I don’t think that I can resist answering honestly.” Urake frowned.
“All right. Why are you an assassin?” Urake blinked and shook his head. He found he couldn’t tear his eyes away from Cero’s startling blue eyes that suddenly seemed to be glowing in the dim light.
“I… I… My family was… murdered.” Urake struggled helplessly unable to overcome the overwhelming impulse to tell the truth.
“Who is your family?” Cero interrogated ruthlessly.
“House… Saf… Safrym. Stop it Cero!”
“One more then I will be done. Are you my father?” Urake struggled for a second before giving in.
“No. I am not your father. I found you in the woods nearly fifteen years ago and raised you as my own.” When Cero blinked in surprise, Urake was able to break the effect and look away.
“How can you do that? I couldn’t lie.” Inadar took pains to avoid looking at Cero.
“Neither could I and I have been training at blocking people out of my mind for years. By the way Inadar, if you decide to leave, I won’t come hunting you. I would prefer that you stay here with us, but only if you can learn to trust us. Can you do that?”
“I can… try. I should go back in now.”
“Unless you are tired, I don’t see why you should. You already know more about me than most people.” Inadar settled back down uncomfortably.
“How come I never heard of house Safrym?” Cero inquired.
“Because I am the last surviving member of the house. At the end of the Clan Wars, a group called the Shadow Order killed my entire family. That is the reason I became an assassin.”
“How did I come into the picture?” After Cero’s question Urake paused until he realized that he wasn’t feeling compelled.
“I made a mistake and needed to hide out, then I found you in the woods that day. I loved you like a son. I just wanted to keep you safe, then those soldiers came. I couldn’t let Reigns get his hands on you so I became the Asgare again.” Inadar listened uncomfortably to the exchange.
“What about you Inadar?” The girl jumped as Urake addressed her.
“Is… Is your name actually Urake?”
“It is Uraken. Lord Sir Uraken. Son of Ermor, head of house Safrym.” Both Cero and Inadar looked impressed.
“So if I am adopted, what does that make me?” Cero asked inquisitively.
“Only a handful of people know that you are adopted. To everyone else, you are my son. The heir to house Safrym. For what it is worth. My lands are held by other people and the only wealth that I have is hidden in a tavern or some cave. Then there is that floorboard in Shienhin… So Inadar, who are you? Don’t look at her Cero.”
“I'm no one, just a girl from a village that is a long way from home.”
“Aren’t we all?” Urake mused with a distant look up at the constellations overhead.
“I'm a boy so not quite, but I think that I know what you mean.” Cero laughed.
“What is going on?” Emeck appeared rubbing his eyes.
“Sorry, we didn’t mean to wake you up.”
“No it wasn’t you. I didn’t know that anyone could snore as loud as Arken can. Then I sensed Urake out here. Can’t sense either of you two though. I hope that I'm not intruding.” Emeck sat down on an exposed rock nearby and pulled his blanket around his shoulders. “Aren’t you cold? It’s freezing out here. At least Arken keeps it warm inside.”
“What do you mean when you said you sensed us?” Inadar cautiously asked.
“Emotions and locations most the time, but sometimes I can get thoughts. You are like Cero for some reason. Except… what is that sensation?” Emeck looked at Inadar curiously.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“You are lying. You are a telepath… in some fashion. I can see things. Like flying. I can see images of flying. Not you flying, something else is doing the flying. How is that possible?”
“It’s all right Emeck. She is working through some trust issues right now so don’t push her.” Urake gave Emeck a warning look.
“I'm a Dragon Lord and I can thought speak with dragons! That is what I am. Are you satisfied now? Do you think I trust you enough?”
“A Dragon Lord? What is that?” Cero asked inquisitively.
“How am I supposed to know? That is all the dragons ever told me.” Inadar fumed until she realized what she was saying.
“Now you have no choice but to trust us. It is probably Niman’s fault. Arken must