Page 211 of The Eye of the Fifth
‘The hawk calls for Gedeon, Win,’ Naal said regretfully. ‘Not for Kyra. I do not know if she will be with him.’
Win’s movements slowed. Her expression gave nothing away.
‘Should we wake her sisters?’
‘No,’ Win murmured. ‘This is the first night Aeliah has not woken from night terrors. I would let her sleep. If Kyraenaiswith the Fire Warden, she can wake them herself, if she wishes.’
They met Maida and Nysari in the atrium by the front doors. Dying flames on melting candles at the Mother’s feet cast a dim light over them.
‘Will you be detaining theDestroyeras soon as you see him?’ Nysari asked as they approached. ‘He disobeyed you.’
Naal schooled her voice to neutrality, even if her Third’s blatant disapproval of her leadership was becoming tiresome. ‘Gedeon did not disobey an order, Nys. I gave him permission to enter the Council Room.’
‘Did you also give him permission to steal Takabah and fly to Zarynth on a rescue mission?’
Maida held nothing back as she snapped, ‘Goddess, girl, do you ever get bored of your own voice? Stop searching for reasons to condemn him. You only make yourself look a fool.’
‘I do not need to search for reasons,’ Nysari said darkly. ‘They have already made themselves known.’
Deciding it was better to ignore her, Naal moved to the double doors and pushed them wide open.
Traipsing up the well-trodden snowy path from the Sky Horse, were two figures. Both of them were bundled in thick furs that appeared to be fresh off the back of some animal. Both faces were worn and exhausted, pink from cold, with frost clinging to their hair and eyelashes. Gedeon’s short black beard was tipped white with it.
Both alive.
As Fire and Earth Warden approached them, their breaths puffing clouds thick and fast, Naal’s heart sank to an icy depth.
Rosary was not with them.
Gedeon and Kyra stood before Naal. Neither said a word.
Kyra’s face was thinner. Gaunt, almost. There was a darkness under her eyes that added years to her life. She need not say anything for Naal to know why. Grief had a way of altering people’s appearances.
Gedeon broke the silence. He spoke directly to Naal. ‘We have much to tell you. It shouldn’t wait until dawn.’
Naal inclined her head. ‘Then we will speak now. Come.’ Without delay, she turned, and began to lead the way into the warmth of the temple.
Behind her, a broken voice said, ‘Win?’
Naal turned around. Kyra was staring at Winvara, those mossy green eyes unblinking.
The impassiveness on Win’s face could have been mistaken for a lack of care. Naal knew it to be something entirely different: a mask that carefully concealed how she really felt.
‘Hello, Kyraena,’ Win said in a soft voice. A mother’s voice. One Naal had not heard for some time.
Kyra padded to Win until she was right in front of her, standing just a little taller than her matriarch. Naal tensed as they glared at one another, sensing a fight was about to commence.
But then Kyra surprised them all and embraced her.
Win hesitated, her eyes widening. She never had been an overly affectionate female. But then she returned the embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around her granddaughter. Kyra’s shoulders twitched with emotion as she buried her face in her shoulder.
‘Hush,’ Win whispered, a hand holding the back of Kyra’s frozen head. ‘You’re home now.’
Chapter Fifty Seven
Before We Part
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