asked. “Why risk what little life we have left if for no reward?”
“Isn’t that the kind of attitude that got us into this situation?” Mallus asked.
Tarshish shrugged. “Yeah, probably.”
“We did a lot of damage to this world when we sided with the Architects,” Mallus said. “I think we owe it to ourselves, as well as to all the others trying to make things right.”
“But will it matter?”
“Won’t know unless we try.”
Tarshish stared at Mallus, the Malakim’s ancient eyes seemingly dissecting him and then putting him back together.
“How did somebody so smart fall for all the crap the Morningstar was shoveling during the war?” the Malakim asked.
“I don’t know, why don’t you tell me.”
They both had a good laugh.
“You rested now? Can we go?” Mallus asked finally.
“Yeah, I’m good.” The Malakim pushed off from his rock, his body emitting waves of crackling energy.
Mallus stepped closer, feeling the Malakim magick take hold of him, as they prepared to teleport about the mountains again on their search.
“How close do you think we are to actually locating theMetatron’s shell?” Mallus asked.
“I don’t know, but there’s something that I’d like to try.”
And the pair was gone, the falling snow covering up any evidence that they had ever been there at all.
* * *
Jeremy opened the can of stew with his burning knife, while heating the contents with his hand.
“This should be hot enough,” he said, his breath fogging.
It was cold in this abandoned cabin by the Baltic Sea, but the larder was relatively well stocked, if one enjoyed canned foods, that is.
Jeremy carried the food to the cot where Enoch lay beneath multiple blankets.
“Here,” he prodded, bringing the steaming can and spoon to the toddler’s mouth. “Sit up and have a bite. You need to keep up your strength.”
“I’m not hungry,” the child said from beneath the covers.
“Yeah, but you will be,” Jeremy answered. “And once I’m done, you’ll be telling me that you fancy a snack. Have a bite to eat now and avoid pissing me off later.”
“I told you—”
“And I told you,” Jeremy snapped, reaching over and pulling at the pile of blankets.
The child was curled into a tight little ball. His body, unnaturally large for one who had been born so recently, stillappeared small and helpless.
“Please eat something,” Jeremy said. He’d continued to will heat into the palm of his hand so that the contents of the can would not grow cold.
Enoch looked at him intensely; there was much anger in those eyes, as if Jeremy were somehow responsible for the troubles they’d been having.
“I’ll eat,” Enoch stated angrily. “But I won’t like it.”
“That’s fine with me.” Jeremy dragged a stool beside the cot and sat down. “Why don’t you pull those covers over your shoulders?”
Enoch scowled but did it anyway, draping the blankets across him like a shawl.
Jeremy dipped the plastic spoon into the stew and brought it to the child’s mouth.
“I shouldn’t even be eating this,” the baby said. “I’m less than two months old. This will probably wreak havoc with my digestive system.”
“You’ve been doing fine,” Jeremy said. “Baby food is only for real babies.”
“I’m a real baby,” Enoch protested.
“No, you’re not,” Jeremy retorted.
“Close enough.”
“Not sure if I’d even go that far,” Jeremy said, taking more stew onto the spoon and bringing it to Enoch’s mouth.
“Bastard.”
“Shut up and eat your stew.”
Enoch took another mouthful, this time more eagerly. The baby was obviously hungry. Big surprise.
A roar sounded from somewhere outside. It was distant, but close enough.
A sword of fire immediately came to life in Jeremy’s hand. He set down the can of stew and darted toward the window. The thin glass was covered in frost, distorting the view outside.
He could see something moving in the frozen water outside,
“Isn’t that the kind of attitude that got us into this situation?” Mallus asked.
Tarshish shrugged. “Yeah, probably.”
“We did a lot of damage to this world when we sided with the Architects,” Mallus said. “I think we owe it to ourselves, as well as to all the others trying to make things right.”
“But will it matter?”
“Won’t know unless we try.”
Tarshish stared at Mallus, the Malakim’s ancient eyes seemingly dissecting him and then putting him back together.
“How did somebody so smart fall for all the crap the Morningstar was shoveling during the war?” the Malakim asked.
“I don’t know, why don’t you tell me.”
They both had a good laugh.
“You rested now? Can we go?” Mallus asked finally.
“Yeah, I’m good.” The Malakim pushed off from his rock, his body emitting waves of crackling energy.
Mallus stepped closer, feeling the Malakim magick take hold of him, as they prepared to teleport about the mountains again on their search.
“How close do you think we are to actually locating theMetatron’s shell?” Mallus asked.
“I don’t know, but there’s something that I’d like to try.”
And the pair was gone, the falling snow covering up any evidence that they had ever been there at all.
* * *
Jeremy opened the can of stew with his burning knife, while heating the contents with his hand.
“This should be hot enough,” he said, his breath fogging.
It was cold in this abandoned cabin by the Baltic Sea, but the larder was relatively well stocked, if one enjoyed canned foods, that is.
Jeremy carried the food to the cot where Enoch lay beneath multiple blankets.
“Here,” he prodded, bringing the steaming can and spoon to the toddler’s mouth. “Sit up and have a bite. You need to keep up your strength.”
“I’m not hungry,” the child said from beneath the covers.
“Yeah, but you will be,” Jeremy answered. “And once I’m done, you’ll be telling me that you fancy a snack. Have a bite to eat now and avoid pissing me off later.”
“I told you—”
“And I told you,” Jeremy snapped, reaching over and pulling at the pile of blankets.
The child was curled into a tight little ball. His body, unnaturally large for one who had been born so recently, stillappeared small and helpless.
“Please eat something,” Jeremy said. He’d continued to will heat into the palm of his hand so that the contents of the can would not grow cold.
Enoch looked at him intensely; there was much anger in those eyes, as if Jeremy were somehow responsible for the troubles they’d been having.
“I’ll eat,” Enoch stated angrily. “But I won’t like it.”
“That’s fine with me.” Jeremy dragged a stool beside the cot and sat down. “Why don’t you pull those covers over your shoulders?”
Enoch scowled but did it anyway, draping the blankets across him like a shawl.
Jeremy dipped the plastic spoon into the stew and brought it to the child’s mouth.
“I shouldn’t even be eating this,” the baby said. “I’m less than two months old. This will probably wreak havoc with my digestive system.”
“You’ve been doing fine,” Jeremy said. “Baby food is only for real babies.”
“I’m a real baby,” Enoch protested.
“No, you’re not,” Jeremy retorted.
“Close enough.”
“Not sure if I’d even go that far,” Jeremy said, taking more stew onto the spoon and bringing it to Enoch’s mouth.
“Bastard.”
“Shut up and eat your stew.”
Enoch took another mouthful, this time more eagerly. The baby was obviously hungry. Big surprise.
A roar sounded from somewhere outside. It was distant, but close enough.
A sword of fire immediately came to life in Jeremy’s hand. He set down the can of stew and darted toward the window. The thin glass was covered in frost, distorting the view outside.
He could see something moving in the frozen water outside,
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