Crystal Moon (11 page)

lives.

This morning was perfect. The remaining sick and injured

didn’t require her attention, and the weather was clear. Her

decision to gather herbs made, she wasted no time. As she had

no intention of fleeing, her promise not to leave the castle seemed

irrelevant. Taking only a large cloth bag, a small knife and a

digging tool, she headed out of the castle.

Little note was made of her passing. People came and

went throughout the day, going into the valley below to harvest

what few crops they had managed to plant or to the woods to

hunt. The gatekeeper waved her through with a smile.

Despite the cool mountain air, the sun beat warm on her

head and shoulders. Redolent of moist earth and pine, the crisp

air cleared the odor of illness from her lungs. Like a minstrel’s

multi-hued cloak, red, gold and brown foliage covered the

mountainside, warning of the coming winter, but this day summer

still held sway.

Eyes alert, nose twitching, Warda ranged ahead, then

behind, but ever vigilant, he never strayed far from her side.

“We won’t find what we need following this well-worn

trail. Come along,” she told the hound and cut across the open

meadow surrounding the castle toward the steeper slopes. “Alt

root prefers the higher reaches, just above the tree line, while

maca trees favor the damp soil along streams. Perhaps we’ll

find a patch of nika. If I’m careful, I might be able to dig some

roots.”

As if in response to her words, Warda lowered his head

and growled.

“Yes, I know how your master feels about nika, but don’t

let his prejudices blind you to the plant’s benefits. Nika root is

so much better for pain reduction than alt. Still, I doubt I’ll find

a patch at this elevation, so don’t worry.”

Though she knew the hound didn’t understand her words,

she felt better for speaking them.

Throughout the day she searched and gathered, her bag

growing heavier. With only bird song and the breeze rustling

through the trees to disturb the quiet, peace settled over Sianna.

Engrossed in this well known and restful task, she moved up

and over the next ridge, out of sight of the castle. In the shade

of a towering maca tree, Warda kept watch while she worked.

His presence reminded her of his enigmatic master—Rul Cathor.

Pulling the last stubborn alt root from the ground, she leaned

back on her heels and wiped the sweat from her face, leaving

a moist brown streak.

“Why can’t I read your master’s emotions?” she asked

the hound. “Being near him makes me feel safe and warm, yet

I know he despises me for being my father’s daughter. If he

knew I’m not Laila, would he still hate me? Can what he believes

of my father be true? I came home with so many hopes. If I

thought Father sought to marry me to Prince Timon for my best

interest, I would do so despite my doubts. But I fear Kyne may

be right. My father thinks only of his needs. To my father I’m

nothing more than a tool to further his own ends. Now I’ve

become Kyne’s tool to use against him.”

The Sisters of Light had loved and valued her for her

contribution to their valetudinarian. Her father valued her for

the power he could gain through her marriage. Kyne valued

her as a way to exact vengeance. Would anyone ever value

her as the person she was?

Pain lanced across her shoulders as she stretched to remove

the kinks from her back.

Warda whined and nudged her. Only then did she notice

the lengthening shadows. Her stomach reminded her she hadn’t

stopped for mid-meal before leaving the castle, and the time

for last meal approached rapidly.

“I believe we should head home,” she told Warda. “Home.

I like the sound of the word. Already the castle feels like home.

The people, Zoa—Betha, and the others—welcome me as

though I belong. Even Althea, quiet as she is, makes me feel

wanted and needed. Would that my father had received me so.

Laila welcomed me, but we had so little time to know each

other.”

Only Katya’s hostile attitude and Graham’s wary looks

disturbed Sianna’s contentment, reminding her of her precarious

situation. Her silent deception. She refused to consider what

Kyne made her feel. What she wanted from him. Though selfish,

she wished things could go on as they were forever.

She looked around in confusion. Concentrating on locating

the roots and herbs, she had paid little attention to where she

wandered. The land around her looked unfamiliar. “I think we’re

lost.” A shiver of apprehension coursed through her.

Warda jumped to his feet and started away. With a relieved

laugh, Sianna rose and followed. Of course, the hound would

know the way.

Pleased with her haul, she followed Warda, eager for

Betha’s cooking and a soft bed. Bed. Her steps faltered. Last

night after her bath, despite her exhaustion, she lay awake for

hours waiting for Kyne to return to his chamber, but he never

came. When she woke, only the rumpled covers gave any

indication he’d lain beside her. Would he join her this night?

What would he expect of her?

Though innocent, Sianna’s work in the valetudinarian gave

her knowledge of what went on between men and women.

The thought of sharing her body with Kyne did not make her

tremble in fear.

Foolishness, she chided herself. Kyne hated who he thought

she was. Why would he want to join his flesh with hers?

At first the low rumble she heard sounded like distant

thunder, but the sky with its streaks of pink and purple held no

storm clouds. She stopped and listened. The ground vibrated

beneath her feet.

Warda gave a booming bark.

“What’s wrong?”

Ahead, the trail curved through the trees. Sianna stood

frozen as three quinar rounded the bend and barreled toward

her. At the last moment, the animals slid to a stop in front of her,

throwing up dust and bits of earth. She clutched her bag and

cringed.

“There she is!”

Though she could see little through her watering eyes,

Sianna recognized Katya’s caustic voice and the jumbled, hostile

emotions emanating from the young woman.

“I told you she’d try to escape, Kyne,” Katya continued.

“Escape?” Sianna held up her bag. “I wasn’t trying to

escape. I was collecting herbs.”

Katya snorted her disbelief, her glare promising retribution.

Infected by her mood, her quinar pranced restlessly beneath

her.

Kyne moved his quinar between Sianna and Katya in an

unconsciously protective gesture. “You and Graham head back,

I’ll bring the woman. She’ll not escape me.”

His exasperated tone cut at Sianna’s pride. “I’m not so

witless as to attempt to flee through unfamiliar mountains.”

The three ignored her protest.

Graham laughed. “Think you can handle the fugitive?”

A balm to her spirit, Graham’s humor eased the bite of

Katya’s accusation and Kyne’s annoyance.

“Be gone, old man, before I handle you.” At Graham’s

gentle teasing, some of the heat left Kyne’s voice.

“As if you could, pup. We’ll see you back at the castle.

Mind you don’t lose your way.”

Graham and Katya turned their mounts and rode away,

leaving Sianna to face Kyne. He dismounted and strode

forward. She reached out to him empathetically, but beyond

the temper building in his eyes, she sensed nothing. In the

shadow of the trees she shivered, but not from the cooling air.

Like a physical presence, fear and anger preceded him.

He lifted his arm. Refusing to cower or plead, she straightened

her shoulders and faced him. “Will you kill me now?”

Surprise flickered across Kyne’s face.

With a menacing growl, Warda moved in front of her and

lowered his head. Hackles raised, he crouched, ready to spring.

“Warda. No.” She gripped the hound’s ruff. No matter

Kyne’s intent, she couldn’t let the hound harm him.

Kyne stopped, stared at the hound, then threw back his

head and laughed, the tension draining from his body. “Even

you befriend her, Warda.” His laughter faded and he looked at

her. “Are you a witch, little Daughter of Light, that all succumb

to your appeal? Zoa and Etam speak of nothing but what Sianna

says. Betha sings your praises. In only a day, order has come

to Castle Vareck, and even I must admit it is by your doing.

What spell have you cast over us?”

Head high, shoulders back, she faced him. “I am no witch.

Merely a woman. And I wasn’t trying to escape.”

“I know. Why are you wandering about? Sardak and big

cats call this forest home. You would make them a tasty snack.

Even Warda is no match for a hungry sardak.”

Sianna shuddered at the thought.

Kyne’s gaze searched her face, and he trailed his fingertips

across her cheek. “You have mud on you.”

A shiver coursed through her body at his tantalizing touch.

“I didn’t think. The medicinal herbs were running low. I

only wanted to restock supplies.”

“You didn’t lie when you claimed to be a healer, did you?”

He gave her a look of troubled acceptance, as if he could not

reconcile his beliefs about her with what his eyes told him.

“I never lie...or I try never to lie,” she amended with a

flash of guilt.

His dark eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Then you’re a better

person than most. Lies come easier than truth to most people.”

Bitterness laced his voice.

His words told her someone had hurt him with their lies.

Her skin still tingling from his touch, she prayed her lie would

not.

“Come. It grows dark. We must return to the castle. Next

time you wish to hunt for herbs, tell me and I’ll arrange for an

escort.” His voice low and gruff with some emotion she could

not determine, he held out his hand.

She hesitated. Unable to sense his emotions, she both feared

and craved physical contact with this man—her captor, her

protector. Only through touch would she see into his heart, but

did she really want to know what lay there? Could she bear the

pain if she discovered he hated her? Why did she care?

She paused too long. A spasm of irritation crossed his face.

He dropped his hand to his side and whirled about. With long,

angry strides he moved to Hakan’s side and threw himself into

the saddle. “Don’t dally. Sardak prefer to hunt at night.”

In stunned disbelief, she watched him ride away. He’d left

her. Where once she thought the forest a peaceful refuge, now

the dusky shadows seemed to harbor unseen dangers. Warda

whined anxiously and trotted forward a few steps before turning

back to her.

She stiffened, refusing to falter and allow him to cow her

with unfounded fear. The forest held no more menace now

than before. Only his dire warnings darkened the atmosphere

around her. If his counsel had merit or if he mistrusted her

intent to return, he would not leave her to find her way back

alone. Would he? What lay in his heart that she could not see?

Gripping the hound’s ruff for confidence, she said, “Let’s

go home, Warda.”

***

Just around the bend, Kyne pulled Hakan to a halt in a

small clearing and waited. As much as he wished to avoid her

company, he couldn’t leave the little witch to find her way home

alone. Worse perils than big cats and sardak faced a lone

woman. Though his people patrolled the area around the castle

and guarded the passes, other less honorable men skulked in

the rough terrain. They wouldn’t hesitate to take what they

wanted from a woman and leave the rest for the four-legged

scavengers.

The thought of Sianna’s slim body used and broken sent a

surge of fury through him. As Rul he alone must decide her

fate, not leave it to chance. Until the time came to pass

judgement, he would keep her safe.

He leaned forward in eager anticipation and looked out

over the valley, waiting for what would soon come. The setting

sun cast a warm glow over the clearing and the valley below.

Like a molten ball of gold crystal, the sun dipped lower. Birds,

busy settling for the coming night, chirped and sang, a chorus

of noise. Then it happened. The birds fell silent. A hush

descended over the mountain. Nature seemed to hold its breath

as the rays struck the blue crystal cliffs rising behind him.

“Oh, my,” Sianna gasped in awe.

Relieved at her presence, he looked down at her.

Never taking her gaze from the scene spread out in front

of them, she stepped to his side.

A soft, blue glow enveloped the mountainside and valley,

draining the brilliant hues of harvest color, leaving behind a world

of shimmering azure. In the strange flash of light, trees, plants

and even rocks became fragile crystal sculptures.

“I didn’t know anything could be so beautiful.” Eyes

sparkling with delight, lips parted in a gasp of pleasure, she

gazed at the scene.

Her awe loosened the tight knot within him. “Legend has it