In Her Shadow(40)

"Promise?" said the girl, her face buried in Britta's robes.

"I promise. I promise to teach you to lead too. I promise to prepare your for your role as leader of this abbey. No one ever taught me, and I've only had the job a little while, so I can't promise to be a good teacher, but I'll do my best."

The girl looked up at Britta, eyes blurry and cheeks tear streaked. "Some of the other sisters say this is the end for the abbey. They say the last Abbess set you up to fail."

Britta brushed a tear away from the girl's cheek with her thumb. "As long as there is a New Moon, there is an abbey. Now, let's eat. And after, we'll make plans about how we're going to handle the Regnals."

"Do you plan to fight them?"

"No," said Britta. "I plan to show them how much they need us."





Chapter 19


Dux Lucius pulled the chair out from the table across from Weboshi and sat. Her dark hair unkempt and her dark eyes ringed with exhaustion, she looked old before her years. What had happened to the fierce woman who'd kicked him out of the abbey not so long ago? "Have you eaten?" he asked.

"No," she said in a dry croak.

"I told the men to bring you something. If they didn't, I'll–"

"No need to punish them, Dux Lucius. They brought me food. I'm not in the mood to eat, you understand."

Dux Lucius sighed. "I understand."

"When is the execution?"

"I'm going to try and avoid that if at all possible."

"Even after what I did to your daughter?"

"Yes, but I can't help you if you don't help me."

Weboshi smirked as she leaned back in her chair. "That's how it is, eh? Promise me freedom if I start ratting people out for helping me? What are you going to do after I tell you had I no accomplices? Torture me?"

"I'm not going to torture you – and I think we both know you had accomplices."

"I did, but I'll never tell you who. For what it's worth, I'm sorry. It doesn't make up for the assassination attempt, or kidnapping your girl, and I'm not saying it to weasel out of trouble, but I am."

"I know," said Dux Lucius. "I'm sorry too."

Weboshi jerked, lips pursed. "'Sorry?' Why are you sorry?"

"For what my people did to your daughter. I know what they took from you during The Siege. Had I lost my child in the same way, I can't promise I wouldn't have reacted the same as you. Only. . . Only I might not have seen sense before I took my revenge on some innocent."

They sat, staring at each other.

"You're a good man, Dux Lucius."

Lucius caught himself before he shifted in his chair. Compliments always made him uncomfortable, especially when delivered from near strangers. "The people who took you. . ."

"I had a hood on before they even arrived. I didn't see them. I heard their voices, but all I can say is they had Regnal accents."

"That's not a lot to go on."

"I'm sorry."

Lucius rubbed his eyes. "Is there anything else – anything at all – you can tell me?"

Weboshi bit her lip, brow furrowed in concentration. "There were three of them. I know that. I can't explain how I know exactly, just a sense you get when other people are around. Know what I mean?"

"Sure. Did you hear any names?"

"No. But. Hm. Oh! I think one of them was deaf."

"Deaf?"

"Yes. At first I thought he was just being careful not to speak around me just in case. Then I started to think he was mute. Then I was left alone with him for a little while. I was so thirsty I kept asking for water. The others gave me water when I asked for it, but not him. I didn't get the sense he was especially cruel so I just put it all together and. . . Does any of this make sense?"

"Yes."

"Does it help?"

"I'm not sure."

"Why do you think they kept me alive?"

Lucius had been wondering the same thing. "I was hoping you could tell me."

"Sorry."

"It's fine." Lucius pushed away from the table and stood. "Thank you, Weboshi."

"Can you tell me something, Dux Lucius?"

"If I can."

"How is Britta? I've been worried about her."

"I've been worried about her too," he said. "I don't know how she is, though. I've been here with you."

"With me?" Weboshi said. "You men are all fools, especially soldiers. You should go see her."

"I'm not so sure I should. You heard how she screamed when the Governor pronounced your sentence."

"Britta has a quick temper, but she's not one to hold a grudge. I'd thought you would know her better than that by now. You do, though, don't you? I can see it in your eyes. You're trying to hide it, but you can't. There's another reason you haven't gone to see her."

Lucius shifted in his chair, trying to find a position he found comfortable under Weboshi's withering gaze.

"What is it, Dux Lucius? Your philosophy teaches internal self-reliance, I know, but that's only half the lesson. Sometimes you have to say something aloud, let another person hear it, before you can come to terms with what troubles you. Tell me what it is. I might die soon. I'll take your secrets to the grave."