Gathering Storm (The Salvation of Tempestria Book 2) - Gary Stringer (read e book TXT) 📗

ran up, placing herself high enough to stand directly in the path of any attacks, magical or otherwise. If they wanted to fight each other, they would have to go through her. She pulled out her staff and asked the blue crystal to reflect the light more until it glowed, fiercely, for added theatrical effect.

“I command it;” she declared at the top of her voice, “there will be no battle between you here!” She allowed her words to echo for a moment. When she continued, her voice lost some its fire, but none of its steel. “Mandalee, shut up and calm down. I have sworn not to use my powers to harm you, but I can always restrain you to prevent you from harming yourself.” Turning to Daelen, she added, “As for you, what’s this you say? You ‘will not allow’ us to talk? Who the hell do you think you are to decide what you will or will not allow me to do? I am my own woman, and I will talk to whomever I please. Your permission is not required. Power down this instant – and don’t flatter yourself that I won’t use my magic to restrain you if I must,” Cat let her words ring in the air for a long moment, before continuing in a softer tone. “Now, let’s all just calm down and try to be sensible about this, shall we?”

Daelen powered down but refused to float back to the ground. Catriona calmly walked down her invisible steps, taking her own good time as a sign that she was still very much in control of this situation. Mandalee was still smouldering but kept a lid on it. She hadn’t seen Catriona in this mood before and even with her oath of friendship, she knew better than to push her luck.

“Alright, Cat,” Daelen smoothed, trying to regain some dignity and control. “Talk to your friend, I won’t interfere, but I will stay to listen.”

A furious Mandalee shouted into the air, “No. You will not listen. There are some things in this world you need not know. If you know that she and I are friends, then you should also know that she’s completely safe with me.”

Then, looking at Cat, she told her, “I need to talk. If you truly believe there’s a chance of rekindling our old friendship, then come and see me. Alone,” she emphasised. “I do not want ears other than yours and mine to hear. My business is not his. Send me a sympathic message when you’re ready.”

With that, she invoked her super-speed and streaked away.

At last, Daelen floated down to the ground.

Cat wasn’t happy that they’d made such a scene, but replaying their words in her mind, she was at least thankful Mandalee had not used Daelen’s name. With a bit of care, she realised she could quite easily spin the narrative.

To Daelen’s astonishment, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the lips.

“Don’t worry, lover,” she reassured him, raising her voice just enough to be overheard, “she’s just jealous. Let me go and smooth things over with her.”

She leaned close again and whispered, “Play along. Support the story. This is just Catriona Redfletching in the middle of a love triangle. Nothing to do with Daelen StormTiger.”

“Alright Cat,” he acquiesced, matching her tone, following her lead. “I’m sorry about what I said. Of course, you can talk to anyone you want to. I guess I was jealous, too.”

“Nicely done,” she whispered, “and I forgive you.”

*****

Catriona left Pyrah with Daelen. Neither Shadowkin nor Ysirian was happy about it, but Mandalee had insisted on being alone. The druidess wasn’t sure if Mandalee would have a problem with Pyrah, but she didn’t want to risk losing this chance to mend bridges because of a technicality.

Cat sent a sympathic message to Mandalee, asking her location.

Mandalee was rusty at this and returned the image of an anchor, which Cat mistook to mean she was on board a ship. After a couple more goes, Cat finally realised she meant she was at an inn called the Anchor. She asked directions of a passer-by, and soon enough she found it. Her old friend was sitting outside. There was a bottle of beer in her hand and another on the table.

Cat sat down opposite and quipped, “Is this drink for me or are you just saving it for later?”

The assassin granted her a half-smile and stated, “It’s for my friend.”

“It’s nice to know I’m still that,” Cat replied removing the cap and doing ‘cheers’ with Mandalee before taking a sip.

“You came when I asked,” Mandalee replied, pointedly, “which is an improvement on last time.”

“Mandalee, I really am so sorry about what happened. Where is Shyleen, anyway? I trust she’s OK?”

The assassin assured her that her feline friend was fine and on her way.

Cat was much relieved to hear it.

“It was two years ago,” the assassin shook her head. “Forget it.”

“No,” Cat refused, resolutely. “I don’t want to forget it. I was a terrible friend, and I want to remember it for the rest of my life so I never, ever do anything like it again.”

“It just hurt so much when she got zapped by that wizard, I couldn’t see for the haze of pain.”

“When someone you love is hurt, you feel it, too,” Cat agreed.

“It’s more than that.” Mandalee shook her head and took another long drink. “She’s a part of me.”

“Of course she is,” Cat affirmed, but her friend insisted she still wasn’t getting it.

For Mandalee, it wasn’t just a metaphor, but it took another half bottle of beer to explain. She became a Cleric of Nature thanks to Shyleen, because Shyleen was no ordinary leopard, just as Pyrah was no regular snake. Although she wasn’t from a plane anywhere near that high, in the scheme of things. “Just one level up, in fact,” she concluded.

“One level up?” Cat puzzled over that until her brain realised, “Wait, Shyleen’s a god?”

“Well,” Mandalee replied with another half-smile,