comes of age just after the first of the year.” Now she stared down, seemingly at her fingernails, and Nic struggled with an urge to tip her chin back up so he could look into her face again. “Aron’s been choosing to stay in the House of the Judged because of what happened with you and with Snakekiller.”
Nic pulled his arms to his belly and folded them in a position that eased the ache in his bones. “That’s foolish. Aron did nothing wrong. He saved our lives.”
Dari returned her attention to Nic, her expression more troubled than ever. “It’s more complicated than that.”
“Why?” Nic asked. When Dari didn’t respond, he added, “Perhaps I’ve traveled with Snakekiller too long, but I’ve started to believe as she does, that the world is often simpler than we allow it to be. Aron has a powerful and dangerous legacy, but he put it to good use.”
Dari’s mouth came open, as if she was pondering his opinion. Then she seemed to accept it, and for the briefest moment, she showed a hint of relief. It lasted only seconds before her worry seemed to double. “Would that the Lord Provost saw it your way.” She frowned. “I wish Aron could see it your way, as well.”
Nic studied Dari’s face, her posture, and the truth showed itself clearly enough. “You care very much for Aron.”
“Yes,” Dari said, then lifted her hand to her mouth, her eyes wide. She quickly lowered her fingers, coughed, almost raised them again, then gripped a fistful of her robe. “I mean, as a friend. A student. I mean—oh, I don’t know.”
Nic knew.
Snakekiller was right, about how people convey so much of their truths and feelings with their actions. Dari might as well have been shouting that she had deep feelings for Aron, which bothered him, though he had no idea why.
“Aron was very brave when he rescued us,” Nic said, hoping that would give Dari a moment of pride for Aron, and some ease. “I will always owe him a debt for that, and his Sabor companion, too.”
She nodded, and did seem slightly more relaxed. “I have no status at Stone, but I do have permission to share information with you, Nic.” She rubbed the sides of her temples, as if she might be fending off a headache. “Much of it you may already know because of your connection with Aron, but some facts may need to be clarified. Events seen through the Veil can be confusing at best.”
Nic readily agreed to that point, and over the next half hour or so, Dari recounted how she came to be at Stone, as well as Aron’s tragic history. Nic sensed there was much she was omitting about herself and about her missing twin, but he didn’t press. From his time with Snakekiller, he understood how secretive Stone could be, and he appreciated learning whatever Dari was willing to share. In return, he told her about his own journey to Triune, leaving out only the truth of how he came to be injured, and thus, where he lived and who he was before he traveled with Snakekiller’s party. For all he knew, Snakekiller had shared this information, but if she had, Dari didn’t seem to be showing him any deference because of it. He was very glad.
“Iko is staying with Aron at the House of the Judged,” Dari told Nic after they had shared their accounts. “He’s trying to be certain Aron eats, but mostly, Aron reads and trains in solitude. He won’t see me, even for graal lessons, and he won’t see Stormbreaker.” Dari glanced again at the chamber door, and her body took on a new tension, even worse than before.
Nic couldn’t imagine Dari being put off so easily, by anyone, and he told her so—but when she reacted with a shy embarrassment, he quickly shifted the subject.
“Snakekiller spoke much about her brother when she related the tale of her life.” Nic watched the door she kept looking at, wondering if it was time for Stormbreaker to relieve Dari, as she had explained how they had been taking turns with Snakekiller, sitting with him. He hoped not. When he shifted his attention back to her, he found her staring at him.
“Snakekiller told you about herself?” She sounded impressed and also wistful. “About her whole life?”
Nic shifted under Dari’s scrutiny, feeling her gaze like a tangible force on his mind. “We spent many hours in inns and shelters, and even more on the