Scarlet and the White Wolf [02] - Mariner's Luck (26 page)

Liall firmly put his hand over Jarek's and pulled it away.

"Jarek, I cannot."

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Mariner's Luck [Scarlet and the White Wolf Book 2]

by Kirby Crow

She paused. After a moment, she nodded and stepped back from him. "As you wish. I would never force myself on you."

She said this last in such a strange way that it made him ache. "Nor did you ever," Liall said fervently. "I cherish our memories, but that was long ago."

She looked away from him and shrugged, making light of it. She grinned again. "Well, I knew that, but it was just so good to see you."

"And I, you," Liall said sincerely.

They were silent for a moment, and Jarek busied herself with finding a fresh cloak from her clothing chest. Liall wiped his mouth and tried to still the frantic beating of his heart.

"Does he know?"

"Hm? Who?"

"The lenilyn. Scarlet. Does he know?"

Liall frowned. "What do you mean? He does not know about us, I did not even know you were here until I saw Argent."

"No." She seemed distant. "Not about us. Does he know about Nadei?"

Oh. His hands clasped together of their own accord. "He ...

suspects something is being withheld from him."

"Ah." Jarek threw a fresh cloak around her shoulders and buckled it. "And what will you do when your t'aishka discovers the manner of your exile and the circumstances surrounding it?"

He felt like shouting. How could she bring this up now, and why? "You are trying to wound me," Liall accused.

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Mariner's Luck [Scarlet and the White Wolf Book 2]

by Kirby Crow

"I'm trying to spare you pain," she shot back. "I'm a soldier, and a soldier says goodbye to too many friends in life, not to mention lovers and husbands. Hilurin are ... They are not us, Nazir. They're a rigid and ignorant people, and they don't think the same."

Liall bowed his head. Ancient prejudices cannot be dismissed with a word, and to recite all he had learned about Byzans in the last sixty years would have taken all day. The matter needed a long explanation or none, so he kept silent.

"Have you explained the facts to him?"

"No," Liall answered coldly. "He does not know, and he will not know. As you said, Hilurin are a rigid people. There is no room in Scarlet's honor for what I have done. He would leave me."

"And how would he do that?" Jarek returned reasonably.

"He is at your mercy here, yours to do with as you wish. He can't go anywhere at all without your consent."

"He will leave me in his heart."

"When lying would so endear you."

"Cease this!" Liall shouted at last, rising from his chair with his fists clenched. "What am I to tell him? That I murdered my own brother?"

In the long silence that followed, Jarek sighed and looked away. "Those were your words, not mine, my prince. But I do suggest you tell Scarlet about Nadei as quickly as possible, before he finds out on his own. It's a terrible thing to be deceived by the ones closest to you, Nazir. He may forgive your past. The present is another matter."

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Mariner's Luck [Scarlet and the White Wolf Book 2]

by Kirby Crow

So saying, she walked to the door. "Yveny will be back with the che soon," she murmured, and closed the door behind her. Liall could hear the muffled thump of her boot heels as she strode away.

"Do you forgive me, Jarek?" Liall whispered to the empty room.

-end—

To be concluded in Scarlet and the White Wolf, Book 3:
The Land of Night
.

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