Adarra was too busy trying to keep her teeth from chattering to join in the joke. “Is Fraya still here?” she asked.
“Yes, I believe she is. But let me direct you first to my lord’s study. I’m sure he will be anxious to hear of your safe return.” Without giving them a chance to object, Piel was off, headed for a long hallway tucked between two semicircular staircases.
Ty admired the enormous chandelier that always seemed to catch his attention whenever he visited the manor. It hung all the way to the second-floor railing, spreading a warm glow around the otherwise cold-looking room.
“I thought the overlord was meeting with the Sidaran Assembly,” Adarra said as she tried her best to keep up with the others.
“Yes, of course, but that meeting isn’t for another couple of hours yet. He’s preparing now.”
“I wonder why Father left so early, then,” Adarra said.
Breen glanced over his shoulder. “He must be meeting with the council first.”
They stopped outside a set of decoratively carved doors and waited as Piel knocked.
“Yes?” a voice asked from the other side.
“Master Breen, Master Ty, and Madam Adarra are here to see you, sir.”
“Send them in.”
The chamberlain opened the door.
As the overlord stood from his seat near the hearth, Ty could see papers spread across the table in front of him. “Breen, Ty, it’s good to see you. We feared the worst.” Barl crossed the room with a limp, and instead of taking their hands, he hugged each in turn. Fighting side by side in battle had evidently afforded its privileges. “When did you arrive?”
“A couple of nights ago,” Breen said.
Barl looked at Ty. “The last I saw of you, young man, I wouldn’t have laid a wager on your survival. That wizard of yours must have quite the gift.” Ty smiled, and the overlord turned and headed back to the fire. “Come, tell me all about it. Lyessa and Fraya are upstairs with Aiden, but I’m sure they’ll be down soon enough once Piel relays news of your arrival.”
The three followed the overlord to a small sitting area in front of the hearth and took the settee across from him.
“I want to offer my strongest condolences for your loss. Your mother was one of the bravest women I know, and her dedication to her family is beyond words. She will be sorely missed.”
Ty attempted and failed to hold a strong face. He was thankful that his brother was the first to speak.
“Thank you, my lord. That means more than you know.”
“Yes, well . . .”
No one knew quite what to say; the silence was filled with the crackling and popping of the fire.
Barl turned to one of the guards at the door. “Have Piel bring drinks.”
“Yes, Your Lordship.”
Barl leaned back in his chair. “So, tell me, where did that wizard end up taking you? The last we saw, you were heading north.”
Ty looked at Breen to see who would speak first, but by the time he realized Breen was waiting on him, the door to the study burst open, and Lyessa and Fraya hurried in.
Ty joined Breen and Adarra in standing to greet the new arrivals. Fraya threw her arms around Breen, and for a brief moment, Ty thought Lyessa was about to do the same to him. Instead, she stopped just short, then punched him in the arm.
“Ow! What was that for?”
“That was for not coming to see me sooner.” She took a step back and stared at the top of his head.
“What are you looking at?”
“Your white hair. I’m trying to decide if I like it or not.” She pursed her lips. “Hmm. I think I do. Makes you look . . . older.”
“If the young ladies are quite done with their greetings,” Lyessa’s father said, “these two were about to regale me with the tale of their journey to Meerwood, if that’s indeed where they went.”
They moved to the larger sofa to accommodate Fraya and Lyessa.
“It is,” Ty said as he took his seat beside Lyessa. She smelled of honeysuckle. It was intoxicating.
On the end of the sofa, Adarra’s attention kept straying toward the door. A knock had her jumping in her seat. But instead of Aiden, Piel and some of the kitchen staff entered with drinks and desserts for the group.
“That’s a very pretty dress, Adarra,” Lyessa remarked, taking a goblet from one of the trays.
“What, this old thing?” Adarra shook her head with a nervous chuckle.
The look on Lyessa’s face said she was hardly fooled. “Here, why don’t you take this up to Aiden?” She handed Adarra one of the goblets. “He’s still claiming to be too weak to leave the bed, so I’m sure he’d appreciate the company.”
Adarra grabbed the cup. “Well, only if you think it’s necessary.” She stood and made a quick retreat through the door.
“And make sure he drinks the whole thing,” Lyessa said with a wink to Fraya.
“I will,” Adarra called back over her shoulder, hurrying into the hallway and disappearing around the corner. The two girls giggled. Even Breen chuckled.
Ty thought Adarra was acting like a complete fool. He took a sip of his spiced cider and let the warmth coat his dry throat.
Beside him, Lyessa purred as she drank hers. Ty noticed she was back to wearing her fluffy gowns again. As much as he enjoyed seeing her in them, he missed the leather trousers and top she’d worn during their battle with the Tallosians. Realizing what he was doing, he turned his head. What was he thinking, ogling the overlord’s daughter right in front of the overlord? Ty forced his attention back to his drink.
After helping himself to a refill, he joined his brother in entertaining the group with the story of their journey to Meerwood. It was also another reminder of the commitment he’d made. Nyalis hadn’t exactly given him a deadline to start his quest, but if he waited too long, the wizard might grow impatient.
“I don’t see why you need to go running off on some insane mission to find an old magic school,” Lyessa said. “You’re only sixteen. Doesn’t that crazy wizard know that?”
Ty’s smile started to slip. “What does my age have to do with it? My magic is becoming a danger to me and to others. I need to understand how it works so I can control it. There might be answers there as to who or what I am.” Not to mention, it was his best chance at finding a way to kill Mangora.
“I don’t understand why we can’t go with you,” she said.
Ty shrugged. “The rules, evidently.”
“What rules? What if something happens?”
“I don’t—”
“How are you going to defend yourself? You can barely hold a sword.”
“Lyessa,” her father butted in. “After what we’ve seen him do, I’d say Ty’s more than capable of defending himself.”
Ty shifted in his seat. At least someone recognized his talents.
“I believe, my lord,” Breen said, holding his empty glass protectively between his hands, “that it might be prudent for us to plan for the protection of Sidara in the coming days.”
Ty was thankful for his brother’s intervention.
“Like father, like son,” Barl said with a smile. “Your father, Ambassador Lanmiere, and myself spent the better part of last week discussing that very concern. Perhaps the two of you should join us this afternoon for our meeting with the assembly. Since you are familiar with this wizard, maybe you could shed some light on what you think we might be facing.”
Breen leaned forward in his seat. “We’d be happy to help in any way we can.”
Ty nodded reluctantly, uncomfortable with the prospect of being asked to address the Sidaran Assembly. It was one thing to be an official member of the wielder council, but now he was being asked to address the governing body of Sidara. Did Barl expect him to reveal his identity to the assembly?
“Capital.” Lyessa’s father scooted to the edge of his seat. “Well, I don’t want to keep you chatting with a worn-out old man like me when you have far prettier company to entertain.
”
“Father,” Lyessa scolded. “You’re not old.”
Barl stood, and the others joined him.
“If you wouldn’t mind, sir,” Breen said, “we would like to pay our respects to Master Raycrest. We heard he was injured trying to protect our mother and sister from the Northmen, and we thought while we were here—”
“Yes, yes, of course. Good idea.” Lord Barl turned to Lyessa. “Would you take them up, dear?”
“Yes, Daddy.” Lyessa kissed her father on the cheek and then led them out.
Chapter 33 | Ty
LYESSA LED THEM BACK to the main foyer and up the left stairs to the second floor. Behind her, Ty took a moment to glance at the portraits decorating the wall. Each depicted a former lord or lady in various settings. The first held a bow, ready to shoot, hounds baying in the foreground while a covey of grouse flew in the back. Ty thought that if this were meant to be a realistic depiction, then the lord must have been blind. He was aiming his bow in the wrong direction.
He scanned the rest as he made his way to the top of the stairs: a lady playing a harp in a sitting room, a man holding a lavish feast, a lancer of unknown rank riding a white stallion. It was clear that Lyessa’s ancestors thought very highly of themselves.
Behind him, Ty could hear Fraya and Breen whispering. He didn’t turn around, but he smiled at the thought of his tough, woodsy brother being led around by a girl nearly half his size. The thought vanished when Ty’s arm was suddenly jerked to the left as Lyessa led him down the next hall. At least Fraya was gentle about it.
“So, how is your betrothed?” Ty asked, attempting to walk beside her without accidentally stepping on her dress. “Relaxing comfortably, I presume?” Knowing Aiden, he was probably decked in a satin robe under silk sheets with servants waiting on his every whim. What did Adarra see in him, anyway?
“He’s not my betrothed,” Lyessa said, turning down the next hall.
“I thought . . .”
“Well, you thought wrong.”
Ty smiled but turned his head so she wouldn’t see.
“As terrible as the battle was, it did make some things very clear.”
“Like?”
“Like I have no intention of marrying a man who . . .” She didn’t finish, but Ty got the picture. Lyessa wouldn’t be with a man who was afraid to stand his ground and fight.
They stopped outside the fourth door on the right, and Ty took a deep breath. He wasn’t sure how he would respond to seeing Aiden again, especially after what he’d done to Ty. But then again, Aiden had nearly died trying to protect Ty’s mother and sister from the Northmen, which was more than Ty had been able to do. Again, he bit his tongue, trying unsuccessfully to think of anything but how he had failed his mother.
Lyessa knocked, waited a moment, then peeked inside. “You decent?”
“I would hope so, with me sitting here,” Adarra said from the other side of the door.
Lyessa released her hold on Ty’s arm and opened the door the rest of the way. “You have some visitors, Aiden.”
Ty was grateful she had relinquished his arm. Lyessa and Aiden might not still have been betrothed, but it would have looked awkward nonetheless.
He followed her in, with Breen and Fraya just behind.
Aiden smiled from his seat against some pillows at the head of his bed. “Ty. Breen. It’s good to see you. We were worried.”
Ty didn’t respond.
Aiden was in his nightshirt, with his covers pulled to his waist. It was the most natural-looking Ty had ever seen him. No satin robe, no lace tunic, no powdered face. Just a simple white three-button shirt.
“Master Raycrest.” Breen bowed slightly. “I believe we owe you a debt.”
I wouldn’t go that far, Ty thought.
“We wanted to see how you were doing and offer you our sincere thanks.”
Aiden lowered his head. “You owe me nothing.” He looked at Adarra, who was sitting quietly in a chair next to his bed. “Truly, the praise goes to your sister and your mother. If not for them, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Ty’s mouth opened slightly. Was this the same Aiden Raycrest? Amazing what a single brush with death could do to a man.
“Not forgetting Fraya, of course,” Aiden added, offering her a warm smile. “If not for her healing, my family would be mourning my passing as we speak.”
Breen took a step toward the door. “We’ll let you get your rest, then. We have a meeting in town to get ready for.”
Ty turned and started for the door. That wasn’t as bad as—
“Ty, could you wait a moment?”
Ty stopped just shy of the handle and slowly turned back around.
Aiden looked at Lyessa. “Do you mind if I talk with Ty privately?”
Lyessa cast a curious glance in Ty’s direction before shrugging and walking to the door. She waited for Adarra and the others to step out before shutting it behind her.
Ty’s stomach churned. What could Aiden possibly want to talk to him about? Was he waiting for everyone to leave so he could tell Ty what he really thought of him? Did he think Ty was trying to encroach on his arrangement with Lyessa?
“Ty, I need to ask your forgiveness.”
Ty froze, his mouth agape.
Aiden folded his hands in his lap, barely managing to look at Ty. “I have nothing to blame but my own cowardice. When I tried to hand you over, I wasn’t doing it to save the others. I was doing it to save . . . me.”
Even though Aiden’s confession wasn’t anything Ty didn’t already know, Ty was still left speechless. He stared at Aiden, not sure how to respond. He was making it really hard for Ty to hate him. Why wasn’t Aiden saying anything? Was he waiting on Ty to say something? The silence was growing uncomfortable. “There’s—”
“Can you forgive me?”
Ty stopped, the tension easing as he released a slow exhale. He hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath. “There’s nothing to forgive. If it had been me, I might have done the same thing.” Ty’s own shame seemed to be pulling the words out of him. “There’s things we all regret that are best left in the past.”
Aiden studied him for a moment. “That’s very noble of you to say, but somehow I doubt that in my place, you would have done the same.”
Ty wanted to say something sarcastic like You’re right, I wouldn’t have. But he couldn’t bring himself to do it, especially not after such a completely humbling admission. “Then your apology is accepted.”
Aiden relaxed, his relief evident. “Thank you.”
Ty nodded. He stood there a moment longer and, when nothing else was said, opened the door. “We’ll stop by again in a day or so.” He passed Adarra on his way out.
Adarra took her seat beside the bed, and Fraya stuck her head in the door. “I’ll be back tomorrow to check on you.” She shut the door all but a crack.
“You two go on ahead,” Lyessa said with a wink to Fraya. “We’ll catch up.”
Gladly accepting the offer for some alone time with Ty’s brother, Fraya snatched Breen’s arm and guided him back toward the entry staircase. Lyessa took Ty’s arm and turned them in the opposite direction.
“Where are we going?”
“I’m giving Fraya and your brother some time to talk. She’s been practically beside herself with worry over the last few days. They could use a private moment. Besides, we’ve got some talking of our own to do, don’t you think?”
“We do?”
“So, what did Aiden have to say?”
Ty thought a moment. “He wanted me to know that he wasn’t going to let you go without a fight, and that as soon as he was healed, he’d demand a duel.”
Lyessa stopped, her eyes as wide as her mouth as she spun him around. “He said what?”
Ty snickered. “He wanted to apologize for trying to hand me over to the witch.”
Lyessa huffed and punched him in the arm, then started down the hall once more. “He actually said he was sorry?”
“I know,” Ty said, catching up. “Shocked me, too.”
“I’m impressed,” she said. “But that’s not what we need to talk about.”
“It’s not?”
“No.” She pulled him to a stop. “We need to talk about this nonsense of you leaving.”
He sighed. “There’s nothing to talk about. I need to understand how these abilities work. Nyalis said he could train me, but for that to happen, I have to find this wizard’s keep.”
“This Nyalis character seems to have a lot of demands,” she said. “Why can’t you take anyone with you?” She scooted a little closer and slowly ran her finger down the side of his arm, the same arm she’d just bruised a moment ago. “I could come with you if you want.” She batted her eyes.
Ty’s jaw dropped. He wasn’t sure what shocked him more, Aiden’s apology or Lyessa’s flirting. Was this the same girl who had just recently cut a man’s head off in front of him? He closed his mouth with a gulp. “Nyalis was clear. I can’t take anyone with me. Besides, I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
“Hurt? I was the one saving you, remember?”
A fact Ty was painfully aware of. “I know. I just—”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I’m not saying you can’t. Ugh. You’re impossible.”
She smiled as though she’d beaten him once again. He hated when she did that. It was her way of making it seem she was always right.
“Let’s go see if Breen and Fraya are ready,” he said, this time pulling her along.
They turned the next corner and glided down the opposite stairwell from the one they had ascended earlier and made their way across the marble-tiled floor to the front entrance.
One of the guards opened the door, and they stepped through. As soon as they saw Fraya’s arms wrapped around Breen’s neck at the bottom of the steps, they quickly turned their heads, trying to appear inconspicuous, and ended up facing one another.
Ty’s mouth went dry as he found himself staring into Lyessa’s deep-green eyes. They were bright, full of excitement. His heart was pounding. She really was one of the most beautiful girls he’d ever seen. His feelings were starting to get the better of him. How long had this been going on? It didn’t seem so long ago that he’d wanted to strangle her with his bare hands, and now he wanted to wrap those hands around her.
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