Page 47 of The City of Zirdai
Ximen drew in a breath, then released it slowly. “He decided to remain behind. He said he’s not welcome in the Invisible Sword and it would be better for everyone if he just disappeared.” Ximen touched her arm. “Rendor did the right thing. It’s best for all of us.”
Eight
It’s best for all of us.Had Ximen just said that toher? She stared at him in shock.
Rendor had decided not to become a member of the Invisible Sword.
Rendor had decided not to come back toher.
His angry words—which she’d been avoiding thinking about—replayed in her mind.You’re embarrassed? Is that why you only showed me you care when the Invisible Swords couldn’t see us? Or is it that you don’t want my history to tarnish your leadership?
Scorching hells, why did she have such a good memory? Each word stabbed into her heart. Why hadn’t she chased after him right away? Why had she waited? Stupid, selfish sun-idiot. And now he was gone.
“Did you erase his memory of us?” Jayden asked.
The thought of Rendor not remembering her tore through her with sharp teeth. She glared at Jayden. He wore a pleased smile that Shyla wanted to slap right off his face.
“No,” Ximen said. “He’s been exiled. If the guards see him, they have orders to kill him. Besides he doesn’t have anyone to tell.”
“What about his parents and older brother?” Jayden asked.
Stunned, she almost rocked back on her heels. Rendor had a brother? Why didn’tsheknow? What else didn’t she know about him?
Ximen shrugged. “They disowned him when he signed up to be a guard.”
“How do you know this?” she asked.
“Rendor’s been causing the vagrants and the Invisible Sword trouble since he joined the guards,” Jayden said. “We were hoping to find some leverage to keep him from being such a heartless killer. When we threatened to harm his brother, Hastin, he laughed and told us to go ahead, and, while we were at it, to take out his parents as well and save him the trouble.”
“Where do they live?” Shyla demanded.
Ximen glanced at Jayden as if seeking his permission.
“Iasked the question, Ximen,” she snapped.
“This really is for the best,” Ximen said. “Think about it, even Rendor’s parents didn’t want him and they raised him.”
“That’s not what I asked.” She stared at him. If she had to get the information by using The Eyes and taking another step down the path to Tamburah’s madness, she would.
Ximen dropped his gaze. “They live on level eighty-four.”
Only the very wealthy could afford to live below level eighty. She’d no idea. A self-absorbedandselfish sun-idiot. “What do they do?”
“They own a number of businesses. Hastin travels to other cities to purchase and trade goods. He’s supposed to be some kind of prodigy.” Ximen shrugged. “All we know is that soon after Hastin became an active part of their business, they were able to move down from level sixty-seven.”
And Rendor’s skills with a sword were not beneficial to his family. He’d told her his family thought he was worthless, but she’d never asked him…anything. Too concerned with the Invisible Sword. No wonder he didn’t want to come back. Too bad. She’d find him and drag him back if she had to.
“Shyla, it’s not worth the risk,” Jayden said.
Was she that easy to read?
“You’re vital to this organization. Without you, we can’t free Zirdai,” Ximen said.
Jayden touched her arm. “You can’t be selfish.”
Oh yes shecould. And shewould. It took every gram of willpower not to punch him in his you-can’t-be-selfish guts. Instead, she turned from them both and hurried to her room before tears spilled. Once in the privacy of her room, though, her sadness turned to anger. She paced the tiny area.
At the first sign of trouble between them, Rendor bolted. He had known the Invisible Sword wouldn’t welcome him right away, that he’d have to fight for it. So what changed?
