Total pages in book: 130
Estimated words: 117336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 587(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Rachel nods brightly, following me when I head behind her. She's been a different person since her daughter was born. Since Malliope's appearance, Rachel has mellowed a lot, no longer carrying her bitterness with her like a cloak. She smiles a lot more, and I've even caught her laughing at something Jurik has told her. She seems…happy. I'm glad for her.
If she notices my messy cot in the back of my office, Rachel doesn't say anything. She sits across from my desk and settles her daughter in her lap. She's a huge baby, with lovely golden skin and whirling eyes like the other drakoni. She watches me with a fascinated gaze as I move to the far side of my desk and sit in my chair. "What can I help you with?"
Rachel hesitates for a moment, and then tilts her head, studying me. "Have you…talked to Azar lately?"
I give her a look. "We're separated," I say, as if that isn't completely, utterly obvious. I try to support him in public, putting on my fancy dresses and smiling blankly at his side when he wants to put on a show, but the rest of the time, I hide out here in my clinic. Rachel lives in the compound with the other drakoni and Azar, though. She would know that I'm not there. For her to ask something as strange as that feels…disingenuous. "Is there a problem?"
"No, actually…" She thinks for a moment, chewing on her scarred lip, and then adds, "I wanted to come and say thank you."
Now I'm confused. "Thank you?"
"Whatever you said to him really worked. He's had a change of heart." She hugs her squirmy infant closer to her chest. "I just wanted you to know that you have made a difference with him."
I stare at her blankly. Either I'm too tired for this to make sense, or I've missed part of the story. "Rachel, I can honestly say I have no idea what you are talking about."
"Oh." She considers this for a moment, and then when Malliope reaches for her long hair, she shifts her in her lap. "You know that Jurik can hear the babies, right? That all the drakoni can?" When I nod, she continues. "I really wish I could hear it, because I'd love to know what Malliope is thinking at all times. It's strange being a mom. All of a sudden there's this weird, little vulnerable person who needs you for everything, and you suddenly feel so responsible to make sure that they're happy and healthy." She touches one of her kicking feet, sheathed by a crocheted pink bootie. "It really makes you re-evaluate everything."
"I'm glad for you." I'm not sure what this has to do with me or Azar, but Rachel is clearly a devoted mother.
She clears her throat. "Anyhow. Jurik can hear the babies talk, but Malliope is…different. She's not booming like Tunjozefren, but she's got a different sort of strength, Jurik says." Rachel straightens, practically preening with pride. "Her mind is really strong for all that she's young. And lately, Malliope has been…broadcasting a bit."
"Broadcasting?" I ask.
"Yup. So Jurik has Azar mentally 'blocked' at all times. It's a defense mechanism against Salorians, so he can't sneak in and start messing around in Jurik's head. I think most of the drakoni automatically shield themselves to minds like Azar's. But Azar talks to the babies. You knew that, right?"
I nod. The biggest part of Azar's plan is that he hopes to guide the children into being able to somehow close the Rift. He's in communication with all of them, even the ones that don't live in the fort, like Claudia and Sasha's babies. His mind is so powerful he even mentally “taps” at the ones that aren't born yet, though I don't say any of this to Rachel. She's not an Azar fan.
"Well, Malliope is really good at broadcasting conversations with Azar back to Jurik. I don't know if she realizes she's doing it, or if Azar knows about it. That's why I wanted to come to you and talk to you about it. At first I was worried, because I was wondering what the hell he could possibly say to my kid. I've always been a little worried that Azar would talk badly about Jurik or myself and we wouldn't know about it. That he'd somehow turn Malliope against us." She bites her lip again. "The only reason we haven't left the fort is because I know that evil is out there, waiting, and we have to do something about it. But it's a concern I've had."
I purse my lips. I can't say, “No, Azar wouldn't do that” because I thought I knew the man but it turned out I didn't know him as well as I'd hoped. I know he envisions himself as a ruthless leader, but once upon a time, I would have said that he wasn't. That he's got a soft heart despite his prickly exterior. Now, I just question everything.