would be like if she was a stay-at-home wife?”
“Maggie wasn’t married.”
“Exactly. She didn’t even have a man to distract her. No, she’ll be fine, trust me.”
Xavier rolled back on his heels as he looked down at his toes. “I hope they’re together.”
Leilius thought of Ruisa and Alena. Ruisa might be able to handle being alone as she had been through the Shadow Lands. She at least had some experience. Alena, though…
“I do too,” he said.
18
“Are they in?” Rohnan asked, facing the gate, watching the various comings and goings.
Shanti kept her eyes closed, her face pointing at the dying sun, lightly monitoring the most inexperienced members of their group. She barely connected with Xavier and Leilius, their minds whirling with determination. Ruisa and Maggie revealed a completely different swirl of emotions. Fear, anxiety, and worry pulsed out of them.
“Something has gone wrong.” Shanti prevented herself from tensing up. It wouldn’t help the situation. She needed all her focus to maintain an extremely light mental touch within those walls. If even one Inkna got a whiff of her power, the whole city would clamp down.
She found Alena away from the others, drifting out to the east of the city. It felt like she was alternating between fear, uncertainty, and steadfastness.
“Whatever triggered the compassion from Leilius acted as a catalyst. The group remained stationary for a moment, and then drifted apart. Each of them holds some kind of fear.” Shanti considered using a fraction more power in order to lay a supportive blanket over Alena’s mind. It would help her confidence and decision-making, but too much and she might grow too adventurous. In that city, adventurous might get her killed. “There are three groups now. Alena is on her own.”
Kallon stiffened. “Do we go in after them?”
Shanti shook her head and repeated her calming technique, trying to keep Kallon’s turbulent emotions from building on her own uncertainty. “We will wait and see what they do. Judging by the feel of them, they aren’t in immediate danger.”
“Here comes the coach.” Sonson straightened enough to move toward the hedge near the road.
“Did you see why they stop?” Mela asked. “I not watch.”
“They were adjusting their baggage, I believe.” Sonson took out a knife. “Does anyone want to walk around the city as a noble?”
“Yes.” Mela laughed. “Why not?”
“You would stick out,” Tanna said offhandedly.
“I wouldn’t even know how a noble from this place might walk?” Denessa said as she fingered a knife.
“That is an idea.” Shanti lifted until she could just see over the hedge. Well-bred horses walked up the lane, pulling a gorgeous coach with all the finery and embellishments that money had to offer. “That will be a Graygual. No one else would have that much wealth in this place.”
“Well, then, using their clothes or not, I say we kill them.” Sonson took out another knife, one for each hand. “I’d hate not to pay them back for what they did to my people.”
“Cayan has always wanted to dress me like a doll. Maybe I’ll see if the way of life fits me…” Shanti pushed forward, excitement at the prospect of actually doing something surging within her. “The question is, even if we wear those clothes, won’t the Graygual still notice us?”
“Maybe. We can work that out later.” Sonson peered over the hedge.
Shanti moved in beside him, careful to keep her body away from the dead holes in the foliage. “I can’t condone killing those who have not killed, no matter where they came from.”
“Then we’ll take their money, their horses, and their clothes,” Denessa said. “They can sit in the cold, naked and tied up, until we can figure out what to do with them.”
“Good compromise.” Shanti took out her knives and moved along the hedge. When the others had taken their positions near one or more gaping holes from dying plants, they waited.
The coach ambled along the way. The driver stared straight ahead with a stiff back and arms. He was playing a part, even though no one could see him from inside the closed carriage behind him.
Shanti felt the minds inside, not at all surprised to feel a Gifted among them. She met Sonson’s eyes after the discovery, making sure he had reached the same conclusion. His nod was slight as the coach came up alongside the empty farmhouse. It didn’t slow, and the mind within didn’t reach out to search. They were comfortable in their superiority.
A rush of irritation had Shanti rising just a little, ready to engage. As