Read Breathe (The Destiny Series: Book 1) for Free Online Page B

soon drowned out by the calming, night noises of Maj.
    ***
    Dearra was running and running, trying to find something she was certain she had lost. If only she knew what it was! A voice called to her. If she concentrated very hard she could almost feel the object in her hand. The voice came again, urging her to hurry before it was too late. She heard it more clearly that time, its crisp tone demanding, and…well…rude, really.
    Something didn’t seem quite right.
    Why was she running toward this arrogant, demanding, insulting whatever it was?
    Girl child! it said. Girl child! I’m waiting! Tolah himself wouldn’t have had the patience to wait this long!
    Even in her sleep, Dearra’s temper pricked at her. Girl child? she thought, I am a woman of Maj! I am a warrior and protector of the people! You are just a disembodied voice, prattling on and offering no help, and with no direction! And who, or what, is a Tolah?
    Ignorant girl! the voice continued. Tolah is all! I have no time to bandy words with an infant. Come and find me, immediately! Isn’t it bad enough I have to wait for a child, and a female child at that? On top of that I have to put up with its little fits of temper…That’s asking a bit much, as far as I am concerned.
    Annoyed, but also a little amused by the strange voice, Dearra ran on and on, searching wildly in her need to find the object she sought. Her sword hand burned and ached, and a small yelp of pain slipped from her while she slept; it went unnoticed and unheard by any in the keep, save a passing mouse who did not even pause at the sound, but continued on its nocturnal quest for a wayward crumb.
    Where are you? In the name of Tolah, girl, be quick! There is no time for these games, the voice said, plainly agitated.
    Well, you could help a little, you know, Dearra snapped. I’m trying to find you, but some assistance would be nice. Can’t you just tell me where you are ?
    No, I can’t tell you where I am, silly twit. I am in the dark. How could I possibly see anything to give you directions? I told that man to take me to you, but would he listen? He did not. He knows better than I, it would seem. I finally gave up and came to you myself, and you are little better at listening than he. What he saw in you I will never know, but he said it had to be you, so there’s not much I can do about it now.
    What who saw in me? The man who wouldn’t take you to me? You make no sense, voice. The amusement at the dream was gone at this point, and Dearra was back to being just plain annoyed. On top of that, the burning in her hand was intensifying. The voice sighed. No, it said, n ot the man who wouldn’t take me to you. I knew this was going to be difficult. He said I had to be patient and gentle, but it is proving such a burden on me.
    This is you being gentle and patient? Dearra sputtered.
    Certainly, replied the voice, as if the answer to that particular question should have been plain to even the simplest of minds. Wasn’t it beyond obvious that it was the very model of kindness and tolerance? If I have to keep explaining and repeating everything we aren’t going to get very far, do try to keep up, girl.
    Humph! Definitely annoying, Dearra thought, and she continued to run, on and on into nothingness.
    ***
    In another part of the keep, Daniel wrestled with his own dreams. He knew he was dreaming, but that did little to dispel the anxiety he felt. The dream was stronger and clearer tonight than it had been in the nights past. The voice, as always, badgered him with demands to be taken to the girl child. It seemed to him that the voice had come from the wooden box that carried the sword, but of course, that was insanity. The sword was never meant to have another owner. How could a sword demand anything at all, besides? At first, he was confused as to which girl child the voice referred. There were many girl children on Maj, but the voice refused to be more specific than that, saying only that the dolt