The maid seemed rather uncertain about Talea’s admittance when she was so clearly of the lower class, but she played her part with perfect courtesy. Skyve quickly dismissed her and the girls to leave them in private. Talea felt somehow less uncomfortable, once it was just the two of them. And the conversation was easier with him than it had been with the other wards—he asked the questions, many of which he already had an accurate guess as to the answer of. Nothing she said phased him, as if it was all as he’d expected. When she reluctantly breached the topic of Narone and prophecies, he nodded as if it were only natural that they should be prophesied by Narone, and when he noticed her skepticism, he looked at her like she was silly. Though she suspected he gave that look to a lot of people.
They only talked for ten minutes or so, before Skyve apparently found her knowledge inadequate and asked if they could go talk to the Wardens. With Anber and Glisi contentedly trying on their new clothes and playing, they left the house and made for the edge of the city. It was an awkward walk. Skyve trailed a few paces behind her for most of it, occasionally asking a question, but otherwise making it clear he’d rather they keep in their separate spaces. At least the rain had stopped.
As she’d hoped, Yhkon and Resh were waiting in the woods nearest them. She could tell almost at first glance that Yhkon was not pleased.
The two Wardens made their introductions. Skyve allowed time for the necessary formalities only, before launching into further interrogation, or just pondering aloud his suspicions and waiting for confirmation. Talea tried to remain involved in the conversation, tried to avoid Yhkon’s penetrating gaze…it didn’t work. “Skyve, please excuse us a moment. Talea, if you would come with me.” Without waiting for acknowledgement, he was walking away, gait stiff. Gnawing her lower lip, she had little choice but to follow.
A stone’s throw from Resh and Skyve, Yhkon whirled around to glare at her. “What were you doing back there?”
As tempting as it was to coyly pretend she didn’t know what he meant, she just met his gaze as calmly as she could. “I asked the maid where Skyve was at, she gave me a general idea, I decided to see if I could find him.”
“You were supposed to go to the house, and come back if he wasn’t there. You know that perfectly well. We had no idea where you were going, or how long you’d be there. You could have been attacked and we never would have known.” His icy eyes were more intense than usual.
Talea rubbed her thumb tightly against her fingers, taking a steadying breath. She should apologize. Admit it had been foolish of her. Push the conflict behind them. Instead her fists were clenching. “I can take care of myself, as you know perfectly well. And I found him, didn’t I? I don’t…” Another deep breath. “I don’t think it’s fair to act as though I—”
“As though you what?” His voice had abruptly gained volume and heat. “Had directly disobeyed me, and done something foolish? Well you did! I didn’t expect such from you.”
Her lips parted, throat constricting. A slap to the face wouldn’t have hurt more. Cheeks flushing, hands trembling, she met his glare. “Because you’ve given me so much reason to obey your every word? Never bitten my head off over a simple question, never stormed off in a rage or done something reckless!” She let as much venom as she could muster taint the words. It was better than crying, which was what she wanted to do. “Forgive me for ever doing something on my own without consulting you first, oh, but maybe I don’t consult you because I expect to be eaten alive if I do!”
His expression contorted with a mixture of indignation and confusion. “What does this have to do with me?! This is—”
She cut him off before she even knew what she was going to say, heart racing and blood hot. “It has everything to do with it! You’re my Warden, well alright I get it—my bad for thinking we could be friends, or anything so foolish as that! Since all you do is shove me away and throw your temper tantrums and—”
He leaned forward, broad shoulders poised threateningly, his lip curled and eyes flashing with ridicule. “Oh, I see...you thought I was supposed to be your plaything, your perfect little guardian angel that did as you pleased and told you bedtime stories and bowed to your every wish.”
The quiver in her hands had increased, as had the hot, stinging pressure in her eyes. Don’t you dare cry. “That’s not…I thought…I thought we could be friends.” She hated how dejected she sounded. “At least I was willing to try. But you…” She balled her fists again, to keep them from shaking. “You clearly couldn’t care less how I or anyone else feels, and you clearly don’t value any level of friendship. I can’t just…just pretend you’ve never snapped at me for no reason, or…or…” She trailed off, looking away, blinking rapidly against the gathering tears.
Some degree of remorse softened his glare. “Look…” He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple jerking up and down as he looked away too. “I do value your friendship. And I guess I shouldn’t have said that. But…” He crossed his arms tightly over his chest, dissolving his previously threatening countenance. There was a long pause. “Can we just…forget all this? Move on?”
Talea lifted her head to stare at him. The urge to cry was rapidly fading. Just move on? She knew if she stayed, she’d say something she’d later regret. Biting her tongue and making herself glower at the ground instead of him, she spun and walked away, back toward the celiths.
“Talea?” At first, he sounded only perplexed. Then irritated. “Talea! Listen to me. Talea.” She heard his footsteps, seconds before he grabbed her arm. Emotion surged like a tide from the rock in her stomach to a hot pain in her chest. With it came the familiar, tingling warmth in her veins. She felt herself reaching out to shove him off, felt the warmth gathering in her fingertips. Her mind stilled. No.
Her hand met his chest, just as she willfully forced the energy to recede. She could tell by the way he recoiled that there had still been a small shock. It couldn’t have been too severe—there was more incredulity than pain in his expression. Perhaps it was for the best, since he didn’t attempt to follow her again.
13
A Game of Two
Y hkon returned to where Resh and Skyve stood, muscles still rigid with frustration. He felt all too aware of Talea’s presence, probably watching him, from where she was sulking by the celiths.
Looking up, he was surprised to find Resh rolling his eyes and Skyve frowning in Talea’s direction. “‘Move on’?” Resh gave him a disapproving sneer. “Really?”
“You heard all that?”
“Considering you were both shouting?” Skyve’s expression was similar to Resh’s. “Yes, we did.”
“And move on? Seriously?” Resh repeated.
Yhkon crossed his arms. “Yes, so? I was trying to—”
Resh gave a dramatic sigh of exasperation, shaking his head. “No, no, no, and no some more. That ain’t how it works, pal.”
He scowled. “How what works? And what do you know about it?”