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were watching, scowling at her. And her people needed her
now. She could not turn away no matter how painful the
expression on Dayan's face.
Being inside her eagle, Santil had discovered just how
much fortitude and inner strength she possessed.
Rakia had died horribly, but within those last fleeting
moments of life, while they had tumbled together in the sky,
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the eagle had fought Lannis for control of her reyn ... and
triumphed.
Rakia had been able to thrust all that reyn across the vast
distance separating them, back into Santil.
And at that moment, though the Matrons would deem her
tolin sha for no longer being true-bonded to her eagle, Santil
understood the wrongness of that.
Rakia would never have sent the last of their shared reyn if
she believed Santil had no worth. Santil's hand stilled on top
of her pack while she let the pain of Rakia's sacrifice wash
over her.
"Is there nothing I can say to make you change your
course?" Dayan's voice was low, troubled, a weight pulling
upon Santil's bruised heart.
Whether her people accepted her or not, Santil was going
to warn the Matrons about Lannis and what the Mystic was
doing to their people. She would make them understand,
make them listen to her and take action to stop it. That was
what Rakia had died for and that was what Santil would throw
all her energy into. That gave her worth.
"Dayan, I have to do this."
The farmer's thick chest expanded in a despairing
inhalation. He scrubbed a meaty hand across his face. "You
put us to shame."
Santil's eyes flicked up to his. "Shame? You've done
nothing to shame you in any way. The opposite holds true."
His smile was weak and flat as he grunted. "Nothing
indeed. We who hold ancient oaths to honor and protect your
people have done nothing. It's past time we of Amalikiol did
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more than watch at your borders and wait to give you rest.
The moment is upon us to once again stand as protectors to
all Eaglekins." He inclined his big head toward her. "We'll see
if your Matrons remember their oaths taken as well, for you
won't have to stand before them alone."
* * * *
"This was a stupid thing to do. Ammah, I want to get out
now." Terrified, Hydeia clung to Ammah's strong neck. The
cool water lapped around their shoulders. Whatever madness
that had convinced her to get into the water in the first place
had abandoned her with the weightless feel of the river
around her. There was nothing solid in here. The male truly
addled her better judgment.
The loose undergarment swirled around her legs but
Hydeia wasn't about to release the death grip she had on
Ammah to smooth the light skirt back down. If she would
have had claws no doubt his flesh would be torn under her
pressure.
"You've barely entered the water and haven't let go of me
since." A mischievous dimple popped into Ammah's cheek. At
any other time Hydeia would have found that intriguing. Who
knew the dour lad had dimples? Yet the incorrigible lout would
have to display them at the precise moment he was
attempting to kill her.
For that was what Hydeia was certain he was trying to do.
There was no other reason for him to have lured her into this
deadly rippling moving liquid of terror. And rotting prey, there
was nothing to hang on to but him.
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She felt his long legs tangle with hers while he kicked to
keep them both afloat on the splashing waves. The sunlight
sparkled on each ripple with lazy strokes.
"Hydeia, you're going to need to move back a bit or you'll
pull us both under."
Of course that declaration only made her cling to his neck
more tightly and they both did go under. The world abruptly
went silent and dark. She could see absolutely nothing in the
brackish water. Strong hands ripped her away from her fierce
hold on Ammah. Dear Koric, he purposefully let go of her. He
had left her. Sheer terror engulfed Hydeia, choking off any
rational thoughts as it flooded through her chest. Her
tightening chest that was quickly losing air just as she was
wrenched back into the realm of sky and air and strong
powerful arms that lifted her shoulders clear of the water,
holding her there at arm's length while Ammah kicked
powerfully, treading water for them both.
Terrified and relieved, she lunged to grab hold of him
again, but his greater strength held her back. She shrieked as
she felt herself dropping back into the dark depths, yet
Ammah kept her head from going under again.
"Sh, shh, be calm." His voice was smooth, deep, and
compelling. "Stop fighting me or we really will be in trouble.
Hydeia!" His fingers pressed hard into her arms. "Be calm. Do
you really think I'd let anything happen to you?" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]