And abandoned you. That's what she thought, and the anger that flared in her gut had nothing to do with Ronan for his thievery or his uncle for killing the minister. His father had committed the worst crime. He had brought his son into that life, and when things went wrong, he abandoned him in the Forest of the Dead. Ronan might joke that he was selfish, but that was true selfishness.
As she judged Ronan's father, she was well aware that her mother had also taken her own life. But it was not the same. It could not be less the same.
When Ashyn and Moria were born, their mother had kept their twin birth a secret for a very good reason. Because when the girls were discovered, their local governor would inform his warlord. The warlord would tell the marshal, who would, as soon as possible, dispatch a nursing Hound of the Immortals and nursing Wildcat of the Immortals.
This great hound and wildcat would be deprived of food from the moment they left their kennels. When they reached the twins' village, the babies would be placed in a room. The starving beasts would be put in with them at dawn. The door would be closed and not reopened until dusk, no matter what terrible sounds emanated from within.
If the babes were truly a Seeker and Keeper, they would be found nestled with the beasts, suckling, the Seeker with the hound and the Keeper with the wildcat. Then they would be given the best pup and kitten from the hound's and wildcat's litters, as their bond-beasts, and the family would be transported with much pomp and circumstance to their future post.
If the twins were not a Seeker and a Keeper? Then the starving beasts would do what all starving beasts did when left alone with defenseless prey. It was said that the chance of twins being blessed was one in a hundred. Those were the odds her mother had faced. That was why she had tried to run with her daughters. When she'd been caught, she'd taken her own life not in despair, but to ensure the girls' father would not be implicated. Take all the blame on herself. Let their father live, for his sake and their daughters'. There was nothing selfish in that.
Ashyn realized then that she'd been quiet too long after Ronan's confession. He was fussing again, obviously uncomfortable now, as if her silence judged him.
"I'm sorry about your father," she said.
He glanced over sharply, as if that was not the answer he expected.
"I'm sorry about your father and your uncle. I can't imagine how difficult that was."
He met her gaze. "I think you can, Ashyn."
She nodded and looked away.
Ronan reached over and squeezed her hand. "We'll get you out of here. You and Tova and Wenda. And we'll find Moria." He paused. "I'm going to keep walking."
"What?" She stared at him. "Tonight?"
He nodded. "We can't be far now. I'll get water and come back."
"How will you see your way?" She waved up at the cloudy sky.
A tired smile. "I'm a thief, remember? I see very well in the dark. The road is clearly marked. Waiting until morning will only mean we've gone that much longer without water. With luck, I'll be heading back before you wake."
"I shouldn't have used up the water."
"You were worried about my wounds." He managed a strained smile. "I can't fault you for that." He brushed off his breeches and leaned over to give Tova a pat. "I should probably leave now. I was planning to as soon as we'd spoken." He waved at what she'd thought was a rock. It was his pack. He stood. "I'll find us water, and I'll see you soon."
He hefted his pack, offered her one last smile, and set out across the lava plains.
Ashyn woke to Tova growling. When she lifted her head, she could see only his pale shape, so close she could smell his fur. The sky was dark gray.
As Wenda stirred beside her, Ashyn looked up at Tova. His big head moved, as if tracking something. She tried to listen, but all she could pick up was Tova's growling, growing louder until she could feel the vibration of it.
"What's wrong?" Wenda asked.
Ashyn shushed her, then softened it with a reassuring pat.
Tova was turning his whole body now, his nails scratching the rock as he moved, his gaze fixed in the distance.
Another death worm?
Ashyn sucked in air, but reminded herself that they hadn't seen sand or soil in a day.
As she sat up, she heard a scraping to her left. She caught movement. When she glanced over, it stopped, but she could make out the faint outline of a human figure.
r /> Tova started walking slowly in that direction. Ashyn crawled from her sleeping blankets, staying on all fours, ready to follow Tova--
She heard a crack behind her. Something struck her, fast and hard, searing her skin, wrapping around her neck and yanking her up as Wenda screamed. Ashyn's hands flew to her neck as the cord tightened, cutting off her air. Tova let out a roar and raced behind Ashyn. The cord tightened again as if he'd grabbed it in his teeth. Then it slackened, and as she yanked it off, she fell to the hard rock.