Page 15 of Silverbow
She was vigorously nodding her agreement in the dark.
“Somewhat, my lord,” Marwar answered. “I suspect she sees it that way, but it would solve a number of problems.”
Enya could not think of a single problem a marriage to Liam Marsh would solve. The old man had gone mad.
“And the boy?”
Enya had to clutch the doorframe to keep from bursting in. He could not be seriously entertaining this line of thinking.Liam?!
“For some time now, I’ve suspected his affections may not be entirely platonic.”
“I’m inclined to trust your instinct,” her father mused.
Enya’s mouth hung open. Marwar’s instinct had clearly failed him. Mad, blind, senile, or perhaps a combination of all three. The notion was so ridiculous, Enya’s bewilderment was all that kept herfrom laughing.
It was mad.
But even as she dismissed it, some little voice in her head squeaked that there were far worse fates than running Ryerson House with her best friend.
I am going mad. Liam?Light, the whole world is going mad.
“Her feelings might change if she knew of his affections.”
She scrunched her face again.They most certainly would not.
“I’ll take that under advisement, thank you.”
“Of course, my lord.”
A pause stretched so long that Enya considered darting back up the stairs, lest she be caught listening at the door, but she waited, holding her breath.
“Concerned about the Testing?”
“There’s not been a wielder in the bloodline for what, five generations?”
The words crashed into her like a blow low in the gut. The doorframe pressed against her spine was all that kept her upright.On record, he told Lady Blakwell.
Since she was a girl, he’d said she had nothing to worry about.Five generations?That suddenly didn’t seem like many, or perhaps it was too many, and the gift was ripe to appear again. She sagged against the wall, pressing the heels of her hands against her eyes.He lied to me.Enya did not hear what Marwar growled back over the roaring of her own heart in her ears.
“I’ve not seen her exhibit anything that looks like a wielding gift, have you?”
“No, my lord,” Marwar answered.
That was little enough consolation as beads of sweat broke out on her brow.You’ve held it thrice. You’ve held it thrice.She drew a deep breath, but trying to seize calm was like trying to seize smoke.He lied to me.
“And the bow? Not some trick of air or spirit?” Her father asked.
“No,” Marwar replied. “Sana’s gift or force of sheer stubborn will, I am not certain, but I don’t believe it to be wielding. The demis didn’t seem to think so either.”
“And Liam?”
“Nothing I’m aware of.”
“Did you learn any more of them?” He asked.
Enya leaned closer.
“Only the shadow of rumor.”
