Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57623 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
“My legs are going to fall off,” Storm complains. “My toes aren’t working.”
Complaining does not work with Laura. She ignores it, and Storm has no choice but to follow her because these slopes and valleys and such are quite easy to get turned around and lost in. While down might generally be considered a way off the mountain, she knows that picking the wrong version of down could easily lead to a crevasse or worse.
Eventually her balance and the mountain betray her simultaneously. Storm curses as she loses traction on loose stones that slide away under her feet and starts to slide down the mountain with a loud, cursing cry.
Moving faster than anybody should really be able to, Laura goes into a controlled slide on the shale surface before digging her heels in and catching Storm by the collar, arresting her descent. Flipping over flat on her back, Storm looks up into unimpressed Swiss eyes.
“You’re going to get me killed!”
“I thought they had mountains in New Zealand,” Laura says.
“They do, but I’m not stupid enough to go near them.”
“Try to find whatever survival instincts might be left inside,” Laura says. “I do not want to carry you off this mountain.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have taken me up it, then,” Storm grumps. Laura ignores that.
Storm is dependent on Laura to lead, and she is left with no choice but to follow until finally the scrabbly surfaces of gravel turn to rock and then to grass as they descend toward the more domestic lower slopes.
Finally. They’re home.
Storm has never been happy to see a school before. Finding it coming into view again gives her great pleasure. She cannot wait to have a bath, peel off clothes that are now covered in dirt and sweat, and get into bed. She is the kind of tired you can only get from brisk exercise in mountain air.
Everything is going to be okay now…
“Where have you been!?”
As Storm and Laura reach Birchbane, they are greeted by Jane coming down the stairs of the chateau, cane in hand, stern expression on her elegant features. Her hair flows in the gathering evening breeze with what turns out to be dramatic warning.
Her gaze locks onto Storm, clearly immediately assuming that she has done something wrong. Hazel eyes flash green in the dwindling light, and Storm shrinks back behind Laura as she realizes she has gotten into trouble for something that was very much not her fault. It is a sickening sensation. Her stomach sinks, and her mouth goes dry. She has no appetite for further punishment, though she knows more is in store. The Basel incident is yet to be attended to. Jane has been letting her heal up before that happens, but she knows if she puts so much as a pinky out of line, that clemency will dissipate.
“I took Storm with me for a walk,” Laura says. “I must watch her. It will be easier to do so if she is exercised and therefore tired. It is hard to run when you must rest.”
“I beg your pardon?” Jane seems confused by this response. Almost as if she had no idea Laura was going to sweep in and institute a program of walkies.
Jane looks from Laura to Storm, who shrugs. None of this has been her idea.
“You should have informed me before you did that. Storm is my charge.”
“I have also been entrusted with her security.”
Storm glances from one woman to the other, sensing the battle of wills. She’s not sure who will win. Jane is formidable, but Laura is a big, strapping, ex-special forces soldier. But this isn’t a physical match, and even if it was, she gets the idea Jane is pretty scrappy when she needs to be.
“Go to my office, please, Storm.” Jane is looking Laura dead in the eye as she speaks in a way that makes Storm pretty happy she’s not Laura.
“But…” Storm argues, only because she’d much rather go have a shower and ideally lie very still for quite a long time.
“Go,” Jane says firmly. “And no loitering nearby, or you will taste the cane.”
“What the hell did I do?” Storm is immediately indignant. “It’s not my fault she decided to take me on a goddamn death march.”
“Right now, you’re talking back and being insubordinate. Go. Before I take your…”
Storm is gone before Jane can finish that threat.
Turning back to Laura, Jane composes herself. She has been rather worried since discovering the fact that Storm appeared to be missing once again. Laura’s intervention feels like interference, though it might have been well-intentioned.
“I appreciated your help the other day, but I can assure you, I have her in hand.”
Laura gives a brief shrug, a gesture Jane finds frustrating for several reasons.
This woman has been something of a mystery for days now. Jane has spent time with her, most notably on the way back from Basel, but only in the company of Hannes and she said little to nothing on that journey. It was easy to make the assumption that she was unfriendly or perhaps disinterested. But Jane is starting to think she might be something else. She might be the sort of person who watches for a long time before saying or doing anything.