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Mab cleared her throat

"Well, not all the tih Toat the falcon--he was an unusual sight, even when he wasn’t talking--and changed their course, hurrying off in the other direction

When they were out of earshot, Dad said, "Anne, let’s find a place where we can speak without gawkers I know a quiet corner" The falcon launched into the sky, circled once, then landed again "Will you follow ers "Of course I will"

Dad let out a very falcon-like squawk and took off again Watching the sky, Mo here and there on the uneven ground But she never took her eyes off the falcon that flew before her

Mab still sat on the bench I plopped down beside her, feeling like a tangled heap of li," I said "But I think it ell, don’t you?"

"I do Anne is in a bit of shock, as may be expected I felt the sa when she’ll wake up" She s reacquainted may well be more difficult than either of them anticipates, but I do believe they’ll work out their differences"

An inactive shapeshifter who’d been ed ten years ago, and her long-dead husband in the form of a man-falcon hybrid Yeah, those were soreed with Mab If anyone could overcolow of that thought snuffed out as I wondered again about the differences that stood between Kane and ure out the answer by myself, and anyway I was too tired to try

The war rass and take a nap?" I asked "It’s past h likethe day

"Of course, milady You sleep I’ll watch over you"

Had she called ain? Maybe I’d misheard her I suddenly felt too sleepy to worry about it The grass was soft and fragrant with neth I took off h that I didn’t need it--and rolled it up to use as a pillow I lay on ood to feel the solid earth support o of the tension that propelledover es of my consciousness, and I let it take irl’s voice snatched away the war around

Maria straddled her bicycle on a path about ten feet fro Her blue eyes squinted at me from under her pink bike helmet

"It is you!" She took off her hel here? Are you co over to our house? Where’s Grandma?"

I shaded my eyes with my hand "Shouldn’t you be in school?"

She shook her head and rolled her eyes simultaneously I wondered if the maneuver took practice "It’s Saturday"

"Is it? Guess I lost track" One of the hazards of having a job with no regular hours I stood, brushing grass from my jeans I retrievedin the park?"

"Because I was tired" That earnedfor Grand on the phone, and then she said she had to go to the park I wanted to come with her, but she wouldn’t let ot off her bike and wheeled it over the grass Suddenly she stopped, looking pastMab, sitting on the bench In otten she was there

"Hello, Maria I’ht so!" Maria dropped her bike and stood there, her eyes going fronize you froh her drea so had saved my life But since then Gwen had told Mab to stay away frole encounter, Maria didn’t know Mab at all

"I’m very pleased toher hand

Maria glanced atvery straight as she pumped it up and down "Pleased to o, and her forehead wrinkled "Why doesn’t Mom want me to talk to you?"

Mab raised her eyebrows at me, then turned to Maria "Your mother won’t explain, and she h in Lately it see up a little, and I hoped--"

"Mo up? Please"

"You o, ht It troubled her deeply, and I’ between her andit, but Gwen reer than I’ve been alive Why can’t she just get over it already?"

"Maria" The sharpness in my own voice reminded me of Mab "Don’t be unkind"

"Sorry But it’s not fair to keep reat-aunt and not even tell ht to interfere with Gwen’s parenting Gwen had her blind spots, but she was a good ht you live in Wales"