aura went red, her eyes bulging.
But then the council room door opened and Rosal stepped in.
‘Night!’ Elona threw up her hands. ‘Does everyone in this ripping keep have an ear to the door?’
Rosal smiled. ‘I was just looking for Gared.’ She threw him a wink. ‘He’s got paperwork to do.’
Gared looked pale as Rosal looked back to Elona. ‘It’s not as if this is news to me. Gared has tells whenever your name is mentioned.’
‘I do?’ Gared asked.
Rosal’s eyes flicked over, holding his. ‘You’re not in trouble for anything past, so be smart and keep quiet now. I’ll handle this.’
Gared blew out a breath. ‘Ay, dear.’
Elona put her hands on her hips, fixed on Rosal now. ‘Smarter’n I gave you credit for, girl.’
Rosal gave a mocking curtsy. ‘I know you’re something special here in the Hollow, Lady Paper, but I went to school with dozens like you. I don’t mind that you broke Gared in, but on our wedding night I’m going to do things that will make him forget all about your bumpkin wife’s tricks.’
Elona’s hand darted out, reaching for Rosal’s long, thick hair, but Rosal was ready for it, slapping the hand aside and stepping out of reach. She had a dancer’s balance, and Leesha knew she could strike back if she wished.
But Rosal kept control. Her voice was quiet, smile still in place. ‘He’s not yours any more.’
‘Core he ent,’ Elona said. ‘Got his brat in me.’
‘You’ve got a child in you,’ Rosal agreed. ‘But is it Gared’s? Who can say? You’re a married woman.’
‘And when the babe don’t look like Erny?’ Elona asked.
Rosal shrugged. ‘I doubt any will be surprised. You have quite the reputation. “What’s Lady Paper done now?” is a drinking game among the servants, did you know?’
Elona’s aura darkened again, but she stood frozen.
‘But … what if it really is mine?’ Gared squeaked. All eyes turned to him.
‘Told the Deliverer I’d be a better man,’ Gared said, his voice slowly gaining strength. ‘Ent lookin’ for scandal, but I ent any kind of man, I can’t stand by my babe.’
Rosal went over to him. He flinched as she reached for him, but she only laid a gentle hand on his arm. ‘Of course not, my love. I would never ask that of you. But there are many ways to stand by the child, if we learn it’s yours.’
‘Ay?’ Gared asked.
‘By the time the babe comes, we’ll be married,’ Rosal said. ‘And our marriage contract will put our issue first in your succession. After that, you’re free to claim the child if you wish.’
She put a hand on his face. ‘But you may find it easier for all to simply visit often and shower the child with gifts.’
Elona crossed her arms. ‘And if I start the scandal, myself?’
‘You won’t,’ Rosal said. ‘Not without proof, and likely not even then. You’re not as smart as you think you are, Lady Paper, but you’re smarter than that. You have more to lose than Gared.’
Leesha spoke up at last. ‘I can call Amanvah if you wish, Mother. With a drop of your blood and a throw of her dice, she can give you proof. We can settle this all here and now.’
‘You, too, girl?’ Elona spat on the rug, turning on a heel to storm from the room.
Gared let out a groan, and Rosal patted his arm. ‘Breathe, love. You did well. We haven’t heard the last of this, but the worst is over. You just keep your distance and leave Elona to me.’
She turned to him, catching his eyes and holding them with her own. ‘And come our wedding day, you’ll never want her to climb your tree again.’
‘Don’t want it now,’ Gared said.
Rosal caught his beard, pulling his face down for a peck on the cheek. ‘Smart boy.’
Gared put his hand over hers. ‘Thought ya’d never understand, ya knew what I done.’
Rosal smiled. ‘Past is past, we agreed. Yours and mine.’
She looked to Leesha. ‘Thank you, mistress.’
‘Ay, Leesh,’ Gared said. ‘Came in like the Deliverer just then.’
‘Hardly,’ Leesha said.
‘Demonshit,’ Gared said. ‘Ent the first time. Yu’ve always been there when folk need ya most, Leesh. You an’ Rojer an’ Arlen Bales. Came to the Hollow together when we were beaten, and turned it around. Ent no one whose life ent changed by ya.’
‘Now Arlen is gone,’ Leesha said. ‘And Rojer. People are going to realize I’m no Deliverer when they see the foolish choices I’ve made.’
‘Ent gonna see any such thing.’ Gared waved an arm dismissively. ‘Broken folk come to the Hollow, lookin’ for the Deliverer, but the first thing they see is Leesha Paper, takin’ care of ’em.’
Leesha shook her head. ‘You’re the first thing they see, Gar.’
‘Ay, on the road, maybe,’ Gared agreed. ‘Cutters make ’em feel safe, but safe don’t give them a place to sleep and a full belly. Safe don’t heal the cored. Safe don’t put clothes on their backs and put ’em right back to work. Don’t give ’em a new life before losing the old one even has time to set in. You do that, Leesh. Time ya stopped bein’ so guilty about it.’
‘Guilty?’ Leesha asked.
‘That yur alive and Rojer ent,’ Gared said. ‘That ya had to kill those Krasians came to murder the duke. Poisoned them Sharum last summer so they couldn’t turn on us. Stuck the demon of the desert. Ya done what ya done to help people, every time. Wern’t selfish, or evil. Quit tellin’ yurself otherwise.’
Leesha looked at Gared, trying to peel back the years to their childhood romance, or the young man she had hated for so many years. The man who had ruined her reputation and arguably her life. The man in front of her was both those men, and neither. The mistakes of youth had cast both of them onto new paths.
Those paths had been difficult, but they’d led inexorably to them becoming the most powerful people in Hollow County.
And somewhere along the way, he had become like a brother to her. He was a woodbrained oaf even now, but he was a good man, and she loved him still. Leesha reached out, taking Gared’s and Rosal’s hands in hers. ‘I am truly happy for the two of you.’
334 AR
‘Night.’ Ragen pulled up short as the thick woods to either side of the warded Messenger road ended abruptly. It was nearing dusk, but there was light still. ‘We passed through less than a year ago, and this was miles of woodland.’
‘Cutters’ axes swing day and night,’ Briar said. The boy was on foot, somehow keeping pace with the horses.
Even atop his saddle, Ragen could smell Briar. Elissa had him bathing now, but all the hogroot the boy ate had gotten into his sweat. The