Page 5 of Triadic

I knocked on the door and then entered, calling out that it was me. Only a few steps through the barrier, the air began to feel different. The protections over the monastery were substantial.

"Marit?Ja, komm. Ein Moment," Corbi called back.

I stayed near the door, not wanting to take off my snow boots and stay long. The clinic had the feel of illness and the struggle to return to health. The medic-monks used it to separate out those who needed spiritual healing or who were at risk of turning vampiric. It was useful but still very difficult work that happened here.

My partner came around the corner, a question in his soft brown eyes.

"Two letters," I said, "one from Wren."

His eyes flew wide as he took off his work apron. I handed over Wren's letter and saved the peculiar one for myself.

Opening the unknown letter with the bold handwriting, I read to myself:

Dear Marian and Correy,

I was visiting a friend in the mountains and found your sparrow. I ask for your blessing as long as he is happy. My name is Ulysses the Tall, and I have a good position in mycommunity. He will be safe, well cared for, and can leave as he likes.

Let's meet when the passes clear,

Ulysses the Tall

In a daze, I handed over the letter just as Corbi did Wren's. Something niggled at me about that name, and I was pretty sure this man was saying he and Wren were in a relationship? Though in such a short letter, it kind of sounded like Wren had been taken captive. My heart was unsure whether to panic.

I read Wren's letter:

Liebe M & C,

So much has happened. 'Ulysses the Tall' wishes to send you a letter announcing our relationship, even though it is so soon. I would have liked to explain in person, but I am very happy. It happened very quickly. This new job is important and entails so much. I'd like to ask M some of the implications and have you check me, C. I miss you both but am thankful we obeyed our vows because it allowed 'Ulysses' to enter my life.

Please know I am safe and happy, as much as I can be in these times.

I miss you and want to see you soon.

Always having been yours,

W.

I carefully folded both letters and put them back in their envelopes to preserve. In Corbi's eyes I found the calm resignation of someone who'd never had anyone fight for him, and thus it didn'toccur to him when he should fight for himself.

"It sounds like our Wren got swept up by someone important, maybe a local leader, or at least a soldier," he surmised, his brown eyes scanning my face for my reaction. "At least nothing seemed to be encoded as a call for help, not that I could see."

I shook my head. "You're right; I don't think so, either. He's moved on and is glad we never said those words to each other."

Corbi's soft smile warmed me. "Those are my favorite words to hear from you."

We couldn't risk saying something so forbidden in hearing range of the medics and patients, so I silently mouthed the words.Ich liebe dich.I love you.

He echoed them back.Ich auch.

I spoke barely above a whisper. "Let's make love tonight, just the two of us."

I needed us to draw closer together, to close the gaping hole between us where Wren used to be.

Corbi smiled. "I'll leave the clinic early if I can."

I blew him a kiss. Though Corbi took the precaution of running through etheric cleansing exercises to make sure he didn't bring any vampiric creatures home from the clinic, I wasn't privy to their exact workings myself. It was best if we didn't touch while he was working.

I gave him a small wave. "Bye."

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