The Heart of Two Worlds Read Online Free PDF Page A

chairs and bowed in respect. She awkwardly muttered a few words of welcome and shot her father a despairing look. Pavel smiled encouragingly, aware of the burden of responsibility his beloved daughter had to shoulder. Oksa scanned the sea of unfamiliar faces gazing deferentially at her and her gaze alighted on Gus, who was standing in the darkest corner of the room with Zoe. At first glance, Gus looked miserable, but Oksa, who knew him better than that, wasn’t fooled—his downturned mouth was a clear sign of annoyance. Mustering all her courage, she began walking over to him to declare her friendship in front of everyone but, after a few steps, she came up against an invisible barrier. She glanced at Zoe quizzically in surprise. Her second cousin had raised her hand in front of her to stop Oksa advancing and, like a guardian angel, was shaking her head. Oksa blushed to the roots of her hair. Zoe was right… this was neither the time nor the place. Annoyed at her own insensitivity, she turned round and took refuge beside her father.
    “We’re all together at last!” said Dragomira, her voice shaking. “Oksa, sweetheart, let me introduce you to the Runaways who’ve just joined us.”
    Oksa already knew Leomido’s children, Cameron and Galina. She’d only met them three times before and the last occasion had been with their father a few months ago, when the Pollocks had moved to Bigtoe Square. So much had happened since then… In his mid-fifties, Cameron had his father’s gaunt face and penetrating eyes. His lean frame displayed the supple elegance of Malorane’s descendants and Oksa couldn’t help seeing a resemblance to Orthon. Virginia, his wife, an unassuming, delicate-looking woman, was standing quietly by his side. Although Cameron hadn’t found out about his origins until late in life, he’d always suspected he wasn’t like other people. Truthfulness and wariness had always been his watchwords in life: truthfulness towards his family and wariness towards the rest of the world. As a result, he’d made no secret of the Runaways’ lot to hiswife and sons, three young men with mournful eyes and a very
English
air of refinement.
    Galina was three years younger than her brother Cameron and, due to some genetic quirk, was the image of Dragomira—a resemblance only enhanced by her sparkling blue eyes and long plaits intricately woven into a heavy bun. She’d fallen madly in love with Andrew, a handsome and intelligent minister, when still very young and, fortunately for Galina, Andrew had been open-minded enough to accept her remarkable origins. They’d married and their two daughters were now in their early twenties. Oksa remembered them as a fun-loving, slightly eccentric family with a robust sense of humour—nothing like the people anxiously studying her now with drawn faces. The Young Gracious couldn’t help thinking about all the lives that had been turned upside down by the threat of extinction and their headlong flight—all those abandoned houses and unsaid goodbyes… Would she prove worthy of the Runaways’ trust?
    “Thank you for joining us,” said Dragomira, overwhelmed with emotion at being in the same room as her beloved Leomido’s children and grandchildren.
    “Despite the dire circumstances, it’s an honour to help you, Young Gracious,” said Cameron, his eyes bright.
    “Our place is here,” added Galina gravely. “We’re Runaways, whether we like it or not!”
    “Even if some of us are only Runaways by marriage, everyone counts, don’t they?” added Andrew, glaring at his sullen daughters.
    “Absolutely!” agreed Abakum gratefully. “We’re indebted to all of you for coming.”

    Bodkin—the former Firmhand industrialist who had retrained as a master goldsmith in South Africa—and Cockerell—Edefia’s former Treasurer, and now a banker—greeted Oksa in their turn. Making the most ofthe prevailing chaos, these two smartly dressed old men had travelled thousands of