Tuyo by Neumeier Rachel

Author:Neumeier, Rachel
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2020-05-19T16:00:00+00:00

-18-

We rode through the long afternoon of the summer lands. My head pounded and my heart raced and I felt dizzy. I pretended to be perfectly well, but before I collapsed, the soldiers took me aside, to a place where a tent had been put up. The air in the tent was cool. Not merely endurable, but comfortable. I had not known any cantrip could cool air as much as that. I thought perhaps such strength with cantrips might also mark a powerful sorcerer. If that were so, then Lord Lorellan must indeed be far more powerful than Lord Aras.

Lord Lorellan waited in the tent, sitting in a chair by a little table. He watched as his men forced me to my knees before his chair. I would have knelt without being forced. It was his due as the victor. But he did not speak to me or tell me what he wanted, only waited for his men to shove me down.

He did not speak to me after I was kneeling, either. He only sat in his chair, leaning his elbow on the table, and looked at me. He asked me nothing. I knew he must be looking into my mind. I did not want to show him anything, but it was more difficult with an enemy than it had been with Lord Aras. I could not help but think of my family, my mother. I could not help but think of my brother, of how he had left me for the Lau. I was bitterly ashamed that my angry words had been the last between us.

I could not help but think of Hokino inKera, of Lord Aras asking him questions, as Lorellan had asked questions of the prisoners bound to the stakes.

I could not help but think of Lord Aras. I thought of my terror when I realized he must be a sorcerer. Now I was ashamed of that fear. I had known all the time Lord Aras was a generous man. I could not believe I had ever imagined he could be like Lorellan.

He chuckled at that.

“What have you done to him?” I asked.

“You actually care.” He sounded pleased, but not surprised. I doubted very many things surprised him. He added, “Nothing. Soon enough he’ll be useful to me. So will you. I think he’ll be very useful in giving me a way to get a hold on that little army of his. You actually swore to obey him? Freely? Tell me about that.”

I tried not to think of that day, that moment, but it was impossible.

After some time, when Lord Lorellan was satisfied, his men took me back to my horse and tied me to the saddle again, and we went on. It was not yet dusk, but long shadows stretched out through the heavy light. The summer country rolled out before us, tawny gold and dusty green and silvery blue, with here and there bright flowers among the grasses. At intervals, one or another of the soldiers gave me water to drink, with honey and salt in it.

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