ZARA found herself in the cavern again, standing by the pool in a brilliant circle of light. Unlike before, there was no fear. She was protected. Vil’joh remained close. She couldn’t see him, but that didn’t matter. He wouldn’t leave her.
A scan of the cavern revealed the stones still on the shelves in the wall. The ruby sparkled brilliantly, reflecting rays of red light around the cavern. The onyx lay like a dead thing, absorbing light and giving nothing back. She turned her back, not daring to look at them.
“You must choose.” The gentle voice seemed to come from everywhere all at once.
Zara’s gaze darted around the cavern. No one was there. An uneasy sense of vulnerability closed in.
“I apologize for startling you,” said the voice, this time from across the water. A gold-armored knight knelt and touched the still surface of the water. Ripples spread across the pool, touching the sand at Zara’s feet. Her tension fled. “You must choose.”
She looked back at the stones and sighed. There was little doubt in her mind what the choice must be, but she’d hoped to wait a little longer. Just a little longer. To be sure it was right.
“Will time alter your decision?” Tawny eyes were inquisitive and warm.
She shook her head, gaze dropping.
He stepped around the pool and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. She looked up, surprised by the warmth in his eyes. She hadn’t imagined that possible from anyone but U’uskoh. She’d never seen him before, but recognition nudged at the edge of her mind. An unfamiliar face, yet his eyes held recognition and affection. He smiled with a touch of sadness and released her.
Resolved, Zara stepped out of the light. The knight’s eyes followed her, strengthening her. With a deep, shaky breath, she picked up both stones and returned to the water. One gem was cold, and the other warm. He gave her a puzzled look.
“Both.”
“That is impossible, Zara.”
“It’s my choice.” Tears threatened. “U’uskoh is my life. I won’t let him go.”
“And Tarsius?”
“I won’t let him die.” She glared into the darkness, shaking with fear and anger. Ray’din would pay for what he’d done.
Decision made, she moved the stones together, cupping her hands next to one another. The gemstones vibrated, the intensity growing the longer they touched. Both shattered, slicing her hands. She ignored the pain.
“So be it, my lady.” He bowed at the waist and vanished.
* * *
The rhythmic beat of a heart pounded under Zara’s ear. Her hands were balled up under her chin. She opened both and looked at them, expecting them to be torn open. Neither was injured. She rubbed her left hand over her face, feeling the cool metal of her ring.
She held out her hand and studied the circle, remembering with crystal clarity the night it had been given to her. She’d believed it a dream, that U’uskoh couldn’t possibly want her. But he had. He’d loved her. He still did, if she was to believe Vil’joh.
Tears fell on the tunic beneath her cheek, deepening the crimson color. Balling her hand into a fist, she forced her mind to recall every moment of that first night. Her heart ached with missing U’uskoh. She hated Ray’din more in that moment than ever before. I’ll do whatever possible to put a stop to his plans or die trying. It’s not like I have anything to fear from death now. I have nothing left to lose. A sob shook her.
“Zara?”
She made no reply. There was nothing to say. Her arms around his waist, Zara let sorrow take her, lacking the strength to fight it.
Tarsius’ arms tightened around her. When at last sobs subsided, he drew away. She avoided his gaze and wiped her face with the sleeve of the oversized tunic. He gently grasped her chin and raised her face until their eyes met. Then he studied her, his gaze skipping from one feature to the next. With gentle touches of calloused fingers, he removed remaining traces of tears.
A throat cleared, making Tarsius jump with a guilty look. What had he done wrong? He hopped to his feet. Guilt was gone when he reached down to help her up. “Yes, Kestian?”
“I apologize for disturbing you, but we wondered when you wish to head home.”
“What time is it?”
“About ten, I think.” Tarsius thought about it for a long moment, giving it more consideration than Zara believed necessary. She said nothing and wrapped her arms around herself against the chill in the air.
“After mid-day?” He gave her a questioning glance.
Why ask her? She shrugged.
He nodded in satisfaction.
“I’ll tell Dolmar and Daylin to be ready.”
“We have things to do.” Tarsius gave her a brilliant smile when they were alone. The smile of a man with a secret. He left the temple and headed for their rooms.
She followed, intrigued, waiting for some clue to his thoughts.
“We need to retrieve Jerrod,” was all he finally said.
Not much of a clue. Curiosity rose higher still.
Minutes later, Zara followed Tarsius away from the compound, watchful for anything, or anyone, suspicious. Cygnet, too, seemed more alert than usual. Jerrod mimicked her vigilance. Zara was grateful for the help. Tarsius seemed oblivious to the danger he was in. Vil’joh watched over her, but it would be up to her and the dogs to protect Tarsius.
He leaned briefly in one door, stepped back, and motioned Zara inside. She tentatively crossed the threshold, glancing around. The room was filled, nearly wall-to-wall, with clothing of every imaginable color, shape, and size. Tarsius followed. Cygnet and Jerrod settled inside the door out of the way.
“Welcome, welcome.” A woman appeared out of the stacks clothing, a welcoming smile on her face. “May I be of assistance?”
“Good morning, my lady.” Tarsius offered a deep bow. “I certainly hope so. The young lady requires more appropriate attire. We will be traveling tonight.”
“Oh, my goodness, yes.” She touched a finger to her chin, studying Zara from head to foot.
Zara gave Tarsius a confused look.
He smiled.
“Let me see. Tunic, trousers, hm.” She continued to consider Zara with a critical eye. “With your coloring, white would be lovely on you.”
Zara’s set her jaw in mutinous lines. White? Was the woman daft? Did she have any idea how visible white was both day and night? Or how easily it got dirty?
The shopkeeper was undeterred. “Come, come. I know just the thing.”
She backed away as the shopkeeper walked to the back of the shop.
Tarsius brought her up short and gave her a gentle push forward. Lines of determination etched his face.
Resigned to her fate, she followed the woman.
* * *
Tarsius concealed an amused grin when Zara disappeared in back. She left no doubt by the look on her face that she resented being forced into the woman’s hands. Somehow he’d pay for this little scheme. He leaned against a table and looped his thumbs through his sword belt. What might his penance be?
* * *
Zara tolerated the shopkeeper’s fussing and bustling. Not very graciously, she had to admit. Despite covert attempts to slow the woman down, she soon found herself in a white cotton chemise that barely covered her, a long-sleeved white silk tunic, and white silk trousers over cotton. She mentally calculated how long it might take to change the color. Anything but white.
Then came a wide-necked deep brown wool tunic that nearly reached her knees and a long, black leather belt tied around her waist like a saddle to a horse. Not bad. Not white at least.
As if that weren’t enough, she found herself in soft, black leather boots laced almost to her knees. The cuffs of her trousers were tucked inside the boots. Then a long cloak in the same brown wool was added over the outer tunic. Its lining was white silk. Zara fidgeted, making certain none of the clothing was too restrictive. She’d be able to fight in it, should the need arise, but climbing walls could be problematic. Not that she was bound to do much of that in white, which would make her actions visible to a blind man in the next kingdom.
“The cloak has a cowl should you desire it.” The woman made certain it lay properly across Zara’s shoulders. Then she went digging for something else. What else could she possibly need? When she surfaced, the shopkeeper had a pair of trousers in dark brown wool. Zara’s eyes widened. The woman chuckled. “For travel. You wouldn’t wish to ruin that beautiful white silk.”
Want to bet?
“Besides, wool is warmer when you must travel at night. Snow makes travel so unpleasant, particularly at night.” The shopkeeper stood back and eyed her critically.
Snow. Yuck. Cold, wet and impossible to move around in without leaving tracks. She wished spring would come quickly, but it wouldn’t be rushed.
“Well, shall we ask the gentleman’s opinion?”
As much as Zara dreaded it, she followed compliantly.
Tarsius leaned casually against a table, arms crossed over his chest as he watched people walk by the shop. He looked completely relaxed and at ease, not even a hint of impatience.
* * *
“Well, sir, what do you think?”
The woman’s question startled Tarsius from his reverie. He straightened and turned, a compliment ready on his lips. It froze there.
Beautiful. Beyond it. The shopkeeper was a genius. White truly did take advantage of Zara’s dark coloring. The rich brown deepened the startling effect of dark eyes, making them appear bottomless and bright at the same time. Boots hugged close to shapely legs. Not an inch of skin was exposed but for hands, neck, and face. Stunning.
* * *
Zara waited for Tarsius to say something. Anything. The longer he stared, the more nervous she became. She shot a worried look at the shopkeeper. A pleased grin spread across the woman’s face. Zara returned her gaze to Tarsius, looking for any sign of what he thought. Then, for a brief instant before he concealed it, she saw something in his expression she recognized.
She smiled self-consciously. Maybe white wasn’t so bad after all. For now.
“Might I make a suggestion?” the woman asked.
He nodded and leaned down. She stretched up and whispered in his ear.
Zara cocked her head but missed what was said.
Tarsius paid the shopkeeper and waved Zara outside. When she saw their next stop, she balked and tried to run. Tarsius anticipated the move and grabbed her gently but firmly by the shoulders. She struggled to get away. She wasn’t letting someone with sharp objects anywhere near her head.
“I will remain with you. You’ll be done before you know it.”
She stopped pulling and nodded weakly, hoping he would release her so she could make an escape. He kept a hand on her until she was seated, dispelling that hope.
Twenty minutes later, she left with bangs brushing her forehead and wild lengths of straight black hair evened out so it fell smoothly down her back and across her shoulders in one flowing cascade. Eyeing her reflection in a window, she studied the overall effect rather dubiously. It no longer resembled her. But the longer she stood there, the more she saw herself in the image staring back. She cast Tarsius a questioning look.
“Absolutely breath-taking,” he answered with a broad smile.
Heat crawled across her cheeks, and she turned away.
“Hungry?”
She nodded, still not meeting his gaze.
He offered his arm and bowed to her. “May I?”
She smiled and set a hand on his arm.