Part 21 (1/2)

”It was not your mistake, Ravi. You did all that you could,” Adesina said quietly.

He shook his head. ”No, Ma'eve, the blame falls on me. I was meant to protect you, even from yourself, and I failed.” There was no self-pity in his voice, only deep remorse. ”I am sorry, Ma'eve.”

She shook her head readily. ”No, Ravi. I am sorry that I did not honor the promise that I made to you.”

They smiled at each other, both glad to heal the breach that had formed between them over the past few weeks.

”Goodnight, dear one.”

”Goodnight, Ravi.”

He disappeared from sight, something that Adesina still wasn't used to happening. She heaved a tired sigh and moved towards the table. She began letting down her tightly pinned hair, glad that she couldn't see what a mess it had become. Adesina brushed her hair smooth and then sat down on the bed. She had no nightclothes to change into, so she merely removed her boots and set them neatly on the ground. She laid back and closed her eyes, grateful to get some rest.

She could hear the gentle breeze outside of her window, stirring the leaves of the trees. The chirping of crickets sounded in the distance, accompanied by other sounds of the night. It all came together in a soothing sort of symphony that lulled Adesina to sleep.

L'iam was waiting for E'nes when he left his sister's room. His leader beckoned him into the conference room and shut the door behind him.

Ri'sel and Sa'jan were already in the room, sitting in chairs around a small table. L'iam moved to join them and E'nes did the same.

”Well,” said Sa'jan, ”what do you think of your new sister?”

Ri'sel snorted. ”She may be the daughter of Me'shan and E'rian, but that hardly merits welcoming her into the family with open arms.”

”You think she is dangerous?” asked L'iam.

His expression became more respectful, but his voice was no less decided. ”Of course she is dangerous. She is a s.h.i.+mat.”

E'nes leaned forward and spoke up adamantly. ”I disagree.”

Everyone was surprised by his reaction. They looked at him expectantly, waiting for an explanation.

He chose his words carefully. ”That is not to say that she cannot be dangerous. Of course anyone with s.h.i.+mat training has the potential to be a threat. That being said, I do not believe that she is a naturally dangerous person. She has a good heart.”

His uncle was incredulous. ”You can tell that by a few minutes worth of conversation?”

”Yes,” he replied simply. ”She is a lot like Father.”

Sa'jan cleared his throat delicately. ”I know that you want her to be a good person, E'nes, but your conclusions may be too hasty.”

The young man gave a stubborn shake of the head. ”You do not understand. When I look into her eyes, I can see the goodness of her soul. She wants to be a person of honor and integrity but has been lost on the wrong path.”

After a momentary pause, L'iam nodded in agreement. ”I can see that when I look at her as well.”

Sa'jan also nodded, but Ri'sel folded his arms and leaned back with a darkened expression on his face.

L'iam looked around the table and clasped his hands together. ”All I need to know for tonight are your thoughts on the matter of our guest.”

He looked first to Sa'jan, who gave a small shrug. ”She has given her word to behave for now. If she gets unruly, Ri'sel can throw her into another tree.”

Ri'sel shook his head and said, ”I think it is foolish to allow a s.h.i.+mat to dwell among us. Even if she keeps her word to *behave,' she is still acting as a spy. I say we render her unconscious, take her back to the High City and leave her there.”

Finally it was E'nes's turn to speak. For a moment he could only look pleadingly at their leader. When his words came, they were spoken quietly. ”Please, L'iam. I know it is a risk, but I believe that if we show her trust she will learn to trust us in return.”

A thoughtful silence followed for several minutes while their leader considered what he had heard. When L'iam came to a decision, he announced it to his comrades firmly. ”We will follow E'nes's suggestion for the time being. If there is a change in circ.u.mstances, we will adjust accordingly.”

No one argued, even though it was clear that Ri'sel thought they were making a mistake. E'nes was excused from the meeting and went to his room to go to sleep. He laid awake for hours, thinking about his sister and praying that he wasn't wrong about her.

Chapter Twenty-one: The Challenge.

Adesina was awaken the next morning by a soft knock on her door. She was instantly on her feet in a defensive stance, a bit disoriented. As she remembered where she was, she straightened.

The knock repeated. ”Adesina?”

It was E'nes's voice.

She stepped to the door and opened it. Her brother's face lit up when he saw her, almost as if he had been afraid that she had escaped during the night. He gave her a warm smile. ”Would you care for some breakfast? K'eb has been making use of the fresh supplies that Sa'jan brought back from the village.”

She followed him down the hall to the main room, where the smell of fried eggs and toasted bread filled Adesina's nose. There were also some thin slices of venison sizzling in the large pan, and a big kettle filled with some fragrant herbal tea.

K'eb first filled a plate for Adesina, and then one for E'nes. He was polite and pleasant, but said very little to either of them. The three of them seemed to be the only ones interested in the morning meal.

”Where are the others?” Adesina asked.

E'nes, who had already begun to eat enthusiastically, swallowed before answering. ”A'asil ate earlier. L'iam, Ri'sel and Sa'jan are still in the conference room.”

Her tone became incredulous. ”Were they there all night?”

E'nes nodded slowly. ”Yes, I believe they were.”

”But why? What could possibly keep them there so long?”

Her brother shrugged casually. ”I am not privy to their counsel.”

This brought a question to her mind that she had been wondering the previous day. ”E'nes, I heard K'eb call you *captain' yesterday.”

He inclined his head. ”Yes.”

”Are all of you members of your military?”

”Yes.”

Adesina frowned in confusion. ”Then why is L'iam the leader of this group? Surely both Sa'jan and Ri'sel outrank him.”

E'nes gave a wry smile. ”It helps that his father is in charge of the L'avan armies.”