Forest of Ruin (Age of Legends 3)

"I would feel better returning this," she said, tugging the dove bracelet from her forearm. "I would not wish Isobo to wake and discover I have stolen it."

"All right. Give it to--"

"I must return it from where it was taken."

Ashyn was already walking toward the pile of treasure behind Dalain. She circled around him, turning away when he tried to motion frantically. She bent at the pile directly behind him, fussed at getting the armband off, and then set it on the pile before returning to Edwyn's side.

"You are wise," he said. "I am proud to call you my granddaughter."

She smiled weakly up at him. "Hopefully, you will be even prouder soon. If I can conduct my duty as you hope."

He embraced her and whispered, "You will, child. You will."

He led her to the dragons, had her kneel in front of Isobo, and positioned her just right.

"We don't want you to be the first thing she sees when she wakes," he explained. "She may be hungry."

When she looked up, startled, he chuckled and pointed at the carcass of a goat partially covered by a blanket.

"That will be the first thing she sees," he said. "I should not have jested, child. We are prepared for trouble." He waved at the warriors. One was holding a braided rope. "But there should be little need of food or restraints. She will wake as sleepy as you were. We'll bind her respectfully and then feed her and all will be well."

He adjusted Ashyn's position again. She was right beside the dragon, wedged in at Isobo's chest, rather like the two whelps to her right. He had Ashyn bow her head and shut her eyes, and then he chanted in the old language of the North as the others joined in.

Ashyn had words to say as well, words he'd taught her, something about entreating the goddess and asking her blessing and so on.

Instead Ashyn whispered prayers to the goddess, prayers for protection and for guidance. And if she reminded the goddess of all she had done and all she had been through and how her faith had never wavered, well, she meant no disrespect, but right now, she needed all the help she could get.

When Edwyn laid his hand on her shoulder, she began the words he'd taught her.

"Are your eyes closed, child?" he asked.

She nodded as she continued speaking.

He squeezed her shoulder. "You are trembling. With excitement I hope."

She nodded and continued speaking, but kept her eyes the slightest bit open. In her mind, she continued her entreaties to the goddess. Protect her loyal servant. Show her the way. Show her truth from lie. But above all, protect her. Please please please--

Look, Ashyn of Edgewood. Quickly.

She heard the words whispered at her ear. A spirit's whisper. Ashyn glanced down and saw a dagger sliding around to her throat. She swallowed.

Wait, Seeker. Wait.

The dagger paused. And then . . .

Now!

She fell backward, away from the blade as it slashed toward her throat. She grabbed for it, and it felt as if her arm was pulled, guided like a puppet's, somehow managing to avoid the slashing blade and grip the hand that held it. Then she squeezed with everything she had as she heard the others cry out, heard a voice shout, "Maintain your positions!"

It was the voice of the person wielding the dagger, and even though she knew who it had to be, she'd somehow, in that moment, convinced herself she was wrong, that someone else had stepped up behind her with the dagger.

But the voice was Edwyn's. The hand she clutched was Edwyn's. The hand wielding the dagger that had nearly slit her throat was Edwyn's.

She wrenched his hand, and perhaps it was the goddess's strength that filled her or perhaps it was the simple rage of deep betrayal. She wrenched it and bone snapped and Edwyn gasped and she grabbed his dagger and spun, backing against the sleeping dragon to stare at her grandfather.

My grandfather? What proof did I have of that? None but his word and stories that could come from anyone because I know nothing of my mother's family.

She looked down at the dagger. "Blood. That's what you needed. Not my power. My blood."