Gate to Kandrith (The Kandrith Series) (41 page)

“You’ll be careful?” Wenda asked anxiously. “If you’re not home in a month, I’ll send someone to look for you.”

“I’ll be careful,” Lance promised her.

Dulcima galloped forward, then launched herself into the air, flapping her wings vigorously. Lance watched until the black horse disappeared against the dark sky.

“I, too, must say farewell,” Esam said. “There are Qiph merchants in the city who will help me return to my homeland.”

“You can find your way?”

“My father traded horses here once when I was a boy. I will be fine.” Esam hesitated. “Your sister believes you’re going to leave Sara here, but you are not?”

“No. I won’t leave her.” Ever.

Esam nodded as if this were expected. “I do not understand the magic of your people. Will you be able to heal her, in time?”

“I don’t know,” Lance admitted. “But I
do
know I’m not going to give up after failing one time.” Or even ten times. There had to be a solution out there, a sacrifice he could make. He turned a speculative look on Esam. “What of your people’s magic?” The Qiph, after all, had the power to turn Esam into a refetti.

Esam understood the unasked question. “I also do not know.” He looked to Sara, who was standing as quietly and patiently as a statue. “I would have drowned in the river if not for her—and I do not forget that you healed my broken arm. I will ask the Pathfinders. If they know a way to get her back her soul, I will send word.”

“Thank you.” Lance had to clear his throat to get the words out. “I would appreciate that.”

“It is little enough.” Esam bowed first to Sara and then to Lance as they parted ways. “I will pray to the Holy Ones for you. Both of you. I think in many ways your journey will be harder than hers,” he said to Lance.

Lance very much feared Esam was right.

* * *

“Why did you do it?” he asked Sara hours later, when the two of them had stopped to rest underneath a haystack in a field outside the city. It had been his decision to take a break; he had a feeling that without him, Sara would either have never moved from the courtyard or walked until she fell down. Without a soul, she didn’t seem to notice bodily discomforts. “Why did you give up your soul? Kandrith isn’t even your country.”

To his surprise, she answered, speaking for the first time in hours. “I did it to save your life.”

“My life?” Lance struggled to understand. “Why? Because I wear the Brown?”

“Because Sara-who-had-a-soul loved you.”

Her words rocked him on his heels.

She. Loved. Him. Not gratitude for his healing prowess, not mere affection or lust, love.

Humbled by the magnitude of her gift, speechless, Lance kissed her forehead. She remained passive in his embrace, but he ignored that and spoke to the Sara who’d had a soul, who’d once lived inside her—and would again if he had anything to say about it. “I love you too. I should have told you that in the meadow. Earlier. I should have shown you how much I loved you.”

Sara said nothing.

He turned her gently so that he could look into her eyes. “I know you don’t understand right now, Sara, but will you remember what I said for later? You are loved. You are important to me. And you must promise to stay alive for my sake, until I can make you well again. Can you promise me that?” he asked anxiously.

Sara was silent, her expression blank. Had he asked too much of her? But then she lifted her blue-eyed gaze to his. “Yes. I will stay alive. For you.”

Here Ends Book One

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