Page 25 of The Seeker
“You need a mate.” He continued braiding. “Anamitra was much happier once her parents chose a mate for her.”
Meera knew Vasu was right. A mate would be her one true confidant, the person who would be wholly and completely her equal no matter what role she played in the Irin world.
And she knew that all she had to do was snap her fingers and her parents would choose a suitable scribe for her, as Anamitra’s had chosen for her. They would mate. Their magic would bond. Their love would grow. She would probably be supremely happy.
She didn’t want it.
“I want…” She set her book to the side. “I don’t know what I want.”
“That much is obvious.” Vasu looked up. “The son of Glast visits you.”
“Who? Rhys?” She frowned. “You know Rhys of Glast?”
Vasu looked up at the ceiling. “I don’t know how to answer that.”
“Try truthfully?”
“I know of him, but I would not call us friends. He’s tried to kill me a number of times.”
Meera’s eyes went wide. “What?”
“He is always cross when I appear unannounced near Jaron’s daughter.”
“I have no idea what that means. Who is Jaron’s daughter?”
“His watcher’s mate.”
Meera pressed her palms to her eyes. “Vasu. Just… stop. You’re not making any sense.”
“I don’t know why not.” He rose from the chair and crawled next to her in the four-poster bed. “The son of Glast belongs to the Istanbul house where Jaron’s daughter is mated to the watcher. I told Jaron I would watch over her, and I do not break promises to friends.”
“So you visit her.”
“Obviously.”
“And Rhys tried to kill you for that?”
“When I appear, he throws daggers at me.” Vasu shrugged. “He never hits me. I think he enjoys being cross with me.”
“Yes, I can actually see that.” Her irritation fled. She usually couldn’t stay mad at Vasu for long. “So you know Rhys of Glast. Do you think I should trust him?”
Vasu pursed his lips as he thought. “He is very loyal to his friends and far more intelligent than most warriors. He should be a sage, but he is like you.”
“What does that mean?”
“He’s avoiding his responsibilities.”
“I’m not…” Meera sighed. “Okay, Iamavoiding responsibilities, but only for a short time.”
“He thinks the same.” Vasu turned a thousand-yard stare toward her. “But like you, his future will not be what he expects.”
“Will you stop speaking in riddles?”
“No,” he said simply. “If I shared my true thoughts, you would go mad. Riddles and stories are the only way to convey truth to those locked in human minds.”
She ignored the insult. Vasu was Vasu. “But you think I can trust Rhys?”
“Perhaps.”
