Into the Wind by Shira Anthony Page A

anchor when he sensed someone following him.
    “And where do you think you’re going without me?” Renda drawled as he caught up with Ian.
    If you’re here to lecture me about leaving my command, Ian said, you might as well just turn around.
    “If you think I’m going to lecture you about following your heart, then you’re sorely mistaken.”
    Ian turned and eyed Renda with suspicion.
    “What? Am I such a rotten friend that you’d think so poorly of me?”
    What do you want? Ian knew Renda too well to believe friendship his only motivation. Renda laughed and shook his head, then swam around Ian in circles. Enough! Say your piece, then be gone!
    “Tell me more about what happened during the battle. When you told me Taren had been injured.” Renda swam beneath Ian now, looking up at him and matching his speed so Ian had no choice but look directly at him.
    What more do you need to know? I sensed his pain. I knew he’d been injured. Ian clenched, then unclenched his jaw. Why do you think I’m so anxious to find him?
    Renda nodded but did not move away. “How did you know he’d been injured?”
    Ian shook his head. I’m not sure. I felt it. The pain of the blow. But I knew it wasn’t my own pain.
    Renda moved to Ian’s side as they continued to swim farther out. “You won’t find him here.”
    I know. Ian wouldn’t fool himself. If Taren were this close, he’d have sensed it. I’m only hoping to find some clue as to where he’s ended up.
    When Renda said nothing more, Ian asked, So will you tell me the truth about why you came with me?
    “Am I so obvious?” Renda grinned.
    You forget how well I know you. Ian laughed and swam a bit faster. The water grew deeper and cooler as they headed farther from land. For Ian, who’d been pacing the decks since Taren’s disappearance, swimming in this form felt as though he’d been released from a prison cell.
    “All right.” Renda pursed his lips, then asked, “What else did you notice about Taren during the battle?”
    Other than his lack of concern for his own safety? Ian shook his head. Nothing that I can recall. Why do you ask?
    “The wind,” Renda began, as if trying to put into words what he’d been thinking. “When it shifted during the battle… I felt magic at work. Powerful magic.”
    Taren? I… I sensed something familiar, but I thought I’d imagined it. He frowned, then stopped swimming and turned to face Renda. You think that was Taren?
    “What do you think?”
    Ian ignored the urge to wipe the knowing look off Renda’s face and instead answered, We both grew up hearing stories of priests who could control the elements. Treande was one of them, but—
    “But Owyn wielded the rune stone. I know what you’re thinking. If Treande was the one with the power, then why would Owyn have been the wielder?”
    Aye.
    “If Owyn had been able to use the stone, why was he unable to save his people?”
    Ian shook his head. Why do you insist on answering your own questions with questions?
    “Because it pleases me.”
    Why would the goddess have given Owyn the stone if he couldn’t protect his people? Ian countered, enjoying the verbal parry.
    “The goddess rarely reveals her plans for us.”
    Platitudes.
    “Truths.” Renda met Ian’s gaze and held it. “You simply don’t wish to accept the truth, Ian. You’re afraid of losing him.”
    Damn right I’m afraid of losing him! Ian shouted. I love him. More than my life. I’ve already let him down once. I have to live with that every day, knowing how he suffered because I did nothing to intervene. I won’t do it again.
    “You can’t hold him hostage to your fear, old friend,” Renda said softly. “You can’t stop this. None of us can. If you try to rein him in, you will only end up losing him.”
    I know. Ian sighed. But he’s so young, so inexperienced. He knows so little about his people.
    “He’s younger than you, to be sure.” Renda smiled and clasped Ian’s shoulder. “And although