Crystal Moon

by Elysa Hendricks

  Her hand settled on his calf, and a jolt went through him. In

  that instant he felt her reverence, her yearning, her satisfied

  lassitude. And something more. Her honesty.

  Before his conviction of her guilt crumbled, he jerked away.

  Unwilling to accept what he sensed, he broke the spell she cast

  over him with her touch. He refused to fall victim to her witchery

  as the others had. Hakan pranced, protesting Kyne’s rough

  handling.

  She stepped back from the restless quinar and looked up at

  Kyne. “What’s wrong? Did you feel it, too? The connection?”

  The question struck at him. What did she sense from him?

  Used to hiding his emotions behind a mask of calm command,

  the thought this small woman could penetrate that facade made

  him wary.

  “I felt nothing. We must head back to the castle before

  dark.”

  As the sun continued to sink, the glow faded and the world

  returned to normal.

  “Come.” Unnaturally gruff, his voice echoed in the growing

  twilight. He urged Hakan forward, leaving her to walk behind.

  But he couldn’t leave behind his growing doubts so easily.

  When she touched his leg, Sianna felt connected to Kyne.

  She read his turmoil, sensed his doubts and confusion about her

  and something more—desire. The heat of his emotion excited

  and frightened her, as had his talk of Andacor, a place she’d

  never heard of, yet somehow knew.

  ***

  The next day, shouts and the clatter of hooves in the courtyard

  broke the early morning silence and drew Sianna’s attention

  from her patient. She welcomed the distraction from her

  thoughts. Though she’d again lain awake for hours, she’d fallen

  asleep before Kyne returned to his chamber. And when she

  awoke this morning he had already left. She should be relieved

  he seemed to require nothing from her. Instead she felt a vague

  sense of disappointment.

  “Do you have a healer? We have injured,” a voice called.

  Sianna hurried from the great hall out into the yard, Warda

  trotting just behind. Dozens of people milled about, voices raised

  in confusion.

  “I am a healer.” She moved toward the tall man who

  appeared to be the group’s leader. “Bring your injured within.”

  The man turned. Sianna stopped mid-step. She felt the blood

  drain from her face.

  “Laila.” The word came out a mere breath of sound. Even

  though Laila, dressed in men’s clothing, had chopped her hair

  short about her head, and blood and grime smeared her cheeks,

  Sianna knew her sister.

  For a moment Laila stared at Sianna, then recognition

  dawned, and her features grew stiff. To another man she said,

  “Carry the injured inside and see them settled. I will speak to

  the healer and the castle’s Rul.” She gripped Sianna’s arm and

  pulled her away from the crowd toward a deserted corner of

  the courtyard.

  Warda gave a low growl, his eyes never leaving Laila. She

  paid him no mind.

  “Laila...”

  “My name is Lisha. The other you speak of is dead. I lead

  these people and bear a message for Rul Cathor.”

  “But La..Lisha. It’s not safe for you here. You must leave

  immediately.” Terror made Sianna’s voice shake. “If anyone

  discovers your identity, they’ll rip you apart.”

  “And what of you? Do they know who you are?”

  “No. A few believe I am you, but they have a use for me—

  you. So for the time I am safe enough.” In the last few days

  Sianna had learned more of her father’s sins than her gentle

  heart could bear. “The people here hate our father. Since coming

  here I’ve learned why, but I’ll not stand by and see you suffer

  for his crimes. Though they believe differently, I know you’ve

  no part in his evil.”

  Laila laughed without humor, the sound harsh and pained.

  “You have the look of your mother and see the world as she

  did, a place where the good outweighs the bad.”

  “You knew her?” All her life Sianna had wondered and

  dreamed about the woman who had given her life and died

  doing so. If she had lived would all have been different?

  Laila nodded, her gaze growing softer. “DiSanti brought

  her home from the mountains when I was six annum. Though

  he kept her against her will, she was ever kind to me.”

  “I don’t understand. Our father stole my mother?”

  “Now is not the time for this discussion. I must see to my

  people and speak to Rul Cathor. I have news he will want to

  hear.”

  “But I....”

  “We will talk later, when there are not so many ears about.

  I would know how you come to be here, but my injured need to

  be cared for first.”

  “Yes, of course.” Sianna pushed her curiosity aside. “You

  are right. How many injured do you have?”

  “Three seriously and a half a dozen minor.”

  Reluctantly, Sianna turned to leave. There was so much

  she wanted to know, to ask, but now was not the time. Would

  there be time?

  Laila’s soft voice stopped her. “Go carefully, little sister.

  We tread a narrow ledge along a steep drop. One misstep, and

  we plunge to our doom.”

  The ominous words sent a chill down Sianna’s spine. Why

  did Laila come here, to the stronghold of their father’s greatest

  enemy? What did she seek from the brother of her lover? Did

  Laila know of Aubin’s death at their father’s hands? Sianna

  thought it likely. Though she couldn’t read Laila’s emotions, an

  aura of desolation surrounded her sister that even someone

  without empathic skills could sense.

  Lost in thought, Sianna walked toward the castle. To her

  left, a flash of color caught her eye. She turned and met Zoa’s

  puzzled gaze. Before Sianna could call out, Zoa darted away

  into the crowd still filling the courtyard. How much had the

  child heard? What did she understand? And whom would she

  tell?

  ***

  Kyne allowed the warrior woman to enter his chamber in

  front of him. Something about this woman tugged at his memory.

  He felt he should know her, but her name and appearance were

  unfamiliar to him. He would listen before he determined a course

  of action.

  Having refused his offer to refresh herself first, she strode

  into the room still wearing bloodstained clothing. Her face and

  hands bore evidence of a battle recently fought. As if

  convenience meant more to her than vanity, she’d hacked off

  her dark hair close to her head. Stiff with sweat and grime, the

  color was impossible to determine. Only the proud tilt of her

  head, her rigid spine, and the fire burning in her eyes kept her

  from looking like a refugee of war. No common rebel,

  aristocratic blood flowed through this woman’s veins. The feeling

  he should know her intensified.

  Halfway into the room she whirled to face him. “There is

  little time. A caravan left from the Southern Province for the

/>   capital less than a tenday ago. It contains enough supplies and

  arms to provision an army. If it reaches DiSanti, our cause is

  lost. But if we move quickly, we can take it ourselves.”

  “Our cause?” Kyne settled his hip against the table, crossed

  his arms over his chest and studied the woman. Suspicion made

  him cautious, but hope flickered to life. “What is your name?

  Where do you come by this information? And why should you

  care?”

  “Why should I care,” she sputtered. “Because...”

  A knock at the door stopped her. Body going taut, she

  reached for the sword at her waist.

  “Be easy, woman,” Kyne cautioned. “An enemy intent on

  harm would not be likely to knock.”

  Some of the tension eased from her, but she kept her fingers

  on the hilt of her sword.

  “Enter.” Kyne turned toward the door as Graham and Katya

  came in.

  At the sight of Katya, the woman gasped an unintelligible

  word, and the color drained from her already pale face.

  Before she collected herself and schooled her features to

  mask the pain he sensed inside her, Kyne heard a wealth of

  misery in her ragged whisper. Only her eyes reflected her inner

  torment. What about Katya had triggered this warrior woman’s

  odd reaction?

  “Graham Denby and Katya Cathor this is...” Kyne looked

  to the woman to supply her name.

  “Lisha,” she said.

  “Lisha?”

  “Just Lisha. I claim no other name.”

  Curious. What did she run from or wish to hide by claiming

  no family affiliation? “Tell them what you’ve told me.”

  In brief, staccato sentences Lisha told Graham and Katya

  of the heavily laden caravan and how it could be taken. She

  moved to the table and grabbed a map. “If we strike here two

  days from now, we can take the caravan.” She jabbed her

  finger at the map. “There is no time to waste. If we leave

  immediately we’ll just make it. Once the caravan goes through

  the pass, it will be met by DiSanti’s guard, and we lose our

  chance. He has too many men to risk a confrontation with him

  in the open.”

  “Why should we trust you?” Suspicion laced Katya’s voice.

  “How do you know all this? Perhaps you’re sent here to lead

  us into a trap. Why didn’t you go after this caravan on your

  own? Why come to us?”

  Lisha threw up her hands. “I lead a band of fewer than

  fifteen men, not nearly enough to take on a well-guarded

  caravan. Three were badly injured when DiSanti’s men

  discovered our base. We barely escaped with our lives. The

  rest are old men, women and children. To succeed this attack

  needs at least fifty men.” She turned toward Kyne and Graham.

  “Do you have that many?”

  Neither man answered.

  “Tell me.” She pulled out her sword and tossed it on the

  table. “Either trust me or kill me. You must decide.”

  Strong, reckless emotions drove this woman—rage, pain,

  vengeance. Kyne could feel her passion shimmering in the air.

  Still her information was sound. With caution they could take

  the caravan. He looked over at Graham and gave a nod.

  “Come, Katya.” Graham took her arm. “We have

  preparations to make if we are to leave within the hour.”

  “But...” Katya protested as Graham led her out.

  After the door closed behind them, Kyne locked eyes with

  Lisha. “Do not play us false, or I will kill you.”

  Lisha laughed harshly. “I am already dead. My body merely

  functions to see DiSanti in his grave.”

  “Are you hurt?” Kyne hesitated to send Sianna to this angry

  woman. If she learned Sianna’s identity....With one hand Lisha

  could break Sianna’s delicate neck. The thought of Sianna dead

  shook him to his core.

  “Minor injuries only, but I would see the young healer. I

  wish her to treat my wounds, so I can ride with your men.”

  “Take clean clothing from my chest. Rest a bit. I’ll send up

  food and...the healer. Have a care you don’t frighten her. She’s

  a gentle soul.” Even as he spoke the warning, Kyne wondered

  from where his urge to protect his enemy’s daughter sprang.

  ***

  Sianna watched from the shadows outside Kyne’s chamber

  as Graham and Katya emerged. Laila and Kyne remained within.

  Fear rooted Sianna’s feet to the stone floor. What did Laila

  want with Kyne? Would Kyne discern Laila’s identity?

  “I don’t trust her.” Katya pulled against Graham’s hold on

  her arm. “And stop dragging me about like a delinquent child.”

  “Then cease acting like one. Your brother knows what he’s

  doing. For once in your life, instead of fighting him every step

  of the way, trust him. He needs your support, not your

  antagonism.”

  The sound of their argument faded as they moved away.

  Sianna stepped out of the shadows and started to leave as well.

  The door opened again, and Kyne saw her.

  “Sianna.”

  Her name on his lips sounded sweet. She stopped with her

  back to him. “Yes.”

  “The woman’s wounds need tending.”

  Laila is hurt! Again, Sianna cursed the fact she could sense

  little from those who shared her blood. She started toward the

  chamber. “How badly is she injured?”

  “She says her wounds are minor, but I think even if the

  woman was close to death she would insist on riding out with

  my men and me.”

  “You’re leaving?” A flutter of panic blossomed inside her.

  Though Kyne posed the biggest threat to her well being, his

  presence represented security. “Why? Where?”

  “Lisha has information of a supply caravan. We go to

  intercept it.”

  Laila, Kyne, Graham, and others she had come to care for

  in the past few days went to challenge her father. Would they

  return unharmed?

  “From what she says, the caravan will supply our needs

  through the winter and beyond—if it’s not a trap.”

  “La...Lisha would not betray you.”

  Kyne shot her a sharp look. “You know this woman?”

  “No. No, of course not.” With a lie on her lips, Sianna

  could not meet Kyne’s gaze. “I just sense her devotion to your

  cause. And it’s obvious she has no love for my father.”

  “I believe you are right. Her hatred for DiSanti runs deep.

  I wonder just what she’s lost to him.” Kyne lifted Sianna’s chin

  with his knuckle. “If you value your neck, have a care you do

  not mention your true identity to her. I doubt even I could save

  you from this woman’s wrath.”

  His mouth softened into a rueful smile. Like the stroke of a

  feather he trailed his fingertip down her throat. Sianna’s breath

  caught on a shiver of longing. Then he turned and walked away.

  As he left, she watched, wondering just what she wanted

  from Kyne. Acceptance? Forgiveness?

  A tidal wave of thoughts slammed into her.

  Trust.

  Passion.

  Love.

  Things she
would never have.

  Seven

  Sianna entered Kyne’s chamber cautiously. Her sister—a

  stranger—stood at the window, head bowed, back to Sianna.

  What would she learn from this woman? Of herself? Her past?

  Her future?

  “Laila.”

  Laila’s shoulders stiffened, but she didn’t turn. “Do not call

  me by that name. Laila is dead. Killed along with Aubin by our

  father.”

  “Are you certain?” Despite the evidence, Sianna still wanted

  to deny her father’s guilt. She wanted, needed to love him.

  Besides this intense young woman before her, he was her only

  family.

  Eyes blazing with a fierce light, Laila spun around. “Don’t

  waste your hopes on our father. Edric DiSanti loves no one.

  We are nothing but pawns in his game of power. I learned this

  lesson too late. By blinding myself to his evil, I lost the man I

  loved, and my ka.” The light faded from her eyes, and her body

  sagged.

  Sianna reached out to touch Laila’s arm, but as if repulsed,

  her sister jerked away. Hurt by Laila’s obvious rejection of

  comfort, Sianna waited.

  A mask of composure settled over Laila as she sat at the

  table. “Sit. There is much to speak of.” Her clipped tones hid

  from Sianna any hint of emotion. “Why are you here? Do these

  people know you are DiSanti’s daughter?”

  “Only a few. Rul Cathor keeps my identity a secret.”

  “Why? Do you share his bed?”

  At the thought, heat rushed to Sianna’s cheeks.

  “No...yes...but not in that way.” She had been asleep when

  Kyne returned to his chamber the night before, but tonight....

  A knowing grin transformed Laila’s stern features from

  merely striking to beautiful. “In time, little sister, in time. The

  man wants you. It is evident when he looks at you. He warned

  me not to frighten or harm you. The question is do you want

  him?”

  Sianna tried but failed to look horrified. “I don’t want....”

  She couldn’t force the lie past her lips. She wanted Kyne in

  every way a woman could want a man. “You must be mistaken.

  He despises me and all our family. He seeks only to keep me

  safe as a means to trap our father.” What did Laila see that

  she, even with her gift, could not?

  “Time will tell.” Laila smiled and let the subject drop. “How