Page 19 of Vengeance Becomes Her

He stood, closing the space between them.

“What do I have to gain by lying?” His hands shot up in the air.

“I just want to do the right thing. We can both help stop this, once and for all. If anyone can find Silas, it’s me.”

Rhiannon sighed. “I want to help you, but I don’t know how yet. I need time. I’m building a case against Silas. I’m going to ask the council for an investigation, and they will bring him back for trial.”

“I’m going after him.”

“And I will ensure he sees justice for trying to kill me.”

“We want the same thing, but we need towork together.”

Their unyielding back and forth had her on edge, frustration tightening her gut. She turned her back to him, covering her face in her hands and taking a guarded breath. “I need to think, this has been a lot.” With that, she made her way back to her home, wrestling with too many emotions to sort through in one day.

That night, Rhiannon went to bed with knots in her stomach. She would do as she said and plead with the council to put Silas on trial. But surely that wasn’t enough, she would be restless and miserable here wondering what was happening and if Tristain was successful.

And on top of everything else, she’d started wondering what justice there was for someone who had caused so much loss and pain, if she could even find a way to subdue his magic. The typical punishments wouldn’t be enough, not even close. The only way he’d really pay for his actions was if he was no longer breathing.

He needed to be taken down so he could never hurt another woman again. She knew Tristain would never be able to do it. She’d seen the empathy he somehow still held for Silas.

However, without him, there was no finding Silas. She was weak, inexperienced with travel, and definitely no match for hismagic. The reality of her position sank in, deflating her fervor from just a few moments ago.

Eventually, sleep took her, her dreams were dark and disturbing and there was no rest to be found.

Instead, the red-headed woman visited her again.

“Rhiannon.”She whispered from the dark corners of her mind.

It should have been disquieting, but somehow it was comforting, like seeing an old friend or being held by your mother. Rhiannon listened carefully.

“You cannot put your future in this man’s hands. He may have good intentions, but he is also the brother of your greatest enemy. Don’t let him be your only hope for the justice you deserve.”

Rhiannon agreed but she felt hopeless.“What other option do I have? It’s not going to be easy to get anyone to believe me. And I can’t very well track him down and bring him back myself, wherever he’s gone. I’ve found nothing that’s a matchfor his magic.”

“You must not allow yourself to be discouraged so easily. I can help you, but you need to let me.” Frustration now laced the woman’s voice, but she reigned it back in quickly.

When Rhiannon was silent, she continued.

“You have been searching for answers. You say you’ve found nothing but we can figure thisout together.”

“I might have the beginnings of an idea. I’m not sure if it’s anything truly.” Rhiannon hesitated a moment, wondering if she should be trusting this woman with the wisp of an idea she’d been mulling over. “What do you know about spelled tinctures?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Silas seemed weary of them, that’s all. I thought maybe…never mind, it seems foolish now.”

The woman was silent.

“I knew that it was too much to hope for.” Rhiannon deflated.

“No. I think you may be onto something.” Her face was pinched in thought. “I can help you with this. I just need a bit of time to think. I will return to you soon.”

Rhiannon wanted to press her for answers, but she vanished before shehad the chance.

---