Angel of Storms (Millennium's Rule, #2)(100)

“Then they need to know I am safe,” she said. “He will learn this when he returns.”

He nodded. “Go speak to them.”

It was not an easy walk, along the side of the hill, down past the boggy crease between the hills, then up to the circle of wagons. As she walked she went over all that he had said and she had concluded, and came to the same conclusion over and over. To stay was not fair on Baluka, or the Travellers. She was taking a great risk going with Valhan, but if he had lied, at least leaving the Travellers meant they might not suffer because of her.

Her shoes were sodden and her calves hurt by the time she approached Lejikh’s wagon. The small windows were aglow with light. She saw no other Travellers about. Extending her senses she detected only two familiar minds, both full of agitation and worry.

Hurrying up to the wagon, she climbed the ladder and tapped lightly on the door. Footsteps drew nearer, the door opened and she recognised Lejikh silhouetted against a floating flame inside.

“Rielle!” he gasped.

“Rielle?” another voice echoed, from inside.

Lejikh glanced about, then took her hand and hauled her inside. He looked her over, frowning at her muddied shoes.

“Are you unharmed?”

Her “yes” came out in a whoof as she was squeezed between two arms. Ankari sniffed, pushed away and wiped her eyes. Rielle’s heart warmed to see the woman so upset, then her gut twisted as she remembered what she had come to tell them.

Do I still want to leave? She thought of the Raen waiting for her outside. Would he go, if she chose to stay after all? I could test his word… but he’d read my intentions from my mind.

“What happened?” Lejikh asked. “Was Baluka right? Did the Raen take you?”

“Yes. He… he wanted to talk to me.”

“What about?” Ankari asked.

“If you can tell us,” Lejikh added.

Rielle drew in a deep breath and let it out again. “I can’t stay with you,” she told them.

“Ah,” Lejikh said, nodding.

Ankari scowled and muttered something Rielle did not catch.

“It is better that I go,” Rielle told them. “I will only bring you trouble, and that is no way to thank you for all you have done for me.”

Lejikh frowned. “Where are you going?”

“Nobody can take me home, so somewhere else.”

“How are you… ah. He is taking you.” Lejikh nodded, his shoulders falling.

With a shuddering breath, Ankari embraced Rielle again. “I wish you could stay,” she breathed into Rielle’s shoulder. “We would be happy for you to be our daughter.”

Rielle flinched. This was never going to be easy, she thought. This was never going to be possible, she added. At least I got a chance to say goodbye, this time, unlike with my family, and Izare, and the weavers. But first… She gently pushed the woman away. “Baluka is not here,” she stated.

The couple shook their heads.

“I fear what he will do,” Lejikh said. He shook his head. “I should have tried harder to make him stay.”

“Can you tell him why I left?” Rielle asked. “And that I am safe?”

“We will send word through all the Travellers,” Lejikh told her. “And leave messages wherever we visit.”

She nodded. “If I think of a way to contact him, I will try it.”

“Thank you.”

She took a step backwards, towards the door. “Goodbye,” she said. “Thank you. Good trading to you and your family.”

“Wait!” Ankari hurried over to a cabinet, wiping her eyes again. She took out a small bag stitched with an intricate design and brought it to Rielle.

“Take this,” she said. “Open it later. It was to be your wedding gift. Perhaps it will help you start a new life.”

“I can’t—”

“It will help you remember us.”

Rielle closed her hand around the bag. Something cylindrical lay inside. She slipped it in a pocket, then, fearing they would see guilt in her face, turned and stepped out of the door. Her eyes were suddenly obscured by water so she felt her way down the stairs. She wiped her face, and, while there was still light to see by, took out the bag and opened it.

A silver chain poured into her palm, followed by a cylindrical pendant the length of her little finger, covered in designs similar to the Traveller stitchwork. A seam at the middle told her it was made of two pieces. They came apart with a tug and twist, revealing a tiny cluster of bristles.

A paintbrush. Her heart warmed. She slipped the gift away, drew in a deep breath, let it out in a sigh, then straightened and started back down the hill.

And nearly walked into a man-shaped shadow.

“Ready?” the Raen asked.

“Yes,” she said, her voice slightly hoarse.

His hand encircled her wrist. The darkness brightened into white.





PART FOUR


TYEN





CHAPTER 11





Brev’s hands were shaking. As he saw where Tyen was looking, he quickly thrust them within the pockets of his coat.

“No,” the man said. “I didn’t see them myself, but I saw the scene in the mind of the boy who told me. He thought the farm might be being watched by the killers, as neighbours had seen strangers appearing and vanishing afterwards.”