Resenting the Hero by Moira J. Moore Page A

him as hard as I could. “It’s a Shield thing.” Here’s to hoping he didn’t really know anything about Shields. It sounded like he didn’t. “I need sleep. Please go.”
    He was offended. Too bad. Whatever had happened, it was nothing he could do anything about. He was willing enough to leave, though. I got the feeling he didn’t care for the neighborhood. He lingered a little too long, hoping to be paid and offended all over again when he realized that wasn’t going to happen. Then he left, finally.
    I really didn’t like healers.
    â€œTold you there was no point,” a woman—the same one as earlier—said to Aiden. “Right quack, he was.”
    â€œSomething was wrong with her,” Aiden said sullenly.
    â€œNothing a healer can fix.” I sat up slowly. I’d been stretched out on the bed, and though I didn’t really want to be going anywhere, I thought I’d better find out what had happened.
    â€œSo what was it?” Aiden asked.
    â€œStrange channeling.”
    â€œIt has to be more than that. You were screaming.”
    â€œAye,” the woman said dryly. “I heard you from one street over.”
    So that’s what happened to my throat. Lovely. I must have looked like a lunatic. I had to find Karish and ask him what he’d done. Maybe I’d smack him around a bit, too. I rose to my feet, and my head didn’t swim too much.
    â€œWhere are you going?” Aiden said sharply.
    â€œHome.” And if he wasn’t there, to the taverns until I found him.
    â€œSit back down! You’re not going anywhere.”
    Oh, lord, I was in no condition to be patient. “Sorry to scare you, Aiden. I will come back soon.”
    He struggled up to his feet. “Lie down, Dunleavy,” he tried to order me.
    I looked at the woman, who was watching Aiden with amusement. “Dunleavy Mallorough.” I offered my hand.
    She shook it. “Clair Donner.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œNo worries. Take care.”
    â€œI mean it, Dunleavy.”
    I looked back at him. “Aiden,” I said, and that was all I said. It was enough, for he was silent as I left. It appeared he was a smart lad. I liked that in a man.
    The streets looked normal. No sign of imminent disaster hastily averted. That, I supposed, was only how it should be, but I felt that a few of the buildings should have fallen down, or that there should be a wild eye or two. Well, a wild eye caused by something other than a stimulant.
    Maybe it hadn’t been a near disaster at all. Maybe it had been something totally unrelated to what Karish and I were supposed to be doing. Some other secret talent Karish hadn’t bothered to tell me about.
    I didn’t find Karish at the residence. I didn’t find anyone else there, either. I did find Karish in a tavern, surrounded by people. The atmosphere was subdued, though. Karish and about four others sat around a table, talking quietly. Only Karish wasn’t talking, but staring off into space. He looked a little pale, his eyes a little wild, and his hair was particularly disordered. He saw me as soon as I entered and rose from the table, rushing over to me.
    He hugged me, and I was so shocked by it I could neither fend him off nor hug him back. “Are you all right?” he asked when he pulled back, his voice a rusty mess. He put a hand to the side of my face, careful of the temple. He knew where the pain had been. “I went to the residence but you weren’t there.”
    I suddenly felt wonderful. Warm and relaxed, and my throat didn’t hurt at all. “What happened?” I asked in a whisper, for the regulars were watching us.
    He shrugged, standing back a pace. “It wasn’t normal,” he said in a low voice. “I didn’t know what disaster it was going to be.”
    He was saving his words, but he’d said enough to alarm me, for of course Sources always