The Obsidian Temple (26 page)

Authors: Kelley Grant

“Here are the messages, as well as a Counselor's pass in case you are stopped on the road,” she said, handing Kadar a packet. She turned to Sanuri, placing a hand on the girl's leg. “I will see you again soon, kitten,” she said. She stroked Amber, who purred, nestled in her box. “Take care of her, little one.”

Sanuri twisted in her saddle, again and again as they rode out, waving until Alannah was out of sight. Then she slumped into the saddle and began muttering to herself.

That night, Kadar set up camp beside the road. He settled Sanuri in the tent and waited until her muttering turned into the rhythmic breathing of sleep before sitting cross-Âlegged, Amber curled on his lap. He reached out with his farspeech, searching for the mind so like his own.

Kadar? Thank goodness. Where are you? Are you safe?
Sulis's mindvoice was worried.

Yes. Sanuri and I are south of Illian, and I've set up camp. I am bringing Sanuri to the desert. Farrah .Â .Â .
Kadar broke off, not wanting to explain again.

She's dead, I know,
Sulis's sending was full of love, and Kadar felt tears prickle his eyes again.
Ava felt her die. You must be careful. Voras knows about the Obsidian Temple now. He will come after Southerners who know the route through the desert. You need to come straight to our storage houses before the Sands. We'll meet you there.

Sanuri told me we had to leave.
Kadar said.
But I have to stop at the southern way station first, at the Temple outpost. Alannah needs to get messages to your old pledge mates Dani and Lasha.

There was a pause as though Sulis were thinking. Her sending had a tinge of excitement when it returned.

Of course. Clay said you would bring two Guardians besides the Weaver. Dani and Lasha, I should have realized it would be them! Maybe they'll have some idea .Â .Â .
Sulis broke off.

I didn't realize I'd have company on my journey. I hope they'll have supplies.
What kind of idea are you hoping for?
Kadar asked.

I need you here, brother of mine,
Sulis said.
I need you and Lasha and Dani to help me convince the Southerners that dancing around deities and expecting them to hold still is just silly. They won't listen to me aloneâÂmaybe we can concoct a plan together.

Kadar grinned, in spite of the serious subject.
Just the twins plotting to cause trouble again, huh? They'll never know what hit them.

Yes!
Sulis sent.
Along with two other Temple troublemakers. Troublemakers for the One, I like the sound of that. How can any deity stand against us?

Kadar felt throbbing begin in the back of his head and sighed.

I feel your headache,
Sulis sent.
And you've got a long journey ahead of you. Soon we'll be together, and we can talk about everything. Safe journey. Love and misses.

Love and misses
Kadar sent back, then broke the connection.

In the tent, Sanuri began babbling again, and Kadar shook his head, trying to shut her out. Amber gave a “mmuurrpp” sound, stretched, and disappeared into the tent. The babbling went silent again.

Kadar was glad he would be getting two other companions on the road. Dani and Lasha; Sulis clearly adored them, and he'd finally get to meet them. Talking to his twin had lifted his spirits. Kadar realized he was once again looking forward to the future, even with war on the horizon.

They'd reach the southern outpost before last meal the next day. Then, after that, a longer trip with his daughter and family at the end. He was moving, always moving. But this time he was going home for good.

Epilogue

LASHA FI
NISHED A
healing on the soldier's leg, a bit less gently than she should have. She was tired of idiot soldiers hurting themselves during drunken binges and expecting her to heal them. She was tired of having nothing to do at this wasteland but drink cheap cactus wine and heal stupid soldiers.

Lasha looked up as something seemed to tug at her heart. She stepped out onto the porch of the low healing hall. The hall was at the northern edge of the small way station that guarded the southern border, and she could look out into the desert that surrounded the main road. Nothing but scrub, sage grass, and low, dry bushes met her eye, as far as she could see. There was a certain beauty to it, herbs that only grew in the desert, animals and birds she'd never seen. But she was restless. She wanted to travel, to see more than this tiny, dusty town.

Lasha squinted as travelers appeared on the horizon, the image hazy in the wavering heat rising from the road. For some reason, the sight made her heart leap.

Her heart did skip as a hand landed on her shoulder. She spun and looked into Dani's amused eyes. The two of them had been exiled to this outpost after the pledging ceremony. She'd been treated well by the healers, but Dani had been bullied and tormented by the other soldiers. He'd come to her more and more with his frustration, and they'd become good friends, spending much of their free time together.

“What are you looking at?” Dani asked. “You were staring pretty hard at the road. Not running away, are you?”

Lasha looked back out. She could now make out a horse and three smaller hooved beasts. Again, her heart called out to the figures.

“Travelers,” Lasha said, pointing up the road.

Dani followed her finger. His eyes widened.

“You feel that?” he rumbled. “Like something's tugging at me.”

Lasha nodded, a grin spreading across her face. He felt it as well. It wasn't just her.

“What is it?” Dani asked. “It's making me wretchedly uncomfortable.” He seldom channeled his deity's powers and hated that he could have visions.

Lasha laughed as her black
feli
came over to her and leaned against her legs, chest rumbling in a purr.

“It's change,” Lasha said, giving him a quick hug. “I see change and travel and new places.”

“Oh, wonderful,” Dani rumbled, tone unenthusiastic. “Just when I get settled here.”

“We'll be going where we are needed,” Lasha promised. “I can feel it. This is what we were meant to do.”

She walked down the stairs and out into the road, eagerly stepping forward to greet the riders and the changes to come.

Acknowledgments

THERE H
AVE BEEN
so many Âpeople helping me on this amazing experience of writing and publishing a series of books. I am so grateful for the Âpeople in the yoga and Tai Chi community who keep me centered and force me to go out of the house and socialize when I am most stressed. Emily Baxter, Melissa Winters, Joanna Boswell, Deanna Canfield, Debbie Pryor, Rose Weidaw, Jennifer TomlinsonâÂthank you for keeping me sane. Grace Franklin inspired my vision of Master Anchee, as a patient and wise teacher of Tai Chi and Buddhism.

Thanks to my family for being so thrilled and enthusiastic about the
Desert Rising
series. I could not have done this without my fabulous reader and first editor Janice Berry PaganiniâÂwho let me bounce ideas off her at any time of night, sometimes in a panic. You are amazing.

To all the Harper Voyager Impulse writers who are sharing their journey with me and are a source of encouragement and inspiration: Lexie Dunne, Bishop O'Connoll, A. F. E. Smith, Brooke Johnson, Nancy Wallace, Ingrid Seymour, Katherine Harbour, Andy Livingstone, Jason W. LaPier, John Ayliff, Graeme K. Talboys, Gerrard Cowan, Terence Newman, Stephen Moore, Laura Liddell Nolen, Tim Lees, Christi J. Whitney, Liana Brooks, Laura Bickle, and Teresa Frohock to name a few.

And thanks to the entire Harper Voyager staff who have worked on the
Desert Rising
series. My fabulous editor Rebecca Lucash. My publicists Caroline Perny and Dianna Garcia. And the talented cover artists who have brought Djinn and Sulis to life.

And all my love to Brian, for being an oasis of calm in the midst of my turbulence.

About the Author

KELLEY GRANT
grew up in the hills of Ohio's Amish country. Her best friends were the books she read, stories she created and the forest and fields that inspired her. She and her husband live on a wooded hilltop and are owned by five cats, a dog, and numerous uninvited critters. Besides writing, Kelley teaches yoga and meditation, sings kirtan with her husband, and designs brochures and media.

www.kelleygrantbooks.com

Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at
hc.com
.

Also by Kelley Grant

Desert Rising

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

THE OBSIDIAN TEMPLE
. Copyright Â© 2015 by Kelley Grant-ÂKelley. All rights reserved under International and Pan-ÂAmerican Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-Âbook on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-Âengineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperÂCollins e-Âbooks.

EPub Edition JULY 2015 ISBN: 9780062382528

Print Edition ISBN: 9780062382559

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

About the Publisher

Australia

HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.

Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street

Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

www.harpercollins.com.au

Canada

HarperCollins Canada

2 Bloor Street East - 20th Floor