Irmina noted how Ryne’s hand clenched his sword’s hilt even tighter.
“She’s also the one who saved Ancel’s life,” Galiana added.
An expression of grudging respect passed across Ryne’s face. He nodded to Kachien. Wordlessly, he sheathed his sword.
Irmina glanced from Ancel to Kachien. This woman was not only an agent of High Shin Jerem’s, but she’d saved Ancel’s life? A glint flashed in Kachien’s eyes, and Irmina frowned. Ancel hung his head for a moment before straightening his back. A tickle of something familiar about Kachien tugged at her. Her lips parted. Kachien reminded her of herself: the lithe frame, the honey-colored eyes, the attitude. All but the hair. Irmina faced Ancel. He met her gaze, eyes unwavering. Abruptly, she understood. He and Kachien had been intimate. Jealousy flashed through her in a hot wave.
“Are we still going to eat?” Ryne said in Ancel’s direction before she managed a word.
Ancel nodded. He inclined his head to Kachien, grimaced at Irmina, and then he stepped around the groaning Knight Captain into the inn.
Following not far behind, Ryne stopped at the doorway. He gave one long look at Kachien, bowed to Charra, and ducked inside.
Irmina still stared toward the door where they had disappeared.
“You two,” Galiana said, pointing to her and Kachien, “we need to talk.”
Kachien dipped her head. Irmina regarded the Ostanian with a frosty expression before finally doing the same.
“I’m going to make sure my son is well,” Stefan said.
“No.” Galiana waved him off. “What happened here is out of your hands. Please escort the elders to the barracks and wait for me.”
Stefan’s eyes took on a stubborn set for a moment. “Fine.” He sighed before he stalked off with the rest of the council in tow.
For a moment, Irmina wondered how much Stefan knew of his son’s relationship. Earlier, when he first entered the meeting, it had taken all her power not to strike at him. Even within the Eye her rage and craving for revenge had warred with her control. She had to remind herself of what Galiana had said and her talk with Jerem. If the chance existed that she was wrong about the Dorns, and she still killed them, it would make her no different to what she thought of them.
Galiana bent to examine the Knight Captain. “His ego is more hurt than anything. Follow the council and see to it he gets some rest.”
The Dagodin bowed, gathered their officer, and marched off in the same direction as Stefan and the others.
With a last curious glance at Charra, Galiana said, “Shall we go inside?” She didn’t wait for their answer.
Irmina glanced over to where Kachien was speaking to the daggerpaw. She couldn’t make out the words, but the animal appeared to nod, before loping toward the back of the inn. Charra’s tongue lolled, teeth showing as he passed by her. Recognition glinted in those golden eyes. She almost reached out as she once did to touch the beast’s mind but recoiled at the thought. Unless she was mistaken, the animal had just Forged. Years ago, Charra had resisted her. What would he do now? Instinctively, she drew her cloak around her while keeping an eye on the daggerpaw until it disappeared behind the inn. Trying her best not to tense as Kachien passed her and strode inside, Irmina followed.
By the time she reached the dining hall, Shin Galiana was sitting across from Ancel. They’d drawn two tables together. Ryne sat on the polished wood floors with his legs crossed, the chair next to him looking like a plaything. Rolt was nodding to Ancel as he took his order.
No matter how she tried, Irmina was unable keep her eyes off Ancel. He was a man now, not the boy she remembered. Taller, his back straighter, shoulders broader, and the dark hair she loved so much well-oiled and tied with a leather cord, he was a picture of perfection. His eyes were a deeper emerald than before, similar to Ryne’s, but darker. They were also harder. The contempt and anger written on his face amplified when their gazes met.
“What’s she doing here?” Ancel said, voice deeper and more grating than she recalled. “She ran off to become an Ashishin. Shouldn’t she be across the Vallum somewhere or at the Iluminus? No one needs or wants her here.”
She stiffened her shoulders against the pain of his words and took a seat next to Galiana. Kachien worked her way to Ancel’s side of the table, even the simple act of walking somehow reeking of seduction, and sat next to him, her face expressionless.
“She is here because we do need her. You need her,” Galiana said.
Irmina frowned at the statement but said nothing.
“I don’t need her. I have all I need at my side.”
The words made Irmina flinch as if struck by an open palm.
“No, boy,” Galiana began.
“I’m no longer a boy.”
“Really?” Galiana smirked. “I cannot tell. Only a silly boy would refuse help in times as dire as these. Unless, of course, your mother is no longer a concern.”
Ancel’s glare would have split rocks. “I want no help from her.”
“Control.” Ryne’s voice was a low rumble of thunder. “Seek it. And show proper respect to the Shin.”
“But-”
“No buts. Master yourself.”
Ancel inhaled, slow and deep. “She left us. She left me.” He paused. “At a time when I could have used her help. Now she’s back, as an Ashishin no less, and I’m supposed to say nothing?”
“I know I hurt you, Anc, but-”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Fine. I had my reasons. There were things I had to do.”
“Yes, I know.” Ancel’s voice took on a sharp edge. “‘Life and love are brutal teachers. Learn, adjust, and survive. Or die. Those are your choices. I choose life.’ Remember those words? I do.”
“I–I.” She hung her head. “If I could change things I would, but I can’t. I’m a stronger woman for the choices I’ve made. Hate me or love me.”
Ancel locked gazes with her. “I hate you.”
A throbbing pain seared her chest. Why was she feeling like this? She thought she’d overcome these emotions. Finding out his parents might not be the evil people she believed only made things worse. She’d given up a big part of her life only to lose one of the things that really mattered to her. She took a deep breath. “If that’s how you feel.” She turned to Galiana. “Well, what is it you wanted to discuss.”
“This first,” Galiana indicated her and Ancel, “but I see this is something you must sort out between yourselves. For now, set it aside. You have been hiding things from me, Ancel. What did Charra do out there? What is he?”
“I can’t say.”
“Cannot or will not?”
“I’m not allowed.” Ancel set his jaw stubbornly.
Even after all these years, Irmina recognized that expression.
Galiana tapped her lips for a moment as she studied him. “Very well. Shin Irmina, tell us what happened in Ostania, how you come to know Ryne and Kachien.”
After another glance at Ancel, Irmina told her story beginning with her mission to find Ryne, to Kahkon’s taking, to discovering Kachien near the bodies of murdered strangers around Carnas. She continued, reliving the battle at Castere, but making sure to omit Bertram’s revelation of Ryne’s true identity. When she finished, Ryne told his part, repeating much of the same with the inclusion of Kachien near the Wraithwoods. All gazes settled on Kachien.
“High Shin Jerem sent me to Carnas to protect Kahkon and to watch Ryne,” Kachien said, voice emotionless. “I did kill the men they found. They were all Amuni’s Children. When their army massacred everyone in Carnas and fed them to the shade, my own people were among them. I knew then my home was no more. I reported my failure to Jerem. He gave me a choice; help keep Ancel safe or take my own life.”
“High Shin Jerem again,” Irmina said. “I’m growing tired of him moving us like players on a senjin field.”
“Jerem does as he needs, but there is something else bothering me.” Galiana turned her gaze on Ryne. “Why would you need protection? Why couldn’t you have stopped all this from the start?”