Page 144 of The Eyes of Tamburah
“You’re looking better,” she said.
He stared at her with such a hard expression she wondered what she’d done wrong.
“It is true,” he finally said with a rough voice.
“What—oh. Did you think Zhek lied to you?”
“I thought…” He rubbed a hand over his face. “Truthfully, I didn’t believe it. Thatyouwould wake The Eyes.”
“Because I’m conflicted and not committed?” She threw his words back at him. “Because I’m a selfish sun-kissed?”
“Because you wanted to forget.”
“At that time, yes, I very much wanted to forget the fact that the Invisible Sword used me and ruined my life.”
“What changed your mind?”
She paused. How to explain? Would she tell him about the Sun Goddess, or about Dyani and how all the people she’d met since all this began influenced her, or about Rendor’s comments about getting a second chance? “When The Eyes woke in my hands, I knew what I had to do. For the first time in my life, I had a purpose.”
“And that is?”
“To lead the Invisible Sword in helping the citizens of Zirdai by stopping the Water Prince and the Heliacal Priestess.”
“Do you think you can?”
“I wouldn’t have sacrificed my eyes if I thought I’d fail.” And the truth of that statement hit her. Hard. Jayden’s rescue was not perfect. Not at all. But he was here.
“There’s not many of us left,” Jayden said. Grief’s shadows darkened his gaze.
“We’ll recruit more.”
“We?”
She huffed. “Of course. We. I need you and Ximen as my seconds.”
“What about Rendor?”
“He’s committed to our cause.”
“Can we trust him?”
“Yes. I read his soul.”
“Oh.”
“Why are you surprised? You know what The Eyes can do.”
He smoothed out the fur over his lap. “Are you… have you…read me?”
Ah. “No. I’ve created a mental shield so I’m not overwhelmed. I can remove it. Would you like me to read you?”
“No.”
Shyla suppressed a smile over his quickness and vehemence. But then she remembered him trying to kill her and being part of the Invisible Sword’s deception. Her humor died. “Then don’t lie to me again or I will.”
He met her gaze. “I won’t.”
“Good. Speaking of lying, do you know if Banqui betrayed the Invisible Sword?”
