Call of Madness by Julie Dean Smith

Author:Julie Dean Smith
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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CHAPTER 11

AS ATHAYA HAD EXPECTED, TYLER WAS SUSPICIOUS WHEN she told him they were leaving Reyka immediately without offering any explanations as to why. He did not press her for a reason—probably knowing she would refuse to supply one—but the next morning, as he hitched his leather saddlebags to his mount in preparation for their departure, he cast several anxious looks in her direction. Whenever their eyes met, however, he quickly turned away, suddenly remembering that he was upset with her for such secrecy.

Knowing she could do little to ease his mind at present, Athaya let him get on with his work as he organized his men in preparation to ride out of Ath Luaine. She didn't want to worry him by telling him that she feared for her father's life; Tyler was staunchly loyal to Kelwyn, both as a guardsman and as a friend, and would be concerned about him the whole way home. But more important, how was she supposed to explain the reasons behind her fears?

It's all very simple, Tyler. I'm a wizard, you see, and I had a magic vision of Kelwyn's death.

She could see it now. He would raise his brows into bushy arches and widen his eyes, then frown and tuck his thumbs into his belt, as he always did when trying to decide whether she was teasing him or not. And then he would conclude that either she had been brainwashed by Jaren and Hedric, or had gone crazy herself. And if he found out it was true, and that she was born with magic—had she finally admitted that at last?—then it would never be the same between them. Perhaps I underestimate him, she would think at times. He might understand. But she wasn't ready to take that big a risk, not yet. If she lost Tyler, then she lost the rock to which she clung when things were at their worst, and without him, she knew she would be swept away and drowned by events beyond her control.

As she waited for Tyler to ready her horse, Osfonin, Ysell, and Katya clustered around her, offering their kindhearted farewells. Across the courtyard near the stables, Felgin gave final orders to the Reykan escort party who would ride with Athaya and her men as far as the border wall. Like the royal family, Athaya was tightly wrapped in a heavy, fur-trimmed cloak to ward off the morning chill, and judging from the gray, low-hanging clouds overhead, it would likely rain before midday. But instead of worrying about the threatening skies, Athaya pondered how different this departure was from the day she left Delfarham three weeks ago. Today she felt as if she were truly leaving home and wondered when, if ever, she would return.

"Here is my letter to Kelwyn," Osfonin said, handing her a large scroll tied with green ribbons, the same ribbons that had made her heart sink when she'd seen them applied to his last letter to Kelwyn. "It basically states that I have reconsidered your marriage to my son and think it a fine idea.

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