He recognized Bjover�s icy voice pleading for mercy as an unfamiliar hollow screech joined the cacophony that was coming from the room the three coldlings and six men now occupied.
�Listen.� The Shyra spoke as quietly as she could, using the cries of the young coldlings and the fresh gust of howling wind to cover her voice. �These men are bounty hunters. The Duke must know they are here and why. The safest way to get them out of here is to let those men do all the work. We�ll follow.� She was watching Darien�s eyes when she gave her last instruction.
What she said made sense. They could let the bounty hunters walk right out the front door of the estate. It worked to their advantage to have his father think the coldlings were in safe hands when they left the estate. That way they wouldn�t have to worry about anyone following them since everyone trusted that they were being taken care of properly. What better way to smuggle something out of the estate then right before the Duke�s eyes?
The bounty hunters emerged from the stone room. Their faces wore triumphant smiles despite the bitter elements that had concentrated themselves on wiping them off. Three of the uniformed men had burlap sacs thrown over their shoulders. The largest of the three bags looked to be made completely of ice.
There was no doubt in Quivern�s mind that Bjover was the cause of the increasingly violent blizzard that had filled the halls in every direction. His heart swelled with respect for the little creature, as mysterious and strange as Bjover appeared outwardly, he had a heart as strong and true as any knight or warrior Quivern had ever met. A sudden feeling of disgust for his kinsman rose like bile in the back of his throat. The cruel treatment of these creatures here in the middle kingdoms angered him more then he had expected. Being so accustomed to anger he was surprised to find a new element in the surge of emotion. Righteousness.
The Shyra�s quest was just, he could feel it in his heart and in his heart he knew he was now committed to it. In one form or another he would do his part in aiding the coldlings.
As the hunter and the encompassing ice storm retreated down the dank hallway leading to the stairway entrance the Shyra slowly rose to her feet. The unnatural winds ruffled her wild brown hair and she blinked slowly against its sting.
Quivern stood transfixed by the slow waves of goose flesh that rippled over the skin of her sword arm. He prayed that that form of service would keep him close to her side to unravel the intimidating powerful attraction that, especially now, he could not deny.
�I�m going with you.� He heard himself speak but didn�t recall meaning too. He marveled at the soft brand of authority that he had somehow placed in the simple statement. The Shyra�s shoulders tensed and flexed subtly as he waited for her response, he began to regret his forward insistence. �I�I could be of help�I��
She shifted then turned to face him. Where he had expected annoyance at his audacity he found something quite disarming and beautiful.
Her smile.
Silu couldn�t exactly explain why she was so pleased. Something inside her was desperately hoping that she wouldn�t have had to kill the Duke�s son. She would have done it, of course. It was her duty and she would have followed the teachings of her sisterhood without hesitation. The balance came first before any individual life. She quirked an eyebrow and recalled another important axiom: Every life plays a role in the intricate web that forms nature�s balance.
Nonetheless, she would have sacrificed his innocent life in exchange for the other three. She would have�if he hadn�t just said what she hoped he had said.
�Fine.� She gave him a nod and her smile melted. She noticed that the glazed over look that his deep emerald green eyes had just had was gone. The fiery, life filled gaze, which she hated herself for so freely admitting she adored, had returned. She wrinkled her nose and briefly considered that he had grown an inch or two in the last ten minutes. When he winked at her she shook herself free of the mental cobwebs and returned her focus to the present.
How are we going to get out of here? I can�t move through the castle like they could. She briefly examined a mental picture of herself. Especially not like this. Her dark armor was in many ways the more frightening of her fashion statements. Dawn was approaching though and soon it would change like it had every dawn and dusk since she had been ceremoniously presented her Tae and all the ancient tools that traditionally went with it. She had no idea how they had known to give her this special, shifting armor or where they had found it. Either way it was necessary for her to wear it at all times. It was the undeniable marker of her odd condition, her possession of multiple Taes.
�Shyra.� Quivern�s voice held a hint of wonder that startled her. �We have to chase them.� Darien nodded his agreement.
�But how? I can�t just stroll through the castle, and there isn�t another way out? Is there?� She looked at Darien hopefully.
�No, I�m sorry Shyra. The other ways out all lead into the mansion. No matter what you�ll be seen if you try to get out now.�
Silu rested her hand in the hilt of her sword wishing this could be as easy as a quick fight out. But she didn�t want to alarm the hunters. Not until they were in the countryside at least.
She let out a sigh when she noticed the frightened expression that was twisting Darien�s face. She removed her hand from the gleaming sword and he relaxed a little. She questioned Quivern hopefully with her eyes. He narrowed his eyebrows and clenched his jaw muscles for a few moments.
�We�ll have to split up.� He was speaking more to himself then to his companions.
�Out of the question.�
�Why not? It�s the only way.�
Silu�s anger flared. �I said no.�
�You haven�t even listened to my idea yet!� he was shouting, almost childlike in his indignation.
�I don�t need to. They are my charges and part of my duty towards them is to keep them invisible to the world. Informing you was failure enough. The only thing that is keeping you from squealing to your daddy is my presence.� Quivern opened his mouth to protest but she spoke first. All the anger towards herself melted into a projectile that she aimed to throw at them. �Inconsequentially, my presence is also the only thing that will keep the two of you alive. I don�t trust you and if I even begin to perceive you as a threat I will kill you.�
Darien blanched. Quivern reddened.
He took a step so that they were literally toe-to-toe and hissed. �I�d like to see you try little girl.� His demeanor didn�t frighten her but the heated, yet contradicting, fire in his eyes scared the breath out of her.
o fast that he didn�t have time to remember to frown he was flat against the slimy, stone walls of the tunnel with an arm tightly wrenched up in a painful position that Silu knew he could not free himself from. Silu�s blood roared for a fight, but her spirit struggled to temper it. She needed these two and knew it would be difficult to gain one�s help if she had killed the other. Still a little bit of fear could go a long way.
