Page 129 of The Eyes of Tamburah
“Thank you for taking over,” she said.
“I couldn’t let Ximen make a mess of it. You were right, I had the expertise.”
A harsh dagger of guilt stabbed him as he remembered following orders, torturing people without any emotions because he had shut them off. Enduring until he moved up through the ranks and proved his loyalty and worth to the Water Prince. His family thought him worthless. But not the Water Prince. And not Shyla.
“Stop it,” Shyla said.
He released her hand. Was he hurting her again?
“No. You’re not hurting me. Stop…thinking… feeling.”
“Thinking?” He was confused.
So was she!
“It’s The Eyes,” Hanif said. “It’s part of the power. You can see into another’s soul. The power allows you to know their intentions, thoughts, and feelings.”
She perked up. “Does that mean people can’t lie to me anymore?”
“Yes I believe so. Although the closer you are to someone, the stronger it is. You’re going to have to learn how to…block it if it gets too overwhelming.” He worried that he wouldn’t have time to teach her all she needed to know about the power and he fretted that her sudden abilities would unbalance his daughter.
Ha! She knew it even before she had the power.
“You’re also going to have to figure out what you can and can’t do and at what cost,” Hanif continued. “According to the historical records, it’s different for each person.”
“After we rescue Jayden.” She ignored Rendor’s spike of jealousy and pushed up to a sitting position. Raising her voice over the buzz of excited conversation, she said, “We need to plan. I want ideas and suggestions for Jayden’s rescue by angle zero. We’ll meet back here then.”
The group hurried off. Shyla tried to stand, but her legs gave out.
Hanif helped her to her feet, keeping an arm around her shoulders. “You need—”
“Rest and food before I go running off on this crazy mission,” she finished for him.
“This is certainly going to be…interesting. Are you going to uncover all my secrets?”
“I hope not. Right now it seems like I’m getting things that are immediate, that you’re worried about at this time. I did figure something out about you, but it was before all this. It was when we were in the Second Room of Knowledge.”
“Oh? What was it?”
“I now understand why you pushed me so hard.”
“Oh.” Comprehension bloomed followed by anxiety. He wasn’t supposed to show favoritism. All the children were to be treated equally despite parentage.
“Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.” She hugged him, though. Something she’d wanted to do her entire life.
He squeezed her tight. “Can you make it to your room? I should do more research on The Eyes.” And he needed some distance before he revealed everything to her, like who her mother was.
“I’ll go with her,” Rendor said, looking forward to spending some time alone with Shyla.
“Thank you,” Hanif said. Then he hurried out. He’d need to make an effort to change his opinion of this man, but after all he’d learned, it might be impossible.
Shyla leaned against the altar and covered her ears and closed her eyes. Perhaps that would block the chatter. But Rendor’s concern came through loud and clear.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She dropped her hands. “I will be. It’s just going to take…time to get used to all…this.” Fingering the skin around her eyes, she sought wounds or a scar, but encountered nothing but smooth skin. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful.” And he meant it with every fiber of his being. After all the ugliness of his life, he’d found a beautiful soul and he’d do anything to deserve her and to keep that beauty in his life.
