Shredder 49
Gerard laughed and clapped his hands, “Outstanding. Your mother would be so proud.”
Merinde’s features darkened. “No. I don’t think she would,” she said, turning away to gaze off into the distance.
Silence ruled for a time, Gerard choosing prudence over plowing ahead and Merinde waiting for an unseen cue. The foul weather which had been threatening them walked further north, sparing them the sodden unpleasantness.
“The sky here is so different,” she said, “I don’t know how I didn’t see it right away. The light has such a glow to it.” She shook her head with faint recollection. “I expect my mother does not even know I am gone. We didn’t part on the best of terms.”
“Sorry for your difficulties,” Gerard said, “My own mother died giving birth to me. So I never had the chance to know her. You had that opportunity at least.”
Merinde turned and gave him a wry smirk. “That’s terrible little to be honest. Seems as though we could have benefitted from exchanged parentage. You seem like a good sort. I believe your mother would have liked you.”
Gerard smiled at the kindness, but sadly at the implication for Merinde’s own mother. “Well there’s not much to be done for it now, and who knows, maybe you’ll yet get the chance to purge the bad blood.”
Merinde snorted. “I can’t envision that ever happening, even if I could get back home. So, let’s just move forward. What’s the plan to bag our nosy friend?”
And that is when the arrow punched through her neck.