Page 74 of The Eyes of Tamburah
His smile chilled the air as the scars on his cheeks added to his menacing expression. How was that even possible?
“You’ve experienced a few basic techniques. You’ve no idea what we can do.”
“I need time to think about it.”
Payatt glanced at the chain at her feet.
“No. Time free of here. If you want me to trust you then you need to trust me.”
“Where will you go?”
“The monastery. I need to deliver something to them.”
“You will not be safe there. Once the Water Prince learns of your location, he’ll come after you.”
“But they serve the King.”
“Hasn’t stopped the prince before. The monks walk a thin line and have refused succor when protecting a certain person will cause problems too big for them to handle.”
She wanted to protest, but she knew very little of what the older monks did with their time. “And you believe word of my presence would get back to the prince?”
“Yes.” There was no doubt in his voice.
“The prince has a spy inside?” Hard to believe, they were a close-knit family.
Ximen laughed. “No. But Captain Rendor has been making a giant nuisance of himself as usual.”
Did he— “Rendor’s alive?”
“Why are you so surprised?” Payatt asked.
“You staked him to the ground with two swords!” Rendor’s cries of pain still reverberated in her ears.
“Both in non-vital locations. The monks rescued him after we left, nursed him back to health…well, he has a significant limp and it’ll be a long while before he can swing a sword, or fight for that matter, but he refuses to leave the monastery. He’s convinced you’ll show up there eventually.”
Shyla rubbed her forehead. Too much information and too many questions. However, inside her heart thumped its happiness. Its strength scared her more than anything so far. She needed to remember he was the enemy.
“The Invisible Sword doesn’t kill unless there is no other choice,” Ximen said. “Otherwise, we’d be just like those we’re fighting to stop.”
“But, it seemed—” The image of him bleeding in the sand had been seared into her mind. Could they be lying to her?
“Our people were perhaps a bit overzealous,” Payatt said. “Captain Rendor’s been a…very difficult opponent and some feel he deserves to die, but we left that decision up to the Sun Goddess. She chose to save him.”
“You seem rather concerned about the captain. Is there something we should know?” Bazia asked.
“Actually, knowing he’s alive is a point in your favor,” Shyla said.
“Why?” Bazia challenged. “You know his people tortured those vagrants. You should have been glad when you thought he died.”
“He’s not the problem and you know it.” Why was Shyla defending him? This wouldn’t go well if she tried an I’m-not-a-threat-and-you-should-let-me-go-with-my-memories-intact defense.
“I suggest we erase her memories now and give her to the Water Prince’s dog,” Bazia said. “She’ll end up betraying us or causing us trouble.”
“And you know this how?” Shyla asked. “Does yourmagicallow you to see the future?”
“Enough,” Payatt ordered. “We will give Shyla one sun jump to consider our offer.” He turned to Ximen. “Take her somewhere familiar but safe.”
Ximen nodded. Shyla went to get her bag. She packed a few rolls of jerky. Although if she never ate another one of them again in her lifetime, she’d be just fine with that. Ximen came over and picked up a water skin and the druk.
