Zypheria's Call (A Tanyth Fairport Adventure) Read Free

can, my dear, but this is more about me than you. I’m used to travelin’ by myself. It’s sometimes dangerous and frightenin’. I don’t now how I feel about leadin’ somebody else into that.”
    Frank took a breath as if to say something but when Tanyth looked up at him, he merely coughed into his hand and reached for his handkerchief.
    “I understand, mum.”
    Tanyth smiled at her. “Thank you, my dear. Just give me ‘til tomorrow. Come see me in the morning.”
    Rebecca’s face brightened. “Thank you, mum.”
    “No promises!” Tanyth cut in. “I need to think about it.”
    Rebecca nodded several times. “O’ course, mum. I understand. I do. But you didn’t say no, yet. That’s somethin’.”
    Tanyth huffed a laugh out and nodded her agreement. “True. Now, scoot.”
    Rebecca smiled and nodded to Frank one more time before scampering off toward the inn.
    Tanyth watched the young woman go before glancing up to see Frank looking down at her. Something in his expression made her frown at him. “What is it?”
    “You’re gonna to let her go with ya?” he asked, looking at Rebecca’s retreating back.
    Tanyth gave a non-committal shrug. “I really don’t know,” she said. “Honestly, I’ve been travelin’ on my own so long, I wouldn’t know what to do with her.”
    She felt Frank stiffen slightly.
    “Is that why you won’t stay here?” He didn’t look down at her, just continued gazing off into the village.
    “Stay with you, you mean?” Tanyth said, poking him in the ribs with one sharp finger.
    He looked down and gave her an abashed-looking smile. “Yeah. Well, with me and the rest of the people here.” He paused, his eyes searching her face for something. “You’ve a home here, you know. Yours for the takin’.”
    She laid one hand against his weathered face and caught his wandering gaze in hers. “You know I can’t do that.” Her voice was barely louder than the winds whispering in the pine tops behind the cabin.
    He lifted one shoulder in acknowledgment. “I know what you say, Tanyth, but I still don’t believe it. You’re not goin’ crazy.”
    She huffed out a single bark of laughter.
    “You’re not,” he insisted.
    “Frank, normal people do not see things through ravens’ eyes. It’s just not natural.” She withdrew her hand and scrubbed her lips again with her fingertips. “When I woke up this morning and couldn’t pucker to blow on the fire because I had a beak—” She closed her eyes and shook her head as if to rid herself of the memory.
    “But that was a dream, Tan. You and I both know that.”
    “Nightmare, more like.”
    “Exactly, and you woke up.”
    She scoffed.
    “You did. You woke up and it was just a dream,” he said.
    “What if I hadn’t? What if it wasn’t?” Her eyes searched his craggy face in turn. “What if it was a warnin’?”
    “Warnin’? Warnin’ of what?” He sounded curious and a bit frustrated.
    She sighed and folded her arms under her breasts as if hugging herself for warmth. Her eyes scanned the now familiar landscape of the village, stopping here and there with no apparent reason. Finally she turned her gaze back to his. “If I knew that, Frank Crane, I wouldn’t have to go now, would I?”
    Frank drew a deep breath and blew it out before screwing his mouth into a grimace. “No,” he said. “I don’t suppose you would.”
    The sound of a horse’s whinny wafted on the morning breeze. “Sounds like I’m needed at the barn,” Frank said, glancing down at her once more. “And prob’ly just as well.”
    He took three steps before she asked, “What do you mean by that?”
    He gave her a devilish grin over his shoulder but didn’t stop walking. “Anytime a woman uses a man’s full name, it’s time he finds a place to hide. The barn’ll do for now.”
    Under other circumstances the comment might have earned him a sour look, but Tanyth saw the twinkle in his eye and a chuckle bubbled out of her.
    Frank gave her