Authors: Kelley Grant

The World Weavers (31 page)

BOOK: The World Weavers

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Sulis was next to last as they used the rope to climb the rocky face. Abram pulled her up onto the shelf and embraced her enthusiastically at the top.

“I knew you were alive,” he said. “Even when we found the path down collapsed and they told me no one could have survived that energy blast.”

“You must have inherited Grandmother's energy linking talent,” Sulis said as he helped Ashraf onto the shelf and ushered both of them to his group. Half the rescue party were Tigus, and Onyeka was hugging a tall older Tigu man.

“That's her father, Turo,” Kadar told her. “Abram says we are close to the surface. They'd just found a path down and hiked a ways when they reached this outcropping.”

Sulis eagerly followed the group, looking around at the changed landscape. Though they were close to the surface, she did not see the craggy mountains looming overhead. They reached a final ledge and Ashraf heaved himself up, then turned and gave Sulis his hand, helping her crawl out.

“By the One,” Kadar said softly, and she stood and looked around.

The tall cliffs of the mountains were gone. It looked like a giant hand had knocked them over, leaving jagged hills behind. Rocks were strewn on vast fields to the south of the black hills. Off in the distance, Sulis could see a golden light and smoke at the top of one of the taller hills, molten rock pouring down the side.

“Our city,” Onyeka breathed, turning to her father. “Was it destroyed?”

“We don't know,” Turo said. “The warriors of the One sent their energy channelers to the city before the weaving. We pray to the One they were able to protect our tribes. Look how all the rocks settled on the south side. We think that was from the shielding they set up.”

“Sulis,” Ashraf said. “Turn around.”

Sulis tore her eyes from the decimated mountain and turned.

“What?” she murmured, and moved around a large rock in her way.

There was a great lake spreading down the valley, clear off into the distance. Sulis could see the waymarker to the path they were on sticking out of the shallows closest to them. A large camp was set up a short way from them, spreading around the edges of the lake.

Abram stepped up beside her. “Our group had barely made it to the oasis when the weaving began. When we felt energy being drawn, and the ground shook as the mountains collapsed, suddenly water spewed out of the earth, like it was pulled to the surface by a great force,” he said. “We grabbed what supplies we could and ran, but some Âpeople were too slow and drowned. We ran clear to the waymarker and could still hear water rushing in the dark. When the sun came up, we saw the lake. We don't know how far it goes.”

“Any other surprises?” Sulis asked.

Abram shrugged. “We don't know. We still haven't been able to communicate with Âpeople far away,” he said. “The energy is too unstable. We don't know what happened to our healers and the warriors of the One who were closer to the deities' army during the sandstorm. We've sent out runners in each direction. Until they return or we can
farspeak
again, we don't know how much our world has changed. Come, Master Yaoni will want to see you and hear that some of his friends survived. You must have quite a tale to tell.”

“We certainly do,” Sulis murmured to Ashraf as they walked toward the camp. “How are we going to get around this lake to go to Frubia?”

“We'll manage,” he said with a grin. “It will be a new adventure, exploring this changed world.

“A new adventure indeed,” Lasha said, stepping up beside them. “We must be completely crazy.”

Sulis glanced between them and grinned. “I can't imagine better Âpeople to go exploring with,” she said.

They paused and looked up as large raindrops began falling on them. Ashraf grabbed her hand and she grabbed Lasha's and they ran laughing to the tents and Âpeople waiting below.

EPILOGUE

D
jinn watched his Âpeople run to the human-Âmade shelters, his tail lashing at the indignity as he considered the rain. Alta swatted at his twitching tail and dashed ahead, plunging into the waters of the lake for a swim. Pax joined her and they splashed in the shallow waters together.

Danger had passed. The One had given all his most faithful companions a choiceâÂgo back to the wild and live free, or stay with their humans. The
feli
's vow to protect the humans from the deities was fulfilled. They were free. Djinn knew that many
feli
had returned to the wilds around them, especially those who resided in the stinky, closed-Âin city.

But Djinn knew his Âpeople would be lost without him. They were so clumsy, these gawky two-Âleggers, so much like the
feli
cubs before they gained their first growth. And Djinn did like his chin scratches and belly rubs. Humans could be terribly useful. He would be lonely without his Sulis, and her mate was respectful enough to him. And they did odd things that somewhat baffled him, but also kept things interesting.

The other
feli
of the Chosen agreed with him. They were lucky to have interesting humans to bond with. They would see what these interesting humans did in this new world.

Djinn's ears pricked forward as he saw movement in the rock. An unwary hare peered out at him and he gave chase, finally stretching cramped legs as he overtook the creature.

A successful hunt, water to play in with his
feli
companions, and a human to squeal in protest as he lay his wet body down against hers in the night. Such silliness to worry about the future when now was here. Djinn gave a great sigh, laid his head on Sulis's chest, and purred as she stroked him behind the ears.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

W
ow, the Desert Rising series is completed! I could not have done it without the guidance of my wonderful editor Rebecca Lucash and the entire staff of Harper Voyager who brought Sulis, Kadar, and Djinn to life. And, of course, thanks to my first reader Janice Berry Paganini who led me in the right direction once again.

I'd like to thank all my friends in my yoga community for keeping me centered and sane. A special thanks to Rebekah Walters for bringing Djinn to life in fused glass, to Judy Lensing and Rose Beach for being number one fans, and Emily Baxter for creating new fans through her book club. Thanks to Jim Gill with the Dover Public Library and Glen Welsh with The Book Loft of German Village for hosting me, and all the fans and friends who came out to show their support. Huge thanks to all my readersâÂthere would be no Djinn without your love and encouragement.

Much thanks to my family for their love and support through the publishing process. And all my love to Brian for being my support and for driving, coaxing, and loving me through this whole crazy business.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KELLEY GRANT
grew up in the hills of Ohio's Amish country. Her best friends were the books she read, stories she created, and the forest and fields that inspired her. She and her husband live on a wooded hilltop and are owned by five cats, a dog, and numerous uninvited critters. Besides writing, Kelley teaches yoga and meditation, sings kirtan with her husband, and designs brochures and media.

www.kelleygrantbooks.com

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

THE WORLD WEAVERS
. Copyright Â© 2016 by Kelley Grant-ÂKelley. All rights reserved under International and Pan-ÂAmerican Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-Âbook on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-Âengineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperÂCollins e-Âbooks. For information, address HarperÂCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.

EPub Edition APRIL 2016 ISBN: 9780062382535

Version 04052016

Print Edition ISBN: 9780062382566

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