Preview: Sombra Mundus 40
Chapter 40 is up!
The newest chapter to Sombra Mundus is up! Find Chapter 40 here.
If you’re just joining this story, you may want to start from the beginning. Read into the world of shadows and mirrors.
♫♪Suggested Music: from Corna Groove on AudioNetwork
Preview:
The night had dissolved into another round of dancing, and Mina decided to retire with Menino. She told Yuila to come to their camp area in an hour, and the Crone agreed. To Mina's surprise, the two young girls joined her half an hour later, Xapita dragging her own bedroll. They set up their beds a little farther away from Mina, but a few minutes later had moved closer. Mina watched them hide their heads together, and heard Yuila speaking lowly and giggling.
Mina adjusted the blanket around Menino and sighed. Ona had offered to take the child to the nursery wagon for the night, but Mina had again declined. After tonight she would have no choice, and she wanted one more night of semi-sleep near the infant. She watched Edvard join their camp.
"I suppose the quiet lump there is Xapita," he said, situating his bedroll.
"Yup. At least it'll only be the one talking all night instead of two."
He tossed his boots a few feet away and climbed into his bedroll. He looked to the small bump in the blanket beside her. "You can leave him with the other babies, Mina."
"I'll have to leave him there tomorrow," she said without thinking, pulling her blanket higher around her, feeling Menino's foot press on her rib. "I don't mind." She watched Edverd's profile for a moment as he looked up at the star-laden skies. She wondered if he was thinking of a certain sweet-scented blonde girl. "Why didn't you want the scarf?"
He shook his head. "Not interested."
Mina closed her eyes, wishing she would fall asleep instead of listening to all the gypsies still celebrating.
"You were going to tell me about Japanese customs," he reminded, looking to her.
She sighed, opening her eyes. "It's not as charming as hanging a scarf on someone."
"What do you do? Trade shoes?"
She laughed. "No." She heard Yuila squeal and giggle and remembered what she really wanted to tell Edvard. She inched closer to him so the girls wouldn't hear her. "You know how we thought Yuila couldn't read minds?"
He moved his head and tried to see her better in the dark. "Are we changing the subject, Mina?"
"Yes. She can read minds."
"No."
"Oh, yes. She wasn't even aware of it for a while." She could see the look of dread seep over his face despite the darkness.
"Are you sure?"
Mina explained about what she had learned over the course of the day.
He nodded slowly, sighing. He looked to where the two younger girls were giggling and sharing secrets.
"But can she read your mind? Or mine?"
Mina shook her head. "I don't think so. She doesn't think so." Which was what really mattered, she thought.
He sighed and looked back up at the night sky. "I hope not." After a long moment he asked, "You don't want to travel with the gypsies, do you?"
"No."
He frowned, watching a stray cloud pass in front of one of the half moons. "Because they will go to the valleys, and they might pass your homeland before we do."
She pulled her blanket higher again despite the warm night. "Do you want me to go with them?"
"Of course not." He looked quickly to her. "You don't remember where you belong, and you should stay with me. I mean, after Yuila is home, we'll find out where you belong. These gypsies, they stay on their own course. They don't like to break from their routes."
"I don't want to go with them."
He nodded. "Then there's no reason why Noen should be pushing the point."
Mina looked down as Menino stirred, his small foot still pushing against her side. She sighed and closed her eyes. As different as life in the gypsy camp was, she had no desire to stay.
Continue to Chapter 40 here
Find Chapter 40 here.
PG13, saga; teen, fantasy, fantasy world travel, teen romance, clean romance, realm, magical realism, shadow world, school/new school, high school, fiction, serial. ♫♪