Page 249 of Sword & Shadow
“I don’t think it’s our concern, Jarrad,” Isla said.
“I’ll explain it,” Evylin said, her voice as tight as her rigid back. “Auden is upset because Jonn is carrying the Night Relic, and he’s afraid of Jonn’s power.”
“There’s more to it than that,” Auden objected. “We lost the Relics because of you two. If you had listened to me and released that ghost, we would be back in Ephria with five Relics by now.”
“Oh, Auden,” Ilain chimed in, rolling her eyes. “That’s not true, and you know it. Caustin was smart; he would have captured us regardless of Jonn and Evylin’s situation.”
“Well . . .” Ethenn began, then stopped.
“What?” Evylin asked, gaping at him.
Ethenn shrugged, prodding the fire with a long stick. “I sort of saw the scout on our way back to the camp but was too, uh—distracted to process what he was doing there until it was too late.”
Rafferty sniggered. “That’s because your head was up your ass about...” He gestured between Thom and Ilain.
Ethenn shot him an annoyed look. “Anyway,” he grumbled, then looked to Deckard apologetically. “I saw him, but then everything happened with—with Thom and me and then with Hewitt too. I don’t know that it would have changed much, but I was getting ready to warn you when Thom egged me on.”
“I didn’t—” Thom cut himself off, holding up a hand. “Never mind. It doesn’t matter.”
Deckard almost smiled at his brother’s obvious attempt to be a better man but felt too off-kilter after Auden’s agitation and this new revelation. He sighed, giving Ethenn a forgiving nod. “I understand,” he said peaceably. “The truth is, I doubt it would have made a difference. We were all too tired to do much good at that point. Our chances of escape weren’t high. Given the circumstances, I’d say this is the best outcome we could have hoped for.”
“The best—” Auden let out an angered huff. “Blount has four Relics now!”
“And don’t you think it’s a miracle that Jonn managed to keep the Night Relic from him too?” Ilain said, coppery brow raised.
“Excuse me,” Jarrad said, lifting a hand in a little wave.
The Calders turned to stare long-sufferingly at him. Emmaas gave a resigned sigh as he continued to sharpen the collection of daggers he’d pulled from his person.
“A few questions for you—” Jarrad began ticking them off as he spoke. “First, you said the Warrior—Evylin? Yes. Evylin didn’t want her husband, the Mage. Jonn or Deckard? I’m losing track of the names.”
Isla glared at him. “His name is Jonn Deckard.”
Jarrad gave her a baffled look. “Then why does his brother call him by his last name?”
“I don’t always,” Thom defended.
Deckard pinched the bridge of his nose. “Just call me Deckard.”
“Right.” Jarrad snapped his fingers and went back to his question. “So Mrs. Warrior didn’t want Mr. Mage because...grief? But then something about a ghost convincing her not to annul their marriage? How does that work?”
Isla pressed her fingers to her temples as though staving off a headache. “You are the worst,” she mumbled.
“All in a day’s work, love,” Jarrad said, patting her shoulder. When nobody attempted to answer him, he tried again. “I can restate the question if you’d prefer.”
“There isn’t really anything to say,” Deckard replied. “Evylin was dealing with the loss of her uncle, and it took some time for us to work through it together. Unknowingly, I summoned her uncle’s ghost, which is why Auden is angry.”
“That’s not the reason I’m angry,” Auden argued.
“Let’s stay on track here,” Jarrad interjected, then turned back to Deckard and Evylin. “Why would Auden think you’d be annulling your marriage?”
Deckard rubbed his hands together while Evylin chewed on her bottom lip, neither of them willing to admit the truth.
Ilain grimaced. “That might be because I told him they were.”
“Ilain!” Evylin gasped.
“I’m sorry!” Ilain’s shoulders nearly brushed her ears with the exaggeration of her shrug. “I tell him everything. I didn’t think he’d go announcing it.”
