By Vengeance Guided (The Lost Shrines Book 1) by Amberlyn Holland Page B
Authors: Amberlyn Holland
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manor.
Caerwyn couldn't believe there was a part of him still hoping for an innocent answer. Some hint Lia wasn't involved. That it had been Nel. Or perhaps Lia's older sister, before her death.
He knew that was unlikely, though.
He started to turn back toward the door, intent on finding more answers, when the sound of running feet reached his ears.
Had he been seen? Was someone coming to catch him out? Moving silently, he crouched and, listening hard, he shifted toward the back side of the fence.
The feet slowed then stopped right outside. Hard breathing echoed in the night and Caer fought to keep his own shallow and silent.
A second, quieter set of footsteps approached, followed by a groan from whoever had been running.
"I thought we agreed you weren't going to do this anymore," Keneally's voice floated quietly over the pickets.
Caer had to hold his breath tight in his lungs to keep from voicing his surprise when Lia's voice answered.
"No. Actually, you and Nel told me it was a bad idea, and I agreed it probably was. I never said I'd stop going out at night, though. It's the only time I get to breathe."
A long suffering sigh resonated in the air. "Lia, you have a reputation to consider. A position to uphold. There is a stranger with an unknown agenda in the valley and Gui is ever more invasive in his curiosity."
"I know all about my position and reputation. Trying to keep it together day after day is what's suffocating me. And Wyn doesn't have an agenda. He's just someone who needed a job."
A sliver of sharp conscience poked Caer at her words. He did have an agenda. A glance around the garden reminded him he wasn't the only one with secrets, however.
"Perhaps." Keneally kept his voice neutral, but the doubt remained. "Whether or not he's someone we need to concern ourselves with, you have considered that tomorrow night is the full moon, haven't you?"
"As if I could forget."
"It would be best if he were not around the manor for the next couple of days."
"Keneally—"
"He is not one of us. He will not understand. He may tell tales without thought once he moves on. We cannot risk someone understanding the true nature of our celebrations."
"I know. I'll talk to him tomorrow, give him a few days off. He'll probably enjoy a break from picking up and moving heavy stones every day."
"Perhaps I should—"
"No, Keneally. I will talk to him. You and Nel can stop playing chaperone. There is nothing to worry about. Between Daen and Gui, I have enough complications with the men in my life right now. I’m not looking for any more."
She let out a long, pent-up breath.
"Gui is the reason I came here tonight, instead of my usual path. He knows something is going on. I just need to check, to make sure nothing has been disturbed in the herbarium. If he discovers… Well, he can't find out. Not even Marta was love-blind enough to tell him everything."
"You mean she couldn't. Her oath prevented it and the Circle refused him on every attempt."
The words faded as they moved away from the fence toward the front of the building. And, presumably, its front door.
As curious as he was to continue listening, Caerwyn knew getting caught in the garden would put an end to any chance of finding real answers.
With that kind of motivation, it only took him one try to get back over the fence. He debated waiting on the other side to eavesdrop some more but decided to return to town and try another night. He had no idea how long they'd stay inside and he had to be back at the inn well before sunup. Not to mention another long day of back-breaking labor that Keneally would have in store for him.
Wyn knew, now, that there was something to find in the herbarium. Possibly something even more important to find in their full moon celebration.
He could wait one more night to find out what it was.
-4-
For the second day in a row, Lia found herself standing in the garden, watching Wyn hard at work in the south
Caerwyn couldn't believe there was a part of him still hoping for an innocent answer. Some hint Lia wasn't involved. That it had been Nel. Or perhaps Lia's older sister, before her death.
He knew that was unlikely, though.
He started to turn back toward the door, intent on finding more answers, when the sound of running feet reached his ears.
Had he been seen? Was someone coming to catch him out? Moving silently, he crouched and, listening hard, he shifted toward the back side of the fence.
The feet slowed then stopped right outside. Hard breathing echoed in the night and Caer fought to keep his own shallow and silent.
A second, quieter set of footsteps approached, followed by a groan from whoever had been running.
"I thought we agreed you weren't going to do this anymore," Keneally's voice floated quietly over the pickets.
Caer had to hold his breath tight in his lungs to keep from voicing his surprise when Lia's voice answered.
"No. Actually, you and Nel told me it was a bad idea, and I agreed it probably was. I never said I'd stop going out at night, though. It's the only time I get to breathe."
A long suffering sigh resonated in the air. "Lia, you have a reputation to consider. A position to uphold. There is a stranger with an unknown agenda in the valley and Gui is ever more invasive in his curiosity."
"I know all about my position and reputation. Trying to keep it together day after day is what's suffocating me. And Wyn doesn't have an agenda. He's just someone who needed a job."
A sliver of sharp conscience poked Caer at her words. He did have an agenda. A glance around the garden reminded him he wasn't the only one with secrets, however.
"Perhaps." Keneally kept his voice neutral, but the doubt remained. "Whether or not he's someone we need to concern ourselves with, you have considered that tomorrow night is the full moon, haven't you?"
"As if I could forget."
"It would be best if he were not around the manor for the next couple of days."
"Keneally—"
"He is not one of us. He will not understand. He may tell tales without thought once he moves on. We cannot risk someone understanding the true nature of our celebrations."
"I know. I'll talk to him tomorrow, give him a few days off. He'll probably enjoy a break from picking up and moving heavy stones every day."
"Perhaps I should—"
"No, Keneally. I will talk to him. You and Nel can stop playing chaperone. There is nothing to worry about. Between Daen and Gui, I have enough complications with the men in my life right now. I’m not looking for any more."
She let out a long, pent-up breath.
"Gui is the reason I came here tonight, instead of my usual path. He knows something is going on. I just need to check, to make sure nothing has been disturbed in the herbarium. If he discovers… Well, he can't find out. Not even Marta was love-blind enough to tell him everything."
"You mean she couldn't. Her oath prevented it and the Circle refused him on every attempt."
The words faded as they moved away from the fence toward the front of the building. And, presumably, its front door.
As curious as he was to continue listening, Caerwyn knew getting caught in the garden would put an end to any chance of finding real answers.
With that kind of motivation, it only took him one try to get back over the fence. He debated waiting on the other side to eavesdrop some more but decided to return to town and try another night. He had no idea how long they'd stay inside and he had to be back at the inn well before sunup. Not to mention another long day of back-breaking labor that Keneally would have in store for him.
Wyn knew, now, that there was something to find in the herbarium. Possibly something even more important to find in their full moon celebration.
He could wait one more night to find out what it was.
-4-
For the second day in a row, Lia found herself standing in the garden, watching Wyn hard at work in the south
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