Page 115 of The Eyes of Tamburah
The heavy weight of grief settled on her shoulders. Bazia and Payatt had chained her to the floor, but they tried to help others in need. They deserved to live more than she did.
“Gurice?”
“Complaining about my ministrations every chance she gets.”
Sounded about right. “Her brother?”
“Mojag’s with her, driving her crazy.”
Shyla smiled. Fair punishment for betraying her. “Ximen?”
“Unconscious, but he should wake.”
And last. “Banqui?”
“Disappeared. We’re not sure where he is,” Hanif said.
Jayden had said they were betrayed and that Banqui was gone. Could Banqui have double-crossed them? Perhaps he’d stolen The Eyes during the raid and slipped away. Or he’d been working with the Heliacal Priestess all along. At this point, she’d no idea and she was reluctant to seek the full truth. It might drive her back into the sunlight.
Such pain and suffering all due to Tamburah’s Eyes. She shot Rendor a nasty look. “Why are you still here? Is this part ofyourplan? I don’t have The Eyes. No need to romance them from me.”
“I never lied to you,” he said.
“Oh yeah? What about when you said you never heard of a secret group that claimed to use magic?”
“I hadn’t heard of a group like that. You never mentioned the Invisible Sword by name.”
She huffed, not buying it. He was smart enough to figure it out.
“I never lied to you. Can you say the same thing to me?” Rendor asked.
No. She couldn’t. But she also refused to believe him. When she didn’t answer, he nodded to the two men and left the room.
After a tense silence, Hanif said, “When you’ve regained your strength, I would like a full report.”
“What else is there to know?” she snapped.
“Give yourself some time to heal then reflect on what happened. There are some…gaps.”
“What about the Water Prince and the Heliacal Priestess? Are they going to demand that you hand me over to them?” she asked Hanif.
“No.”
“Why not? Before you said—”
“Everyone except the monks, Zhek, and Rendor think you’re dead. And we don’t plan on correcting their assumptions.”
Good news. She wouldn’t have to worry about them coming after her. The monks and Zhek would keep her secret, but why would they trust Rendor? She asked Hanif.
“I have my reasons.”
Typical.
His eyes glinted. “If you wish to know all about the Monks of Parzival, you need only to take the oath.”
“You still want me?” she asked in surprise.
“You’re welcome to return atany time.”
