Page 11 of Fate of Echoes and Embers
“I do not ask for guarantees. Just a chance at ensuring my mission will be executed with just cause.”
There were many reasons not to agree to accompany him, besides my limited capacity to help and the most obvious one… traveling in tight quarters with the man who awoke a passion within me I didn’t know existed and then left, without word or warning, breaking my heart and leaving me on a longer path to healing than I could have imagined. To even consider such a thing was madness.
And then there was Hawthorne Manor.
“I have little wish to leave my people at such a tumultuous time, though I could appoint Lord Draven in my stead.”
When Marek had first come to Hawthorne Manor, Draven was in Aetheria so the two had never met. He had been my father’s right-hand man and had held Hawthorne in my name when I’d traveled before. Even so, our Gyorian borders were as turbulent as ever.
“It will be a sacrifice, for certain. We do not ask you this lightly, Issa.”
“Whose idea was it?” I asked, suddenly curious. “To come here?”
His gaze did not waver. “Mine. I realized only this morn Kael knew you as well. He admitted considering asking for your aid but thought it was too dangerous.”
“And you do not?”
“No, because I have no intention of putting you in danger. You will remain with Adren on the Gyorian shore during the mission.”
A human in Gyoria could be a danger in itself, but not nearly as much as the one Marek intended. But it wasn’t that danger that held me back. Draven was here and would be as good a substitute for my presence as any. Truly, there was only one reason I hesitated.
But that was not reason enough to deny Mevlida and Kael. My sacrifice would be small compared to Marek’s and there was really only one answer I could give.
“I will come with you,” I said, “if you promise not to make any mention of our time together.”
He paused. Gritting his teeth, Marek clearly unhappy with my request, he opened his mouth and then closed it.
I waited. That concession was not negotiable.
“You have my promise.”
5
MAREK
I turned in my saddle, just having passed the gatehouse but sensing someone was following me. Waiting for him to join me, I greeted the commander.
“Sir Warren.”
“Navarch,” he said, stiffly.
“Captain will do. Or Marek, if you prefer.”
We rode in silence, our horses’ hooves kicking up gravel.
“You’ve had little rain, of late?”
“Very little. Lady Isolde has considered sending for Aetherian aid.”
Issa disliked asking anyone for aid. “I could summon water from the tide pools near the cliffs.”
Sir Warren stiffened, skeptical. “Seawater?”
“It can be purified. Or…” I hesitated, feeling mischievous. “If your need is urgent, I can call upon the mists themselves to fill your reservoirs.”
The man blinked. “You are serious?”
“As serious as a Thalassarian drought.”
