Daughter of Hauk (The Raven Chronicles Book 1) by KateMarie Collins Page B
Authors: KateMarie Collins
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can break that bond is something we can’t risk the other side finding out. That,” he paused, “and I’m not going to trust the other side. They will try to get to you. Until that paladin is dead at my feet, he’s not going to be able to lay another hand on you.” Arwenna watched as Y’Dürkie grinned a very tight smile of agreement.
Arwenna placed her elbows on the table and cradled her face in her hands. Better to let them win this round , she thought , than to spend all night arguing over it . Silently, she nodded her acceptance of Barek’s edict. “Fine, have it your way. Post a guard all the way around my tent if you will. I’m too tired to argue with you tonight.” She sat back in her chair, exhaustion clearly visible on her face.
“There’s an area back here that Mialee was using,” Barek told her as he rose from the table. “I suppose you could use it. We should look it over to see if she left anything behind. It may give us a clue or two about her disappearance.” Arwenna followed his lead, stretching as she rose out of her chair.
Barek led her and Y’Dürkie through a flap in the back of the tent into a decent-sized room. Judging from the disarray, someone had left in a hurry. No personal items remained in the room – only some furniture and papers strewn about. Sighing, Arwenna said, “Well, I guess that answers that question. Wherever she’s gone, she didn’t expect to return for some time.” She flopped down on the cot, failing to see the long look exchanged between the other two. Weariness began to take its toll on her.
Fragments of conversation filtered into her mind. Barek and Y’Dürkie spoke in whispers. “I’ve got a bed on the other side of that wall. Go with your grandmother; find a bed to sleep in. If anything happens during the night, I’ll hear it.” Barek’s voice paused. “She’s not going to go anywhere for a while. We wait for Lexi to finish doing whatever she’s doing up on that mountain you let her go to, and then we march. Arwenna needs the rest more than she knows.” Y’Dürkie muttered something to Barek, the sound of her retreating footsteps immediately followed.
Arwenna didn’t have to open her eyes to know that Barek stood watch over her. He knew her too well sometimes. The determined look on his face at dinner had spoken volumes about his plans for Bohrs, should he be given the opportunity. The whirlwind of events slowly overtook her and she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Ten
T he sound of people trying to argue quietly woke her the next morning. Sitting up in bed, Arwenna wrinkled her brow in puzzlement. Barek’s voice was easy to distinguish. She had heard the other voice before but she couldn’t place where. On silent feet, she tiptoed toward the flap hoping to see who Barek was talking to.
Moving the canvas aside a crack, she peered out to the main room. Barek’s back was to her, blocking her view of the other people in the room. “I don’t care who you think you are, she’s sleeping and I’m not going to wake her up just because a bunch of religious zealots want to say hello! If you really want to give her the help you are professing, give her space! The woman’s been to hell and back, and I’m not exaggerating!” He leaned over the map table, his hands balled into massive fists.
“We know this, Lord Barek. And we have no more desire to hurt her than you do. We just want her to know we are here if she needs us.” The other man’s voice nagged at her brain. She’d heard it somewhere before. If only Barek would move , she thought, I could put a face to the voice . Curiosity overrode her caution and she moved the flap slightly more to try and see around
Arwenna placed her elbows on the table and cradled her face in her hands. Better to let them win this round , she thought , than to spend all night arguing over it . Silently, she nodded her acceptance of Barek’s edict. “Fine, have it your way. Post a guard all the way around my tent if you will. I’m too tired to argue with you tonight.” She sat back in her chair, exhaustion clearly visible on her face.
“There’s an area back here that Mialee was using,” Barek told her as he rose from the table. “I suppose you could use it. We should look it over to see if she left anything behind. It may give us a clue or two about her disappearance.” Arwenna followed his lead, stretching as she rose out of her chair.
Barek led her and Y’Dürkie through a flap in the back of the tent into a decent-sized room. Judging from the disarray, someone had left in a hurry. No personal items remained in the room – only some furniture and papers strewn about. Sighing, Arwenna said, “Well, I guess that answers that question. Wherever she’s gone, she didn’t expect to return for some time.” She flopped down on the cot, failing to see the long look exchanged between the other two. Weariness began to take its toll on her.
Fragments of conversation filtered into her mind. Barek and Y’Dürkie spoke in whispers. “I’ve got a bed on the other side of that wall. Go with your grandmother; find a bed to sleep in. If anything happens during the night, I’ll hear it.” Barek’s voice paused. “She’s not going to go anywhere for a while. We wait for Lexi to finish doing whatever she’s doing up on that mountain you let her go to, and then we march. Arwenna needs the rest more than she knows.” Y’Dürkie muttered something to Barek, the sound of her retreating footsteps immediately followed.
Arwenna didn’t have to open her eyes to know that Barek stood watch over her. He knew her too well sometimes. The determined look on his face at dinner had spoken volumes about his plans for Bohrs, should he be given the opportunity. The whirlwind of events slowly overtook her and she drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Ten
T he sound of people trying to argue quietly woke her the next morning. Sitting up in bed, Arwenna wrinkled her brow in puzzlement. Barek’s voice was easy to distinguish. She had heard the other voice before but she couldn’t place where. On silent feet, she tiptoed toward the flap hoping to see who Barek was talking to.
Moving the canvas aside a crack, she peered out to the main room. Barek’s back was to her, blocking her view of the other people in the room. “I don’t care who you think you are, she’s sleeping and I’m not going to wake her up just because a bunch of religious zealots want to say hello! If you really want to give her the help you are professing, give her space! The woman’s been to hell and back, and I’m not exaggerating!” He leaned over the map table, his hands balled into massive fists.
“We know this, Lord Barek. And we have no more desire to hurt her than you do. We just want her to know we are here if she needs us.” The other man’s voice nagged at her brain. She’d heard it somewhere before. If only Barek would move , she thought, I could put a face to the voice . Curiosity overrode her caution and she moved the flap slightly more to try and see around
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