Page 85 of The Eyes of Tamburah
Oh. Not good. No wonder Easan was in such a state. Shyla stood. This time the floor remained firm underneath her feet. Easan set a fast pace. Or rather, he tried. Although steadier after the meal, Shyla still moved with care. Her injuries throbbed with each step. And she didn’t want to outpace Rendor. No idea why. Perhaps because he was her only ally and she felt safer with him beside her. She slowed at the unexpected thought. How in seven hells did that happen?
When they reached her room, Easan moved between her and Rendor. “You’re not invited.”
Rendor met her gaze as if seeking her permission. Easan almost snarled in annoyance.
“Go on,” she said, tilting her head to Rendor’s room. “I’ll talk to you later.”
“Call if you need me,” he said.
“And just what are you going to do?” Easan demanded, rounding on him. “Whack me with your cane? You can barely stand.”
“Stop it,” Shyla said. “Hanif is waiting.”
Easan strode into her room, muttering. The other monk remained in the hall as if ordered to guard the door. Shyla glanced over her shoulder before following Easan. Rendor stood in the threshold of his room, a sly grin on his face.
Son of a sand demon! She’d bet a hundred coins he’d been faking just how injured he really was.
Inside her room, Hanif sat on the chest with his legs crossed underneath him. His eyes were closed as if he were meditating.
Shyla walked to the cushion and sank into its softness. The trip to the kitchen had worn her out more than she’d expected. Easan leaned a shoulder on the now closed door. His arms were crossed. The tension in the air thickened.
Hanif opened his eyes and his serene gaze surveyed them both. “Easan, please wait outside.”
Easan straightened with a surprised jerk, but he left as ordered.
Hanif studied her a moment longer. “Did you know you’re the most wanted person in Zirdai?”
“Most wanted? Not bad for an outcast sun-kissed.”
“This is serious, Shyla. We can only protect you if you take the oath and become a monk.”
That was no longer an option. “I can’t stay here.” She held up a hand, stopping him. “For many different reasons. Some beyond my control. And I need to leave soon. Would you be able to provide some help?”
“Depends on what you need.”
He didn’t say no. “I need an accurate map of Zirdai.”
“There’s no such thing. The city is alive in more ways than one and changes each sun jump.”
“How about a guide so I can navigate the city unseen?”
“We don’t—”
“Come on, Hanif. The Monks of Parzival are more involved than you’d want the Water Prince and Heliacal Priestess to believe.”
“Point to you. Except we don’t getinvolved, we simply keep an eye on things so we’re not surprised when the prince learns you’re here and sends a squadron to retrieve you. Or when the priestess deploys her Arch Deacons to come fetch you.”
“Arch Deacons?”
“An elite squad.”
She shivered. The regular ones seemed bad enough. “They still wouldn’t get close to the monastery.”
“No. But there’s a chance of fatalities and I’m not willing to riskmymonks for an outsider.”
Even though it was true, it hurt.
“And I’ve no doubt that, for you, the Water Prince would keep sending more and more guards until we are simply overrun.”
