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excused herself from the soldiers and come to Shasta s side.
She pressed the Princess s hand to her lips tenderly.  Something wrong, Your Highness?
 Not at all. Shasta let her gaze drift over to Jen, who had put up his fists in a mock challenge to one of
his companions. They pretended to take a few swings at one another before dissolving into laughter.
Talon followed the Princess s line of sight and nodded.  Jen s a good man. A little headstrong, perhaps,
but a brave soldier.
 It makes me happy that you ve found a friend. Talon looked at her quizzically, and Shasta gave a little
smile.  In the entire time I ve known you, you ve never really had a friend of your own. You were always
too busy following me around every second of the day. Her eyes returned to Jen.  It s good to see.
 Shasta. Talon s dark eyes were serious.  You know I ve never regretted being at your side.
 I know. Shasta pressed her finger to her guardian s mouth.  You ve always been completely
dedicated to your work, and to me. But you deserve your own life, your own friends, your own identity.
Talon kissed the finger against her lips.  I ve always had those things. In you.
 There s more to life than me, Talon.
 Maybe. But you re my favorite part. Her gaze slid toward the servants stables, and she wiggled her
eyebrows.  Speaking of favorite parts& 
Shasta clapped a hand to her mouth with a scandalized giggle.  You re terrible. But her heart had
already begun to pound with anticipation at the wicked gleam in Talon s eye. She stood and took leave
of the soldiers nearby with perhaps a bit too much haste, then led her guardian by the hand to their
quarters.
*
Shasta collapsed onto the blankets, blood thundering in her ears and her breath coming in pants.
 Goddess, Talon, I swear you make me feel like I could sprout wings and fly right up into the sky. It s
incredible.
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Her guardian chuckled and planted little kisses across her face.  You re incredible. If I could, I d spend
every minute of the rest of my life making love to you.
Shasta snickered.  Don t you think you d get tired after a while?
 Never. Talon paused to search Shasta s face worriedly.  You re not& you re not getting weary of me
already, are you?
Shasta was startled.  What? No! No, Talon, of course not. What would make you say that?
Her guardian flushed.  After all that talk about how you want me to have my own life&  She suddenly
buried her face in the curve of the Princess s neck, muffling her next words.  I couldn t bear it if you sent
me away now.
 Talon. Shasta lifted the dark head so she could look into her eyes.  I have no intention of sending you
away, not ever again. I just&  She took a deep breath.  Your whole world seems to center on me.
You re capable of such great things on your own, and I m certainly not the only one to have use for you.
I m so afraid one day you re going to wake up and feel that I ve kept you from having your own life and
your own purpose.
Talon traced a finger down Shasta s cheek.  Don t you understand, Shasta, you re everything to me,
and I like it that way. My sisters don t need me anymore. You re the only one I have left, and I love you
so desperately sometimes I think my heart s going to burst with it. She leaned forward to rest her chin
on her knees.  I need to belong to you. I need you to need me.
Shasta reached out to stroke the satiny skin of her guardian s back.  I ll always need you, Talon, she
said softly.  Your strength, your faith in me, sometimes those are only things that keep me from losing my
mind. The way the men out there look at me, as though they believe I m somehow going to
single-handedly return the dawn to their dark lives&  She sighed.  I want so much to give these people a
happily-ever-after, the fairy-tale ending that they deserve. Where every person is able to feed and clothe
their family in peace. Where every Ithyrian child can receive an education and have the freedom to
choose their own path in life. It s so much, to have the hopes and dreams and expectations of an entire
people resting on my head. I don t want to face this alone.
Talon turned her head and reached up to entwine her fingers with Shasta s.  You won t have to. I m
proud to be a part of this, Shasta, this new world you re going to create. I want to help see it through
however I can.
Shasta planted a kiss against her guardian s neck and disentangled their fingers.  Well, I suppose it s a
start.
 A start?
Playfully she pushed Talon down into the blankets so she could pillow her head against her guardian s
strong shoulder.  To finding your own purpose, one that s bigger than just me. She yawned, then started
at the sound of loud pounding on the stable doors.
 Your Highness? a male voice called.  Your Highness, it s urgent.
 I think that s Harneth, Talon said, hastily getting out of bed and locating her clothes.
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 Just a moment, Shasta called and rose from the hay with a blanket drawn around her shoulders. She
opened the stable door just a crack.  General, what is it?
 We ve just taken a prisoner that I think you re going to want to see for yourself, Highness. She s asking
for you.
 She? Shasta repeated, puzzled.  Very well. Bring her to the palace temple. I will be there presently.
*
Shasta s mouth dropped open in disbelief when Harneth led the prisoner onto the temple floor, her
hands bound in front of her. A heavy purple bruise darkened one side of her face.
 Bria!
She would have run to her former lady-in-waiting, but Talon caught her arm and said grimly,  No,
Princess. She cannot be trusted.
Shasta took another look at Bria s swollen cheek and demanded of the guards,  Who did this? Which
one of you laid a hand on her?
 It wasn t your men, Highness, Bria said quietly.  This happened before I entered your camp.
Talon leveled her sword at her sister.  What are you doing here?
 Talon! Bria s eyes filled with tears.  Oh, I m so relieved&  She took a step forward but stopped as
Talon s sword flicked ominously toward her throat.
 Your Highness, General Harneth addressed Shasta.  Just a few minutes ago the drawbridge was
lowered and the prisoner appeared, carrying this. He held up a white handkerchief that had been
fastened to the end of a stick.  She claims Kumire sent her out with a message for you.
The point of Talon s sword did not waver.  So deliver your message, she spat.
Bria s face was sad.  My husband desires to invite the Princess Shasta to a negotiation regarding the
terms of our surrender.
Talon growled.  You tell yourhusband if he wants to surrender, he s welcome to come out and negotiate
terms himself.
 That s not possible. He fears for his life at the hands of your soldiers and requests that the Princess
enter the castle herself, alone, as a sign of good faith. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]