Page 57 of The Eyes of Tamburah
“You really don’t know?”
“Jayden,” she warned.
“All right. Well, as you saw, there’s quite a bit of blood and death in our community. And because we’re hunted, we keep to the shadows as much as possible. Blood looks black when there’s not that much light, so the black river is when someone is bleeding heavily.”
Heartbreaking. “Why are you here, Jayden? Your people need you.”
“I wanted to know what you saw.”
An image of the dead woman flashed in her mind as the man’s screams echoed in her ears. Did he wish to learn if his people were suffering? Would it help him to know? No. “I found the river of blood. Why did you think I wanted to see it?”
“Orla said you were on a mission for the monks. We hope you will tell them of the Water Prince’s atrocities so they will help us.”
Jayden’s efforts to aid her despite her resistance now made sense. “They can’t help you. They’re not allowed to interfere.” But she could.
She headed the way they’d come earlier.
He fell into step beside her. “Will you tell them anyway?”
“I—” A sudden realization hit her. The monks already knew about it. Then why send her to the black river? So she’d witness how horrible living in Zirdai was and return to the monastery.
“Shyla?”
“I’ll tell them, but it won’t matter. I’m sorry.”
“Me, too.”
They continued on in silence. When they reached the next intersection, she asked, “Do I have to go through that smelly conduit in order to reach the main area of this level?”
“Are you going back to the monastery?”
“Not yet.”
“Where are you going?”
“I need to find the guards.”
Horrified, he asked, “Why would you dothat?”
“They’re looking for me.”
“Which is usually an excellent reason toavoidthem.”
“They think I’m missing and your people are to blame. They’re…interrogating them and I need to stop it.”
Jayden stepped in front of her. “Wait. Why would the guards care that you’re missing?”
Scorching hells. How to explain? “I’m working—”
“You’re working forthem?” His entire demeanor changed from friendly pest to dangerous.
“It’s complicated.”
“Start explaining,” he ordered.
She bristled at his commanding tone. “Your people don’t have the time for—”
“They’re dead regardless.” Stated as fact.
