Sister of the Dead - By Barb Hendee & J. C. Hendee Page 0,112
say it, " she said, "when and while I can. And you have to remember... no matter what else there is of me to come, that's what you have to remember. "
Magiere pulled his face to hers, pressing her mouth deep against his.
IChap watched the city walls fall behind as the wagon rolled out of Keonsk at dawn, well before anyone could discover the unconscious guards at the castle. The horses were well rested and kept a steady pace, and both Leesil and Magiere sat in front on the wagon's bench. Wynn was already asleep under her blanket in the wagon's back, and Chap curled up against her. Even sleeping, the little sage's presence brought some comfort, though he felt uncertain what her place was in all this. It would have been far easier to keep his secrets without her constant curiosity about him. He no longer had complete faith in his own actions, but he had come to one decision of which his kin might not approve.
Although he could simply force Magiere from this path, he would not. And it was clear that he was unable to dissuade her. In spite of nightmare visions while under the undead sorcerer's spell, or perhaps because of them, he would help Magiere complete this journey.
At the very least it was the quickest way to remove her from this land and give them all a little more time before events started moving forward too quickly. And if they found Cuirin'nen'a—Leesil's mother, Nein'a as he called her— this might help to balance things as well.
The enemy was aware and watching. This was one of the few certainties left to Chap.
He would go with Magiere, face whatever came of her discoveries, and do what was possible in the aftermath. He would finish what he had started when he had connected Magiere's path to Leesil's.
Chap would have to trust Magiere, and trust Leesil... or at least trust in what he had created between them.
* * *
Chapter 13
T he patron in Welstiel's dreams sensed that he had fed, knew he was stronger, and whispered to him throughout his dormant hours.
The sister of the dead will lead you.
Welstiel was roused by Chane's soft knock on the door. He awoke disoriented, as he always did when communing with the roiling serpent coils. He looked about before remembering they had procured rooms at a decent inn. His door was locked, and he climbed from the bed to let Chane in.
His companion was already dressed in a white shirt and midnight-blue tunic. His height filled the doorway. He took in Welstiel's disheveled appearance and stepped back. "Forgive me. I assumed you were up. "
"Come in, " Welstiel said. "I will scry for the dhampir. It is possible she has not given up yet, stubborn as she is, but I prefer to keep track of her presence. You will not mind a few more nights here?"
"This isn't Bela, but any city is a pleasant change nonetheless. "
Welstiel retrieved the brass dish and his knife, and sat at the table. Replenished as he was, all recent scars from cuts had faded, leaving the stub of his left little finger smooth. He cut it again and allowed a drop to strike the center of dish's dome as he chanted.
The droplet shivered. It slid and stopped a thumbnail's distance down the dome toward the east.
"No, " Welstiel whispered, staring at the tiny trail. "Why would she head farther east?"
The direction was more disturbing than the fact that Magiere had slipped away again. Welstiel knew of nothing east of Keonsk connected to her past. Only he had a history back in that accursed place.
There was no way she could have found a lead to take her there—to him—even if that withered madman was still there after so many decades.
Chane walked over. "What has happened?"
"She is going to Apudalsat, the village of Water Downs, " Welstiel said, only vaguely aware of his companion's question.
Magiere was headed into the Sclaven province. In Welstiel's youth, it was the first noble house his father had served upon arriving in this country, this continent. At the keep near Apudalsat, on the edge of the vast swamps of the Everfen, Bryen had come home one night with a withered old Suman in shimmering charcoal robes and an eyeless mask.
Magiere was headed straight for Ubad.
"What are you talking about?" Chane asked.
"Quiet and let me think, " he snapped.
Welstiel stared at the droplet's trail. How could Magiere have learned of Ubad?