The Healer’s Mantle: Wrak-Ayya: The Age of Shadows Book Two by Roberts Leigh

Author:Roberts, Leigh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragon Wings Press
Published: 2019-10-12T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Meanwhile, Is’Taqa and Ogima Adoeete had returned to their people.

Ogima Adoeete shared Kurak’Kahn’s reservations about Hakani’s motives in claiming Adia’s unborn child. He had been there when she recklessly revealed the presence of the Waschini infant to cause trouble for both Khon’Tor and Adia. He knew Acaraho’s selection of the helpmate for Hakani would be critical in monitoring the baby’s wellbeing.

The Chief was a great and wise Leader. He had seen many troublesome situations, but the fact of the Healer’s pregnancy shocked him. Adia was revered among the People as well as the Brothers. Ogima Adoeete knew every Healer alive understood the reproductive cycle. So, either Adia had chosen this mating and pregnancy of her own accord—or it had been forced upon her. Under no circumstances was it an accident. The problem was that Ogima Adoeete had difficulty thinking of either option being the case. He continued to roll the events over in his mind as he walked, and came to the only conclusion possible.

Now nearly home, Ogima Adoeete and Is’Taqa stopped for a moment to share their final thoughts on the matter before returning to their responsibilities.

The Chief leaned on his staff. “The father should have stepped forward before the Council then and there, Is’Taqa. It will prove to be his greatest shame that he did not.”

Is’Taqa looked at Ogima Adoeete and blinked.

The Chief looked back at Is’Taqa and continued. “This. This will be Khon’Tor’s undoing.”

Is’Taqa was speechless. He knew Khon’Tor was the father because he had watched the attack on Adia. He had waited throughout the hearing hoping Khon’Tor would step forward and confess what he had done. But he did not. Khon’Tor had abandoned Adia to bear the brunt of the High Council’s condemnation just as he had abandoned her to die out in the elements that night. The Second Chief was stunned by Ogima Adoeete’s statement that he knew the father to be in the room during the hearing.

At that moment, Is’Taqa almost did admit to Ogima Adoeete that he had seen Khon’Tor’s attack on Adia. But he kept his silence. The burden was still his to bear—and what to do about it was something he had to decide for himself. No other man could lift the responsibility from his shoulders, nor could he shift the burden to someone else’s to lighten his own load. To tell Chief Ogima would be to do just that.

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