“You think Shiphra sent him, Amanda? Have you learned nothing over the past few days? You can’t trust a member of the Guard. They’ve been–” His body lurched forward, but he straightened himself quickly as one of the shadows stepped into the clearing.
“I can get that fixed for you,” Armaan said, putting a hand to his throat and making a choking gesture. “Shiphra lifted my gag, I’m sure she can do the same for you,” he offered with a wave of his large hand.
As Armaan stepped out into the little light left of the day, Cole flinched slightly as if the mere sight of him was a blow.
“Go to the cave please; I don’t want you to see this,” Cole whispered to her. “Leave now and I won’t hurt you,” he said to Armaan.
His words sent a wave of shock rolling through her, and her mouth fell open, but Armaan seemed unfazed.
“What?” she asked in bewilderment. “Did you not hear what I just said? He’s here to help us! Cole, listen,” she pleaded as he readied his stance.
“Will you be leaving or not?” he asked again firmly.
Armaan scratched the side of his head in false contemplation. “Um… no,” Armaan said with a smile.
Amanda threw her hands up. Why did he have to try to get under Cole’s skin? He was making her want to attack him.
“She’s telling the truth you know. Shiphra sent me here to guide you to her, and I don’t often fail my duty.”
“No, you don’t often fail your masters. I do believe that to be true. Amanda is just confused as to who is pulling your strings,” Cole said.
“Don’t tell me that I’m confused! You’re the only one confused here. I’m telling you he’s here to help us. Can’t you trust me?”
“You know I trust you, just not with this. He has a silver tongue and can spin a tale. That’s why girls listen to him, girls like you, and every one of the pretty little things who follows him around turns up missing. Do you want to know why?” he asked through his teeth. he felt Cole’s anger become more and more concentrated, turning into something resembling hatred.
“Because Guard members like to have fun with women and the women end up…” Cole swayed a little so she steadied him with her hand.
“It isn’t what you think. He hasn’t been working for the Ancients. He has never been a Guard member. All of those girls you’re talking about ended up in New Hovel, the city that Shiphra protects. Nell is there now waiting for us,” she explained, hoping he’d listen. Amanda could feel Cole’s doubt, but she knew Armaan wasn’t lying to her. She didn’t know how she knew, but she did.
“You don’t understand the things I’ve seen him do, the terrible stories I’ve heard him tell,” Cole said in a haunting voice.
“It was all part of the act. I had to pretend to be somebody that made me sick for the greater good. I wish I could have had your life, Cole. You were free to be yourself, free to think the worst of me. You could choose to have attachments.” Armaan’s eyes flickered toward Amanda for a longing moment. “I’m not going anywhere, and I’m not this terrible person you think I turned out to be. You remember who I am. We were practically brothers, Cole.”
“That was before you became just like your blood brother. You are nothing to me now,” Cole said.
Her heart fell as Armaan’s despair reached her, and she could no longer stay behind Cole’s protective arms. She darted in between the two men and stared into Cole’s dark eyes. “How could you say that? Can’t you feel how badly you’re hurting him? He’s coming with us whether you like it or not, and I’m not about to let you go running off on your own—”
“I would never run off and leave you!” Cole interjected.
“I know that,” she assured him as calmly as possible. If this trip lasted more than two days, she would be completely bald from ripping her hair out. “You don’t trust Armaan, and I do. I see why you’re having such a hard time with this, but even though you don’t trust him, I know you trust me.” She stepped closer to him, closing the distance she had put between them, and cupped his cheek.
His eyes bore into hers pleadingly, and she was lost in them. She didn’t know who had first said that the eyes were the windows to the soul, but she was reminded of how true the adage was. Cole broke the silence that had settled over the clearing, and when she came back to herself, she noticed the day’s light was now gone.
How long were we like that? she wondered, feeling bad for ignoring Armaan for so long.
“She wants you with us, so you may come with us, but I will be watching you,” Cole said coldly.
Armaan’s face lit up in one of his dazzling smiles. “Are you sure that you can watch me with her around? She seems to be the only thing you can keep your eyes on,” he said gesturing to Amanda with a wink.
Heat crept into her cheek, and she wanted to laugh but instead told him to shut up.
“Do you want him around twenty-four/seven? It could be a long journey,” Cole said through his teeth.
Armaan’s smile stretched wider.
“Stop being proud of yourself for being annoying!” she shot at Armaan. “And yes, I still want him to come.” She squeezed Cole’s large hand and made to let go but he kept it in place.
“Don’t worry; we’re pretty close to New Hovel. We should be there by tomorrow, and if you tell me that one day of my company is too much to bear, it would be a terrible shot to my self-esteem,” Armaan said dramatically.
She wanted to tell him that a shot to his self-esteem would be a good thing, but her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of how nice Cole’s warm hand felt holding hers.
“As much as I enjoy standing in the dark watching you look at each other and hold hands bashfully, I’d like to get some rest, so that I can watch you do something cute tomorrow with the sharpest of senses,” Armaan announced and bowed formally before walking off toward the cave.
She was getting used to Armaan’s embarrassing remarks and barely felt the warmth in her cheeks. “Has he always been so strange?” she asked Cole in a whisper.
“He has always been different; I thought it was because of how bad his childhood must have been, what with Frey as an older brother always making everything a joke. But then he turned into Frey.”
“Armaan isn’t like his brother, you’ll see. He’s been through so much, and he still cares about what you think of him. You should try to be there for him,” she said, glancing sideways, trying to gauge his reaction.
“Don’t worry. I do trust you, and if you trust him, I will try to.”
She was glad that he was trying to have faith in her judgment, but she wished he could forget the Armaan he thought he knew.
“Thanks for letting him stay. You’ll be glad you did when we walk into New Hovel tomorrow and all of your worries are put to rest. Come on, let’s go,” she said, dragging him after Armaan.
When they reached the cave, she wasn’t surprised that Armaan had already gone inside. Of course, it would open for him. Shiphra had made this safe haven, and she sent him to help them, so naturally he didn’t need her to get in. That was another reason to believe in Armaan. As they made their way into the light of the cave, she saw that Madgie was still deathly pale.
“Oh, Cole! Isn’t there anything we can do for her?”
“You have already done everything you can,” Armaan said from one of the stone couches. “Assuming you’re the one who healed her. Just let her rest and try to pour some fluids in her. You’ll have to guide the water down or she’ll choke on it.”
“Well, get your butt off of that couch and warm the water in that canteen, I’ll make her some tea.” She took the bamboo leaves and crushed up the rose buds ,placing both into a bit of fabric. She tied it off with more fabric and hoped it would work as a tea bag. “Have you warmed up the water yet?” she asked Armaan, looking over at him.