Page 178 of Sword & Shadow
“Mm-hm.” Ilain crossed her arms haughtily. “Warrior and Mage.”
Evylin’s eyes went wide. “Sergus was a Warrior?”
“And Iona was a Terrae Mage.”
“Really?” Evylin repeated with an amused gasp. “Jonn’ll be disappointed.”
“Why’s that?”
“He adores Sergus. It’s his grandest desire to be just like him. Turns out, he’s Sergus’s opposite.”
Ilain held up a forestalling finger. “He’s Sergus’s balance. Or at least, the male equivalent. Technically,I’mSergus’s true balance.”
Averting her gaze, Evylin went back to brushing her horse. “Because of Bonding?” she asked quietly.
“If you want to know about Bonding,” Ilain said calmly, “all you have to do is ask.”
Evylin chewed on her lip. Did she want to know? Could it do any good? She wasn’t going to stay with Deckard, regardless of how their reunion went. Shecouldn’tstay with Deckard. But as a female Warrior, her existence so rare and so important, wouldn’t it be wise to learn what made her so valuable? Perhaps the knowledge could help save her from Blount’s designs in the future....
The crunch and snap of brush alerted them to Thom and Ethenn’s return. The men appeared in the trees, postures tense and demeanors brusque as they whispered furiously at one another. Evylin watched them carefully as Thom gave one final retort and Ethenn jerked the brace of hare from his grip.
Ilain sent Evylin a worried glance, then put away her sketching. Unceremoniously, Ethenn dropped next to the butchering supplies at the opposite end from the highlady. He gruffly went about his work, ignoring all of them, his face flushed a deep crimson.
Thom huffed and took a seat next to Ilain. The woman looked at him keenly. “What have you done to Ethenn?” she asked.
Though his back remained rigid, Thom smirked. He slid his arm around Ilain. “Nothing, milady,” he said dramatically. “Little Loxley’s just concerned he’ll miss his shot.” He winked and then added, “You know, in the Time Keep, with all those Shades.”
Ilain raised her brow. “He’s never been off before.”
Thom tugged Ilain closer to his side. “Oh, I don’t know,” he said slyly. “Seems he has recently.”
Evylin frowned, unsure of what precise game Thom was playing. Ethenn kept his head down, though his neck was almost as red as a ruby, and he cut up the rabbit violently, his fury notable but still maintaining his precision.
Ilain gave Thom a disparaging look, then shoved him away, extricating herself from his embrace. She got up and moved to join Ethenn. “Here,” she said, holding out a hand. “Let me help.”
“I’m fine,” Ethenn muttered.
“Yes, I can see that,” Ilain retorted. “Now, give me a bloody knife, and let me help.”
Ethenn hesitated, then slipped a small dagger from his belt. He handed it to her without a single glance in her direction.
Thom snorted, then stood. He moved to Evylin’s side, where she stood next to the horses, gesturing to the brush in her hand. “Want help?” he asked.
Warily, Evylin eyed him. After Ethenn’s warning, she’d done as he suggested, handling her relationship with Thom carefully. But after seeing Thom and Ilain holding hands yesterday, she’d been assured that, whatever past interest he’d held, he had clearly moved on. Whether or not the pair’s flirtations had begun falsely, it was clear they’d grown to mean more. Perhaps Ethenn had noticed it too. And maybe the young man’s jealousy had caused the argument between them.
Evylin remembered Ethenn’s warning at the start of their small band’s journey.“I’ve gone this long without breaking before. Inevitably, I snap.”
She wondered if, after all this time, Ethenn’s anger had grown too hot.
Turning back to Thom, Evylin handed him the brush. “Your horse is the only one left,” she said. “I’ll happily let you care for her yourself.”
Thom gave her a half-grin, then shifted to follow her directive.
Evylin glanced at Ilain and Ethenn once more. They worked in silence; she made steady, graceful cuts, while he moved with a feverish, disgruntled pace.
Evylin nudged Thom, then tipped her chin in the pair’s direction. “What’s that about?” she asked.
Without looking, Thom shrugged. “The kid’s sulking.”
