Appear

Her  voice  stopped.  Not  ten  feet  away,  a  black cocoon  formed  from  nothing.  Like  a  silken  ebony  spiderweb,  the  spinning  mass  grew  from  a  single  dark line  to  the  height  and  bulk  of  a  human.  Greensleeves fingered  her  shawl,  Rakel  her  sword.  Gull  lifted  his axe.

The  cocoon  steadied,  then  rent  down  one  side  as if  spilling  out  a  giant  butterfly.

But  what  stepped  forth  was  a  lean  man,  oddly dressed  in  shabby  wool  breeches  and  an  embroidered shirt  of  black  with  blue  thread.  A  tattered  leather  cape hung  from  his  shoulders,  an  ornate  dagger  and  tooled satchel  at  his  hips.

His  face  was  bony,  bronzed  by  summer  suns.  His eyes  were  a  deep  turquiose  blue,  but  the  left  was framed  by  an  old  scar  like  a  bright  star.  Both  eyes blazed  as  he  beheld  the  scene.  His  mouth  was  an  ugly slash  of  anger.

Rakel  found  her  breath  locked  in  her  chest.

"Garth!"

***

Shattered Chains, Chapter 19