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Chapter 66. Lyssa's Truth |
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t had taken Zhou the better part of the morning to track Shikai down. She was alone in the garden, meditating near Lemony’s little shrine to Dwayna. The tiny silver image of the winged goddess shimmered between a pair of beeswax candles and a plate of fresh oranges. Fine ribbons of fragrant smoke curled from bowl of sand in which three sticks of cedar incense were burning. “You said you would help me. Why are you hiding from me?” “I said I would follow you,” Shikai replied softly, unmoving as she sat upon the worn paving stones in the shade of a pair of old gnarled trees, “I will not intervene.” “Intervene with what?” Zhou demanded, furious, “Do you have no understanding how dangerous this situation is?” “I have known since Pendaran returned from Torment. I asked him to seek you but he refused. He has chosen his path.” “How can you say that?” She lifted her face and met his anger without fear. “He refused help at every opportunity and he abandoned you.” “But he at least did so knowing I was safe…” “You were never safe!” Shikai protested her voice almost metallic as a faint aura of fire enshrouded her. “Do you refuse to intervene because he angered you?” Shikai closed her mouth and looked away. “No… he has created complications.” “Speak plainly,” Zhou demanded, keeping his voice low for fear they might be overheard even though everyone would be bedding down as the hottest, most humid time of day approached, “Are your people involved?” Shikai rose quickly, her rage and fear palpable now. He had his answer. “How are they involved?” he demanded. “I am forbidden to speak of such things,” she rasped, “You know that.” “Yet somehow my friend and adept is endangered because of them?” “No,” Shikai snapped and he sensed grief welling up as she lost her composure. Her dark eyes glistened with barely contained tears and she backed away from him like a wild creature bracing to run. “Dojin once told me that it is ultimately what is left unsaid that destroys love,” Zhou said, remaining where he stood as she continued to move away from him, “I see now that he understood you and I.” “I will never stop loving you,” Shikai replied, turning from him as her voice quavered with grief, “I want to protect you. I do this because I love you.” “I am your husband. Do not treat me like a child.” “If they know… if they find out that I have spoken… I cannot. Do not ask me to.” “I have to know.” “I am a creature of power. If I break my bond, I will never be able to return to you. Is that your wish?” Her words and emotions had the impact of a punch to the gut. “Of course not.” The intensity of her statement left him in no doubt that she was telling the truth. It was the same bond that caused her to lose her humanity during the dark half of the year. Dojin had warned him that pursuing her would ultimately lead to pain. Zhou had countered with Lyssa’s truth that pain and love were intertwined. He had thought himself equal to the challenge. Now he realized what a fool he had been to look upon love that way, as if it were a game to be won, a prize to be coveted and placed on display. “Shikai, the truth in one word, and then I will withdraw,” he murmured, looking away from the suffering and pleading in her eyes, “Do you have any choice but to love me?” “My love, please…” He backed away as she sank to her knees and began to weep at the foot of Dwayna’s shine. He had his answer. |
