The Stonebound Heir by L.A. Barnitz

Author:L.A. Barnitz [Barnitz, Laura A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little Hawk Books LLC

Chapter 22

In the stables’ deep shadows Lingli fed the young govadhi half an apple she had saved from her supper. A visit to the colt usually brightened her mood, but in these dark hours she felt stonebound, and seeing how he pawed at the ground and obsessively chewed the edge of the manger, she imagined the colt felt the same way. He and she were never going to be fit for this place. Yet here they were—in their fine cages.

She scolded herself. Soon she’d have more freedom than she would know what to do with. In twenty-three days it would be New Cycle Day, and she’d have to put down her needle and thread and find a way off the Rock before the rani’s promise to arrest her came to fruition. She would be free to wander the Naachmaidan throughout the winter, seeking a new home she couldn’t see even in her dreams. She’d be free to leave the one person she had crossed the world for, one who was injured and not himself. The one who acted as if he didn’t know her, or didn’t want to know her, and it broke her heart.

In the first days after the attack on Sid, she simply wanted him to recover, and he was too weak to do anything but cooperate. Each night she had waited on the old tower’s deserted fifth floor until she heard Master Avani greet the guard outside the library. That was her signal to hurry downstairs, and together they would cross the landing to the quarters where Sid had been ensconced. Once at her friend’s bedside, their familiarity with each other’s expressions helped them evade most of Master Avani’s questions, and she had excused Sid’s unpredictable moods as simply part of his injuries.

She had been confident that he was improving and, because he had resumed his scribing duties the day before, she had expected to find him even better last night—well enough, she hoped, that she could apologize for berating him in the kitchens. His magnanimous acceptance of her apology would mean they could move on and work together to clear their names. That’s all she wanted.

The moment she and Master Avani entered the quarter’s inner room, however, Sid had pressed himself back against the headboard as if they were the rani’s wolves. For a breath it seemed he did not recognize them. Making no remark about this, Master Avani greeted him with the usual familiarity, as did she. Gradually, he unclenched his fists, but she saw there was little trust within him.

“I know yesterday’s council meeting was challenging,” Master Avani said, “but have you been napping all day?”

“Master Vaksana had a lot of questions when he visited,” Sid said grumpily.

“Did he? Well, I’m certain you were helpful in answering them. Have you had your supper? Why don’t we get some hot food in your stomach to make the evening brighter and your sleep more sound? You’ll need your strength for the transcriptions awaiting you tomorrow.”

While the

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