Page 105 of The Eyes of Tamburah
“I’m sure you have quite the tale to tell. How about you come with me to Nintri? I’ve friends there that would be happy to pay us to find artifacts. The university there actually displays the treasures for all their citizens to see. Can you imagine?” Banqui’s dark brown eyes shone with wonder. “You can fill me in on all the details while we travel. Nintri is—”
“Fifty-one sun jumps away,” she said. Her voice warbled with the strain of holding back her tears. No… sobs. Unlike Rendor’s, Banqui’s offer was genuine. And perfect. So very perfect. “I…can’t.” Shyla clutched the edge of the table. “I’ve…made other plans.” That last bit came out in a rush.
“Ah, too bad. Are you returning to the monks?” Banqui asked.
“No.” She tilted her head at Jayden, who talked to Gurice and Bazia. “I’m part of the Invisible Sword now.”
Banqui laughed. “Good one. Really, what’s next?”
“No joke. I’ve joined.”
He rubbed his hand along his face. “For me?”
“Not just for you.” The image of Dyani flashed in her mind. The people on level sixteen.
“I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault. Besides, after this, I’ll probably be assigned guard duty or something equally boring and unimportant.” She’d done it at the monastery when she was younger and could do it again.
“If they do that, then they’re idiots.”
“Thanks Banqui.”
He reached over and squeezed her hand. “No. Thank you.”
* * *
After Banqui finished his meal, Ximen and Zhek arrived.
“Feeling better?” Zhek asked Banqui.
“Surprisingly so.”
“You’re malnourished so I’ve put a restorative in your food.” He gestured to the vagrants. “It’s an essential supplement for our people during the lean times.”
The vagrants clustered in sober groups. No doubt not all of them had survived. The seriously injured slept, probably due to Zhek’s healing “touch.”
“How bad?” Shyla asked the healer.
“They lost five members and one might not live to see the next sun jump. I did what I could.”
She’d been too slow.
“You saved seventeen. That’s the good,” Zhek said. He turned to Banqui. “With regular meals, you should recover your vigor soon. Ximen is here to escort you to your rooms.”
“I won’t leave Zirdai without saying goodbye,” Banqui promised Shyla.
“I’ll hold you to that,” she said.
He smiled and shuffled away with Ximen. She stared at them until Zhek blocked her view.
“Your turn,” he said, cupping her elbow and pulling her to her feet.
No energy to protest, she swayed in place, but he tugged her along to a small room. It contained a long thin table and a counter full of medical supplies.
“Take all your clothes off,” he ordered.
“But—”
