Raintree: Sanctuary (Raintree 3)

“No. Not yet. This happens sometimes, especially when a talent is ove

rused or…I believe with rest and meditation, they’ll be fine.”

“And what will you be doing this afternoon?”

“We had a new arrival yesterday, someone who lost her husband and both children in a horrific car accident six months ago. She’s in agonizing emotional pain.”

“And you’re going to take her pain into yourself. How can you stand it? Why put yourself through such torment when you don’t have to?”

“Because it’s wrong not to use the talents with which we’re blessed. I’m an empathic healer. It’s not just what I do, it’s who I am.”

“Yes, you’re right. It is who you are. I understand.” Judah wondered if Mercy would understand that their daughter had been born to save his people?

Judah spoke with Claude every morning and every evening, using secure cell phones, despite their advanced telepathic abilities. Telephone communication was more difficult for Cael to intercept.

“He hasn’t returned to Terrebonne,” Claude said.

“Then where the hell is he?”

“I have no idea. It’s as if he’s vanished off the face of the earth. Even Sidra can’t locate him. He’s undoubtedly shielding his whereabouts.”

“Eve drew a picture of him today, after he tried to talk to her.”

“Could she locate him for us?”

“She might be able to,” Judah said. “But I can’t risk her getting that close to him. He could capture her thoughts and hypnotize her, or enter her dreams and make her deathly sick.”

“Wherever he is and whatever he’s doing, he’s up to no good.”

“What about the warriors who left Terrebonne with him? Have they returned?”

“No, and several others are unaccounted for.”

“Then it’s begun, hasn’t it? He’s gradually amassing his army.”

“Let him.” Claude emitted a grunting huff. “He’s a fool if he believes that a few dozen renegade warriors make an army.”

“He told me that he’s coming for me soon.”

“And when he does, you’ll kill him.”

“We should be there on Terrebonne for the Death Duel,” Judah said. “But that could well be what he expects me to do—return home and leave Eve unprotected.”

“She has protection. Her mother and—”

“Raintree protection. It’s not enough for a child such as Eve.”

“Then do what you have to do. Kill Cael on Raintree ground, then bring your daughter home to Terrebonne where she belongs.”

After dinner with his daughter and the ever-watchful Sidonia, Judah told Eve that he was going for a walk and would see her before bedtime to say good-night. They had spent hours alone together today, and he felt he had convinced her that she could be of more help to him by not interfering in his fight with Cael than if she injected herself into the situation. He needed to find Mercy and assure her that Eve had listened to him, and that when the time came, she would obey their orders.

As he headed out the back door, Eve called, “I wish you’d go see about my mother. She’s almost always home for supper, and she wasn’t tonight. Meta must be terribly sick for Mommy to spend so much time with her.”

“Your mother’s fine.” Sidonia gave Judah a warning glare. “She doesn’t need anything from him. When she’s done her job, she’ll come home.”

“Don’t worry about your mother,” Judah said. “I’m sure Sidonia’s right and your mother’s fine.”

“No, she’s not, Daddy. I think she needs you.”