, I’m often serious,” Brandon said. “People just don’t seem to
realize it. I can’t imagine why.”
         “I hate
to say this,” and by Simon’s expression he hated it quite a bit, “but Brandon
makes a point. Once we’re free of the woods it would be nice to have a little
fire and something warm to eat.”
         “Can
these things be eaten?” Selene grimaced as she prodded one of the furry