the resolve to stand up to her. As long as Caitlin had known him, he had always seemed to have this problem. He had always attracted the wrong women, women who were bossy, control ing, and always bad for him. Samantha had been the latest example. And now, Kendra. Sam just had bad luck in this area. Caitlin wasn’t surprised.
But she was stil mad. She had hoped that Sam would have changed, would be strong enough to tel her No. That he would join Caitlin on their mission.
But Sam turned and looked at Caitlin with sad, guilty eyes.
She could see in those eyes that deep down he wanted to go with her, but was unable to say no to Kendra.
“I’m so sorry Caitlin,” Sam said, in a broken voice. “I… I don’t think I can go tomorrow.”
Caitlin nodded, keeping a calm composure. But deep inside, her heart was breaking. She could see the victorious smile on Kendra’s face, and she felt her anger rising. But she knew there was little she could do. She had learned from past experiences that, when it came to affairs of the heart, at the end of the day, one could never real y have any influence or control over a friend’s relationships.
That was always something that they just had to work out on their own. If Sam was going to make any changes, it would have to come from him.
Caitlin took control of her anger and immediately turned and walked away, before she did anything rash.
“Caitlin, wait!” Sam cal ed out after her.
But she wasn’t going to stop. He had made his decision, and it was clear.
And truth be told, deep down, she felt that she was no one to judge. She knew what it was like to be in love, to want to forgo the mission. He would just have to let his own destiny take its course.
As she walked, she realized al the more, that this mission was just something that she was meant to do alone.
*
Caitlin retreated back to her room, closing the door firmly behind her. She wanted to be alone, and she wanted privacy. It had been such a long, overwhelming day. She had learned so much from Aiden, had risen to the heights on the battlefield, performing better than she ever thought she could.
She had been overwhelmed at seeing Blake, hurt by his not remembering her—and then overwhelmed at seeing Sam.
As if al that were not enough, she had to meet Kendra, too, and had been overwhelmed at seeing her brother in her grip.
So many conflicting thoughts and feelings raced through Caitlin at once, she barely knew how to process it al . It had felt like ten days in one.
As sunset fel , Caitlin took off her clothes and soaked in her tub. She felt every muscle in her body relax. Ruth sat patiently at her side.
Caitlin’s mind raced. She thought of Sam, of how much he had changed. She thought of Aiden.
Of her new skil s. She thought of her dad, her mission. She thought of Sam’s dream, of the floating key. Of the Notre Dame. As al these thoughts blended together, she felt more determined than ever to fulfil her mission.
Versail es was fil ed with every luxury, but she felt that her mission was cal ing her elsewhere. Al the people that she loved and knew were here (except for Caleb), but they were al distracted. Pol y seemed to be in the grips of her singer boyfriend. Sam had Kendra. Blake didn’t even remember her.
And she felt that, already, she had taken her training nearly as far as she could for this time and place. She didn’t know how much was left for her here, and she felt it was time to move on.
Caitlin got out of the tub, dried herself with a huge towel, then changed into the casual wear that had been left by her bedside. It was a silk bathrobe, white and gold, intricately designed, and as she put it on, she’d never felt anything more luxurious.
She lay back in her huge, four-poster bed, sinking into the endless pil ows, and sighed.
Ruth jumped onto the bed and set her head in Caitlin’s lap.
After a few moments, she reached over to her bedside table and picked up an object and held it.
The encased scrol .
She sat up slowly in bed, staring at it, holding it with both hands. She ran one hand slowly along its edge, feeling the encrusted jewels. She