Free Bridge of Dreams by Anne Bishop Page B

he used music to reach people’s hearts and keep his pieces of the world in balance.
    After a long moment of staring at Michael, Sebastian’s sharp green eyes fixed on Glorianna. “He’s acting like a brat because you and the Magician are playing house?”
    “Don’t be snide about a heart’s journey,” Glorianna warned. “And Michael and I are
not
playing house.”
    “Will somebody tell me what’s going on?” Michael demanded.
    “Lee’s gone,” Teaser said. “Crossed over somewhere and poofed. Even abandoned his little island.”
    Michael looked thoughtful. Then he shook his head. “No. He doesn’t want to be around me, and I’m sorry to say it, darling, but he’s a fair waysout of tune with the darker side of you these days. But he’s not out of tune with the Light. The music in him is still in tune with Sanctuary.”
    “The island that was his personal landscape doesn’t resonate with him anymore,” Glorianna said.
    Michael looked grim. “It should.”
    She pulled away from him. Couldn’t they see she was struggling to accept this? Why wouldn’t they let her accept this? “But it doesn’t. Because he’s had enough. Don’t you see? Lee is twenty-nine years old, and he has never had a life of his own because of me.”
    “Glorianna!” Nadia said sharply, rising to her feet.
    “It’s true, Mother. You know it is.” Feeling desperate, she took a step away from them all. “He trained at the School in order to be a Bridge
for me.
He avoided making friends because he couldn’t trust anyone
because of me.
He’s never had a lover, never been a lover in the fullest sense, because he wouldn’t take the chance of the woman
betraying me.
Then I walked away from him, walked away from everyone. Well, now
he’s walked away from me.
”
    Silence.
    “That was quite a performance,” Nadia said. “Should we pass a hat and throw in some coins?”
    Stunned, Glorianna stared at her mother.
    “We are not the only family in Ephemera who has had secrets,” Nadia said. “We’re not the only family who has had to take some care in what we say and how we live. Your brother wasn’t a Bridge for you out of some sense of family duty, Glorianna. He
chose
to work with you. He
chose
to stand with you. If he’d found a woman he loved as deeply as Sebastian loves Lynnea or Michael loves you, he would have brought her around to meet the family, to meet
you.
Lee isn’t alone because of you.”
    Glorianna’s eyes stung with unshed tears. “Then why is he gone?”
    “When was the last time Lee used the island?” Sebastian asked.
    “He was doing a circuit, checking bridges,” Yoshani replied. “He returned to Sanctuary every two or three days to replenish his food and check in. When Glorianna noticed the island, I thought Lee had returned.” He tried to smile. “It was baking day, and Brighid always set some treats aside for him.”
    “The music in a man’s heart doesn’t change that much that fast,” Michael said quietly. “I’m not saying Lee didn’t find a place of interest to him that isn’t within reach of the rest of us, but a man doesn’t change that fast.”
    “Unless something happened to him,” Sebastian said.
    “Or someone happened to him?” Teaser asked.
    Glorianna stiffened. Why hadn’t she thought of that when she’d
known
it could happen?
    “All right,” Michael said. “Who could change a man that fast?”
    “Wizards,” Sebastian spat. “When I was held captive in Wizard City…”
    “Your resonance changed,” Glorianna finished softly. “Because of what they did to you. We almost lost you, Sebastian.”
    Michael turned to Yoshani. “You said Lee would check in. Do you know where he was?”
    Yoshani picked up a small book from the table beside him. “Lee kept meticulous notes about the bridges he created—where they were, what kind, and what landscapes they connected.”
    Glorianna pushed her long black hair away from her face and held out a hand for the book. “Let