Sombra Mundus 55

P.G. Waters, author

Mina shares more of her memories of her father.

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 Peaceful Journey on AudioNetwork

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Once Yuila was safely ensconced in the tree branches, Mina looked back to see Edvard finishing the last of his soup. She joined him, and he declined another helping of supper.

He shot a quick glance toward the girl in the tree. "Should I muzzle her?"

She shook her head, sparing a look at Yuila. "She's just new at it, Edvard."

"Why doesn't she ever say what you're thinking?" He watched her put the copper pot of water over the fire.

"She says she can't read my mind. Only yours."

"She can't . . . ? Why not?" He now looked curiously to the Crone and then back to Mina. "How do you stop her?"

"She says you think loud." She couldn't conceal a smile as he frowned. "So, can she read your mind?"

For a moment he hesitated answering, then nodded. "Yeah. But I wasn't thinking all that just now. I wasn't thinking about the Sumas. That was this afternoon. And I wasn't thinking . . ." He shook his head. "She didn't get everything right. It's not fair she can't read yours, Mina."

"I don't mind." She put the empty bowls in the warming water to wash them. "I told her not to tell me what she, well, what she reads."

He shrugged. "I guess that's safe." His unease grew when she looked to him. "I wish she could have waited another week to perfect this ability."

She looked to his shirt. "Can we get that bandage off now?"

"Sure."

She jiggled the pot of water and bowls to soak, and then sorted through one of the packs to find the jar of ointment.

He sat beside her. "How's your foot?"

"A little sore, but better than yesterday." She sat on her knees and looked to the buttons on his shirt. "Are you going to undo those?"

"Oh. Yeah."

She waited as he unfastened the buttons. "Do you think she knows about the man in the alley?"

"I've been trying not to think about it." He looked down at the layers of bandage, pleased that the stitches had held. "It didn't bleed through."

"Good." She set about unwrapping the length of bandage. "This blonde girl your mothers set you up with, what was she like?"