“Worry! I’m scared and excited for you at the same time.” She sighed. “You’re my favorite brother.”
“You say that to Jaye and Jedian too,” he reminded her.
“You’re all my favorites,” she replied with an impish grin. “But you are my special brother, Thealos. Are you really going to become a Kilshae?”
He gave her an understanding grin. “That depends on whether you can keep a secret.”
Her eyes widened with delight. “I can!”
“I came to say goodbye, Arielle. Because you’re my favorite sister.”
“I’m your only sister.”
He kissed her cheek. “Tell them you were asleep. Tell them the only thing you remember is that I kissed you and promised that I would come home someday. Will you tell them that?”
“You’re leaving? Right now?”
He nodded. “I’m not going to get another chance.”
“Can I come with you?” Her eyes were so serious it hurt him to look at her.
He shook his head. “And add kidnapping to the charges? I’d better not, Arielle. Pretend to sleep.” She slipped beneath the thick wool and linen covers and shivered. Her eyes were misty with tears, and she squeezed him tightly.
“I’ll miss you, Thealos.” She tugged on his shirt to bring him down and kissed his cheek. Then she remembered something and dug beneath the covers. “Take this with you,” she said, giving him a leather bundle. “I want you to keep it. For when you get lonely.”
He stared at the bundle she’d pressed in his hand and swallowed. He knew it contained her wooden hoppit doll. “Thank you,” he whispered, giving her one last hug. “I am going to travel the whole valley, Arielle. I’ll camp under the pines of the Vale, watch the tide off the Cliffs of Demos, and drink from the Dayspring Rush. And I will bring you a gift when I come home.” He rose and approached the bedroom window.
“A White Rose of Tharkin?” she asked, excited. “If you find one...?”
“If I find one.” He gave her one last smile and disappeared through the window before she could see him cry. He shut the glass and felt the cool wind touch his face high up on the balcony. He breathed slowly, shuddering. Leaving her was harder than he expected. Climbing over the rail, he lowered himself down the black-iron slats and then dropped into the bushes of heather below. Keeping low, he waited and watched. Nothing.
With the practiced Shae step-walking pattern, Thealos went around the side of the Quicksilver manor, staying on the dark rich soil and behind the rows of hedges and feather-fern. He reached his bedroom and found the stash he had left out the window earlier that day. A wool tunic and a long-sleeved linen shirt were folded in a stack and he put them on before wrapping himself in a thick green cloak. Thealos secured his favorite hunting bow to his travel sack with leather ties and slung the burden around his shoulders. He shoved a long dagger into his belt. He listened at the silver windowpanes but he could not hear anything.
Thealos wondered how long he would have before Correl went to Arielle’s room looking for him? An hour or two? Not much time.
Parting the branches of a fragrant azalea bush, he looked up at the glittering ocean of stars. The blue light of the moon Eroth bathed his face. He stared at the road, letting his vision adapt to the night colors. He waited patiently, knowing Nordain. Sure enough, he saw the two sentries who had kept him at the Shae High Council. They were watching the moonlit face of the manor with a good view of Thealos’ room. Arielle’s room was on the other side of the manor. Without a sound, he crossed behind the manor and disappeared into the dark gardens, following the side of the paving stones to keep hidden in the trees. Thealos crossed a small brook-stone bridge, feeling the darkness of the wooded grounds absorb him into its bosom, and he savored the smells in the air. He knew the back woods better than anyone else in the neighborhood.
If Nordain had made sure that Keasorn’s Crimson Wolfsmen had been watching for him, Thealos knew he would never have made it sixty paces from the manor house that night. Inwardly, he was pleased his family worshipped Vannier instead. Their god may have made men good at trade. But they were terrible watchmen.
IV