Lacuna - N.R. Walker Page 0,49
But I can show you. When we get to your castle, kind Westlands’ king.”
“You can show me a doorway at my castle? To explain how the elders left Aequi Kentron?”
She nodded slowly and her eyelid drooped. “Yes.”
“Where did they go?” Crow repeated. “When they left. Where did they go?”
She was slow to answer, almost asleep now. “That I don’t know.”
Tancho tried his luck for one more question. “The lacuna bond, between Crow and myself. Our birthmarks . . . You said the distance between us is no distance at all. What does it mean? We can’t be separated, we can’t bring harm to each other. When Crow touched my arm, it seemed as if the world stopped turning. What does any of it mean?”
She smiled and slow blinked. “It is the lacuna. It will get stronger as the eclipse draws near.”
“And after the eclipse?” Crow asked. “What of it then?”
“I tried to find the tomes,” she whispered. “Where it is written, but that is when I was struck.” Her hand went to her bandaged head. She was falling asleep as she spoke, so Tancho helped her lie down. “I cannot be certain, good kings. It was so long ago. But it would seem the choice has been made.”
Tancho stared at her. “What choice?”
“If you shall part or be forever joined.”
Just then, the door opened and Soko and Kohaku walked in, their smiles and conversation fading when they saw Tancho and Crow talking to Maghdlm. But when Tancho turned back around, the old woman was asleep. He pulled a blanket over her.
There would be no more answers tonight.
“Did you learn anything new?” Soko asked quietly.
“Only that with every answer, ten more questions arise,” Crow replied. “She didn’t see who hit her, though she believes Adelais to be the leader, and more—if not all—elders have conspired with her.”
“And that there are secret doorways,” Tancho said, giving a shrug. “Which she can’t explain but will show us when we reach the castle.”
Kohaku’s brow furrowed. “She will show us at our castle? How can she show us a doorway at Aequi Kentron from Westlands?”
Tancho sighed. “That would be one of the ten new questions.”
Crow got to his feet. “First, we need to lay down plans for our arrival at the Westlands’ castle in the morning. All the secret doorways be damned if we are ambushed before we get there.”
Tancho reluctantly agreed. He hated the thought of his home being captured or held under siege, but it would be foolish to think they would be just walking in unimpeded.
So make plans they did.
When Karasu joined them after her bath, they forged a chain of plans. And Tancho had to admit, Crow was clever with such things. Perhaps he had better perspective because it was not his home, not his people. But regardless, they went to their mats more prepared than perhaps Tancho would have been without Crow’s input.
In the dark and quiet of midnight, while everyone else slept, Tancho stared at the ceiling. His mind raced too fast for sleep to take hold. He had no idea what they would face in the morning, and he feared for the worst. For all the misgivings and difficulties being bonded to Crow had brought with it, Tancho was glad he was there.
He rolled onto his side to face Crow, only to find Crow watching him. He smiled gently, patiently. “Go to sleep, little fish.”
And as much as he hated that name, as much as it rankled him, for some reason he couldn’t explain, he didn’t seem to mind it then. When it was whispered like that, with such affection . . . He met Crow’s dark eyes, his heart skipping a beat, and smiled.
Chapter Thirteen
The birthmark at Crow’s wrist grew agitated with the growing dawn. It itched and burned as though he and Tancho were in different rooms, but they were side by side. He caught Tancho inspecting his, rubbing it gently, so he knew he felt it too.
“Is it warning us of danger?” Crow wondered out loud. “Or because the eclipse draws near? The skies are more golden yet again.” He finished his tea. “Or perhaps they both burn because one of us is anxious?” Tancho glared at him and stood up, about to walk away, but Crow stood as well and stopped him. “Our plan will work. It’s not ideal, but lacking an army and arsenal, it’s the best plan we have.”
“I’d like to leave,” Tancho whispered.
The sun hadn’t passed the horizon yet and the