They seemed merely to repeat her words, voices running together.
"I'm looking for--" she began.
"Who are you talking to?" Wenda asked.
Ashyn smiled and patted Tova. "Just Tova. He's not used to new places. I'm reassuring him."
The hound chuffed, supporting her lie. When Wenda's attention turned away, Ashyn listened for the spirits, but they'd slipped away. She was alone. Again.
The governor left Ashyn and Wenda in his guesthouse. It was unlike any house either of them had ever seen, with silk drapes and cushioned chairs piled with embroidered pillows.
The governor had said he'd return at midday. Soon after they'd arrived, two women had come with food and drink, richer than either girl was accustomed to. Not just honey cakes, but peach jelly and green-tea biscuits and dried persimmons and fruits they'd never seen. Wenda chattered endlessly about the food and the room and the village and the bandits until Ashyn longed to say, "Be still, please, just be still." She wanted to retreat into her thoughts and ponder their situation, but the girl had been so strong during the trip, never complaining. Now, as the ordeal ended, her grief and fear must all be rushing in, and she was dealing with it through girlish chatter.
After the meal, the two women returned with clothing--dresses of linen and silk. Any other time, Ashyn would have delighted in the gifts. Right now, she was only glad that they were clean.
Soon she'd be clean, too. They'd brought buckets of hot water for the tub. Wenda was in no hurry to wash, which gave Ashyn an excuse to retreat into the next room for a quiet bath.
It was then, as she stood by the steaming tub, that she broke down and cried. A silly thing to bring tears. But she saw that tub, and she thought of all the times Moria had drawn a bath for her. She'd come all this way, and she'd been so certain Moria would have at least come through.
Perhaps the kidnappers had passed by Fairview in the dark of night, so as not to be caught with their captives.
But why had they taken the children captive at all? If for ransom, would they not have stopped here? The governor could send a fast horse to his warlord or straight to the court.
Ashyn slid absently from her tunic and breeches. Still in her silk shift, she checked the water. It was a little hot. The women had left a bucket of cool water, too, and she was pouring it in when a hand slapped over her mouth, another grabbing the bucket. She fought, but her attacker dropped the bucket silently into the water-filled tub, and his other hand went around her waist to hold her still.
Why wasn't Tova attacking--?
"It's me," a voice whispered. "Ronan."
As she relaxed, he released her slowly, as if still expecting her to struggle. She turned and, without thinking, she threw her arms around his neck and whispered, "I was worried about you."
"No need to be." She moved back and his gaze dropped. "But with a welcome like that, perhaps I ought to disappear more often."
She blushed, snatched up her tunic, and tugged it on. He motioned for her to stay quiet.
"I'm sorry I startled you," he whispered. "I was waiting until you were making noise pouring the water, so you wouldn't cry out and alert the guards."
"Guards?"
"There are two at every door. One at every window. I had to come through the roof."
"Because of the bandits?"
"Those men aren't bandits, Ashyn. They're mercenaries. They didn't just happen upon you in the Wastes. It was their mission to bring you here."
"What--?"
He covered her mouth again. "Shhh. I don't know exactly what's going on. I only overheard enough to know that whoever they work for has this whole town terrified--the governor, the guards, and the villagers."
She remembered the governor's lowered gaze, the villagers fleeing before her, the closed shutters.
"An entire town?" she whispered. "How?"
"Again, I don't know. But the children of Edgewood are here, too."
This time he seemed to anticipate her exclamation, and covered her mouth.
"I don't know how or why. Moria isn't with them. That's all I could tell. They're being held captive. The whole town seems to be held captive. But I'm going to get you and Tova out."