Page 87 of The Eyes of Tamburah
A knock interrupted them. Shyla opened the door. Four monks…well, not quite monks…stood outside.
“Ready?” one woman asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“No,” Rendor said. “She’ll meet you on the surface.”
The woman looked at Shyla.
She sighed. “Give me a moment. I’ll be right up.”
“All right.” She left with the others.
“Now what?” Shyla snapped at Rendor, but regretted it when she noticed his shoulders had relaxed as if he’d accepted defeat.
“If this all works out and you rescue Banqui, can you do me a favor?”
This softer Rendor scared her more than the gruff-bark-orders Rendor. “If I can.”
“Remember that flight of stairs I found you on? The landing where you fell asleep after your visit with the Heliacal Priestess?”
“I remember falling asleep.” Stupid holy water. “But aren’t there a number of stairs connecting the two levels?”
“Not public ones. The others are only used by the guards and their locations are kept secret.”
That made sense. Having one access point was easier to defend. “What about that staircase?”
“Under the lip of the third step up from that landing is a small keyhole at mid-point. If you unlock it, the step lifts up. Inside are my savings. I want you to have it and go travel to Apanji and all the other cities you’ve been wanting to visit.”
He’d shocked her to her very core. That was the nicest thing anyone had done for her. Ever. Everything she’d always wanted within reach and…she couldn’t accept. “Oh, Rendor that’s…incredibly generous, but it’s yours. You earned it. I’ll bring it back for you.”
He shook his head. “I don’t want it. If you can’t keep it, then give it to the monks or the vagrants. I’ll be gone by the time you return.”
Gone. The word reverberated in her mind despite the fact that it was expected. It made sense. There was no reason for him to stay. Yet.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“Thought I’d head to Apanji, someone told me it’s worth seeing.” He scratched his stubbly chin. “Can’t remember who.”
His teasing tone was the only thing that kept her from crying. Which was crazy. He’d killed, tortured, and done unimaginably nasty things to people, all for the Water Prince. Then why the hell did she want to tell him to stay! Why did she want to throw her arms around his neck, pull him close, and kiss him? Besides, it was dangerous for him to stay. He’d be killed.
Rendor stared at her in concern. “Shyla?”
“I think you’ll enjoy Apanji,” she whispered, avoiding his gaze.
He closed the distance between them, stopping only a few centimeters away. “Once this is over, come join me.” A huskiness roughened his voice. “We can visit those other cities together.”
The desire to step into his arms pumped through her. The need as vital as the water that nourished her. Instead she widened the gap. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”
His expression flattened into neutral. “I understand.”
“No. You don’t. I’ve made…a promise that I have to keep.”
“Once Banqui is free—”
“This goes beyond Banqui.” She wished to explain more.
“You promised to become a monk. That’s why they’re helping you.”
