Page 106 of Tides of Shadows

“In my case it is somewhat alike. From childhood I learned to slip into the minds of others. I give you my word, when we are finished, you will know how to guard your dreams. And even more.”

I nodded, and when strength returned to my legs, I left her chambers.

Evening drew near. I put on a blue gown, fastened the diamond Elementar at my neck, and went to the great hall. A dozen or so folk were gathered there, Minerva, several nobles, a few stewards. Aidenar spoke with someone, but when he saw me he came at once.

“You look beautiful. I’ve missed you in the gowns,” he said with a smile. “Come.”

He offered his arm, and I laid my hand upon it. The gesture did not escape the notice of the guests. We walked over to the Minerva. He sat down in the lord’s chair and seated me down next to him. I felt a dozen gazes upon my skin, Tristan raised his brows.

“Don’t make a scene,” Minerva said dryly. “Have you never seen two young people before? This is not White City, where you must stare and pry. Sit down, everyone, I’m not waiting for you.”

All obeyed her at once. Tristan sat next to me, staring at me with interest. Aidenar gave my hand a light squeeze beneath the table and smiled at me.

I had no strength left for talking with anyone. After Minerva’s training I was utterly exhausted. Nobles talked about various things. About the coming winter and the palladium mines. About the south and the savages who were increasingly attacking the Dominium borders. Dricus came back to my mind. The voices slowly faded, and my thoughts drifted away.

That night, I fell asleep immediately. And for the first time in a long time, I dreamed of nothing. Only peace and quiet.

Chapter

32

Each new session with Minerva, and each new night that passed, helped me drive those cursed memories away. The image of the dark haired man grew ever fainter, as if at last it were smudging, dissolving, fading from my mind. I felt the poison that had tainted my thoughts for so many months slowly leaving my body.

I did not know how much of it was Minerva’s doing, and how much belonged to Durminas itself. The fortress looked cold and austere from the outside, but inside it was pulsing with life. It was different here. I felt more myself than I had ever felt in White City. Less burdened, less hunted. As if with each day I could truly breathe again.

Even the fashion of this place began to please me. The day dresses the servants brought to my chamber were light and easy, they did not bind my limbs. Slits at the sides let me walk freely, but they still looked stately. They were mostly gray, the color of the family, with silver and golden accents. One of the maids even pinned my hair in the style of Durminas, drawing the front locks back and fastening them with a palladium clasp.

I looked different. I felt different.

That morning I had only a single session with Minerva. I saw Kael and Brenn practising with local knights at the yard. I was thinking about joining but being tortured by Minerva was enough training for me. Aidenar was nowhere to be found. He went to the nearby villages and mines to see the state of things. Durminas rested upon his shoulders now, and it showed.

As I walked along one of the long corridors, I saw Tristan. He stood lounging against a column, as if he had been waiting for me, watching me with that all too easy, all too confident gaze of his.

I had thought Aidenar’s eyes were those of a woman hunter, but Tristan was even worse. Dressed with care, he looked at me without the slightest shame.

“Aidenar was forced to ride out,” he said in a soft voice, as if it were an excuse. “Allow me to keep you company.”

I did not know what to say. I inclined my head a little, and we began to walk side by side through the passageways of Durminas.

In truth, I did not trust him. I had never liked such men. Too sure of themselves, convinced the world lay in their hands and that every woman must fall at their feet.

Aidenar had been the same. Then why did I fall for him? Because he was different with me? Because he had changed? Had he?

Tristan led me slowly through the fortress, breaking the uneasy silence with tales of the stronghold. After a time he turned to other matters.

“It’s interesting,” he began mildly. “During my absence Aidenar and I wrote to one another often. I kept him informed about all that happened here, and he told me of White City. But not once did he mention you. Not a single word.”

He saw the flicker of confusion on my face.

“I wouldn’t see that as a bad thing,” he went on. “Rather the contrary. Aidenar would usually write of his conquests, and of the secrets he had gathered. But nothing about a long-legged, red-haired beauty who had turned his head.”

My annoyance grew with every word. What in all the gods was he aiming at?

“Secrets?” The word pricked my ears.

“How shall I put it,” he said. “Girls talk. More than one thinks. Aidenar was very good at listening.”

I blinked. Everything clicked into place like tumblers in a lock. The endless parade of noble daughters. The careless rake everyone believed him to be. He had been playing his own game.