castle.”
She felt Arcturus move away—only to see him stand in front of her. “This is outrageous,” he said. “For what purpose?”
The riders did not look at him. “She is a slave, sir. And she has caused a disturbance for which she must answer.”
Arcturus drew himself straight, his head high. “I know for what she has been blamed, and it would be far better justice to allow those truly responsible to answer for themselves.”
Blessed Spirits, he knows. He must have heard. Kariayla turned away in shame that Arcturus should know about her role in Eleana’s disappearance. She felt as though she was about to relive the nightmare of that morning, only this time her punishment would be more severe. Doubtless Clerk Melgora would have her sent to the stockade...or worse.
“His lordship Duke Barendorn has employed us to fetch the girl,” the taller rider repeated.
“I am afraid you will have to disappoint him. I was his guest, and if you need use my name, then you can tell him Arcturus Prentishun has taken Kariayla as his companion.”
“She is property of Belorn.”
“She is not even a native to this land,” Arcturus argued. “I should be curious to see what the Nemeloreans would think of Humans enslaving one of their children. This could result in quite a bruise for your rulers. I wonder if Duke Barendorn considered the consequences of acting above the king’s authority. Clearly he has undertaken this mission upon himself, or you would be officially garbed.”
The riders looked at one another. They were restless—outright uncomfortable before the Markanturian. Their eyes kept returning to the staff in his hand.
“You would be just as responsible for any hostile outcome,” Arcturus continued. “As it is, it seems ridiculous to me that two grown men have been sent to squander their time searching for a mere girl who was guilty of nothing more than honoring a friendship...and possessing a pair of wings.”
“We do not have a choice in the matter,” the shorter rider said. “We have our instructions. You need to speak with his lordship if you wish to dispute him.”
Arcturus thumped Whitestar upon the ground. “And I would, except that we have already come a distance. Returning to the castle would be a great inconvenience and a complete waste of everyone’s time. You do, in fact, have a choice. One winged slave girl flees a life of servitude. Did you track her down like a criminal and drag her back to the castle for a life of misery, or did you fail to find her—her whereabouts a mystery never to be solved? For what price would you condemn her? I guarantee that within less than a week she will be forgotten. Do not be the instruments of wrongful justice.” He took a step forward, and the taller rider backed away; the shorter hesitated.
Kariayla felt a shadow fall upon her as Jaharo stepped up behind Arcturus to glare down at the shorter rider. “Caleb, come on,” the tall rider said, turning his mount away. “She’s not worth the trouble.” The shorter man lingered a moment, his narrowed gaze upon her. Then he grunted and followed his companion back in the direction they had come.
Arcturus eased himself down beside Kariayla. “How utterly ridiculous. To think the need to place blame is so great that they sent two men to retrieve you.” He shook his head.
“But I did leave Eleana alone when I shouldn’t have.”
“One might think she was an infant, incapable of minding her own actions. You did nothing wrong. I was the one who distracted you, bringing you to the library to listen to an intoxicated Markanturian babble on about history.” He handed her his costrel. “The matter is finished, my dear.”
“You are rather persuasive, Mr. Prentishun,” Jaharo said.
“I possess what my people call, ‘Markanturian charm,’” he said proudly.
Kariayla allowed herself to smile and took a drink. Perhaps she could really believe she was now amongst friends.
5
What Thunder Brings
T
She felt Arcturus move away—only to see him stand in front of her. “This is outrageous,” he said. “For what purpose?”
The riders did not look at him. “She is a slave, sir. And she has caused a disturbance for which she must answer.”
Arcturus drew himself straight, his head high. “I know for what she has been blamed, and it would be far better justice to allow those truly responsible to answer for themselves.”
Blessed Spirits, he knows. He must have heard. Kariayla turned away in shame that Arcturus should know about her role in Eleana’s disappearance. She felt as though she was about to relive the nightmare of that morning, only this time her punishment would be more severe. Doubtless Clerk Melgora would have her sent to the stockade...or worse.
“His lordship Duke Barendorn has employed us to fetch the girl,” the taller rider repeated.
“I am afraid you will have to disappoint him. I was his guest, and if you need use my name, then you can tell him Arcturus Prentishun has taken Kariayla as his companion.”
“She is property of Belorn.”
“She is not even a native to this land,” Arcturus argued. “I should be curious to see what the Nemeloreans would think of Humans enslaving one of their children. This could result in quite a bruise for your rulers. I wonder if Duke Barendorn considered the consequences of acting above the king’s authority. Clearly he has undertaken this mission upon himself, or you would be officially garbed.”
The riders looked at one another. They were restless—outright uncomfortable before the Markanturian. Their eyes kept returning to the staff in his hand.
“You would be just as responsible for any hostile outcome,” Arcturus continued. “As it is, it seems ridiculous to me that two grown men have been sent to squander their time searching for a mere girl who was guilty of nothing more than honoring a friendship...and possessing a pair of wings.”
“We do not have a choice in the matter,” the shorter rider said. “We have our instructions. You need to speak with his lordship if you wish to dispute him.”
Arcturus thumped Whitestar upon the ground. “And I would, except that we have already come a distance. Returning to the castle would be a great inconvenience and a complete waste of everyone’s time. You do, in fact, have a choice. One winged slave girl flees a life of servitude. Did you track her down like a criminal and drag her back to the castle for a life of misery, or did you fail to find her—her whereabouts a mystery never to be solved? For what price would you condemn her? I guarantee that within less than a week she will be forgotten. Do not be the instruments of wrongful justice.” He took a step forward, and the taller rider backed away; the shorter hesitated.
Kariayla felt a shadow fall upon her as Jaharo stepped up behind Arcturus to glare down at the shorter rider. “Caleb, come on,” the tall rider said, turning his mount away. “She’s not worth the trouble.” The shorter man lingered a moment, his narrowed gaze upon her. Then he grunted and followed his companion back in the direction they had come.
Arcturus eased himself down beside Kariayla. “How utterly ridiculous. To think the need to place blame is so great that they sent two men to retrieve you.” He shook his head.
“But I did leave Eleana alone when I shouldn’t have.”
“One might think she was an infant, incapable of minding her own actions. You did nothing wrong. I was the one who distracted you, bringing you to the library to listen to an intoxicated Markanturian babble on about history.” He handed her his costrel. “The matter is finished, my dear.”
“You are rather persuasive, Mr. Prentishun,” Jaharo said.
“I possess what my people call, ‘Markanturian charm,’” he said proudly.
Kariayla allowed herself to smile and took a drink. Perhaps she could really believe she was now amongst friends.
5
What Thunder Brings
T
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