Crystal Moon by Elysa Hendricks Page B

dead, I realize
    now she is more valuable to us alive.”
    “Then why are you skulking outside my chamber?”
    “I want to volunteer.”
    “Volunteer for what?”
    “Someone will have to deliver your message about his
    daughter to DiSanti. I want to be that someone.”
    Kyne sheathed his knife and studied the young man. At ten
    and seven annum, Je’al had a man’s build, but despite the trauma
    of his young life, he was yet a boy. “It is too dangerous. DiSanti
    is apt to kill any messenger I send.”
    “Let me do this. Aubin was my friend. He saved me from
    death at the hands of DiSanti’s men and from despair when my
    family fell. I could not protect Aubin, but I can do my part to
    see justice done. Who else would you send? Graham or one of
    the older men? They are needed to train the others. Which of
    your men is expendable?”
    Je’al was right. Someone needed to convey the message
    to DiSanti, and whoever did so faced the possibility of death.
    “Very well. Tomorrow I will draft my letter to DiSanti, and you
    will carry it. In the meantime have last meal, a bath and rest.
    Speak to no one of the woman. If any were to learn of her
    identity, your trip will be for naught. A sardak is not lured from
    his lair by dead bait.”
    “Thank you, Rul. You’ll not regret your decision.” Je’al
    hurried away as if afraid, should he linger, Kyne might change
    his mind.
    Kyne watched the young man leave. The fact that he found
    himself more concerned with the woman’s safety than he did
    with Je’al’s bothered him. Other than a means to destroy
    DiSanti, she meant nothing to him. He would do well to
    remember that her fragile appearance and gentle ways hid a
    soul as black as her father’s. Her denial of guilt, her claim of
    being a healer and wishing to help his people, were nothing but
    clever lies designed to deceive him. He couldn’t let his unwanted
    lust for the woman sway his decisions.
     
    “Why do you haunt the hall?” Graham’s voice came out of
    the darkness.
    Lost in his thoughts of the woman, Kyne had let Graham
    approach without detection. She was dangerous in more ways
    than the obvious. “Je’al was here.”
    “Where is he now? Is she unharmed?”
    Even Graham thought first of their captive’s safety.
    “He volunteered to carry my message to DiSanti.”
    “But that will be suicide.”
    “Perhaps not if we word the message correctly. Come,
    we’ll use your chamber to draft my letter. Je’al leaves at first
    light.”
    “Have you decided how best to use the woman against her
    father?”
    “I believe I have.”
    ***
    Sianna stroked Warda’s shaggy head and looked over at
    the bed. “You can come out now, Zoa.” Warda padded back to
    his spot near the hearth and settled down. How much of what
    she’d heard would the child understand? Sianna probed, but
    sensed no hostility.
    The bed covers rustled, and Zoa’s tousled head popped up.
    She yawned as if just awakening. “How did you know I was
    here?”
    “It’s a little trick I have. I can always tell when someone is
    near.”
    “How?” The little girl scrambled off the bed and trotted
    over to Sianna’s side. She panted at the effort.
    “Well, you know how you can smell if a person has bathed
    or not, or if they’re wearing scent?”
    Edging nearer, Zoa nodded, her gaze rapt with interest.
    “People also give off emotions, and I have a nose for it,”
    Sianna continued.
    Zoa leaned close and put her hand out to Sianna. “What do
    I smell like?”
    “Let’s see.” Sianna took Zoa’s hand and sniffed it. “Hmmm.
    I can’t quite tell.”
    “Maybe I need to be closer.” With that the girl climbed into
     
    Sianna’s lap. “Can you tell now?”
    The feel of the little girl’s warm, slight weight filled Sianna
    with a strange longing as well as a feeling of contentment.
    Enfolding Zoa in her embrace, Sianna nestled her nose into
    Zoa’s silky hair and breathed deeply. “You smell of sunshine
    and laughter. Good