Forest of Ruin (Age of Legends 3)

"I feel . . ." She took a deep breath. "I sensed something, when the gu

ard passed. I may be wrong . . . I'm sure I am because there's no way . . ."

Tyrus laid his hands on her shoulders. "Tell me, Moria. Whatever it is."

"I sensed shadow stalkers."

FIFTY-ONE

Ashyn felt guilty about the children. She'd gone to see them with Sabre, and one of the oldest of the Fairview boys said they'd gone to bed early, and Ashyn had felt not disappointed but relieved. Hence the guilt.

While she did want to see the children, she'd wanted to see Ronan more. Not for a romantic interlude, but to hear what the emperor said about his situation. Ashyn herself had already met with the emperor, summoned to give her story. She ought not to have been surprised at that--who better to explain about Edwyn and the dragons? Yet earlier, when riding to the city gates, Ashyn had taken her place behind Moria, Tyrus, and Gavril. Taken it gladly, to her surprise.

Moria would be quick to say that she'd ridden with Tyrus and Gavril because she was their co-accused. Ashyn and the others had been charged with no wrongdoing, so they did not need to face the emperor.

That was true. Yet there was more to it. Moria, Gavril, and Tyrus were the heroes of this story. That did not belittle Ashyn's own contribution. Nor Ronan's. But they were not warriors. They were not fodder for legends.

Moria had confessed her vision of Tyrus as emperor. Ashyn did not doubt it for a moment. No more than she doubted that this was simply the beginning for all three of them.

Bards would sing of the girl whose blood woke a dragon. They would not sing of the one who'd nearly done so. Perhaps the tale would twist and the bards would sing that Moria had saved her fair sister from the blade. Moria would set them straight--at the point of her dagger if needed. Ashyn did not care. She had escaped on her own, and everyone who mattered knew that, and that was what would be important in her life--that those she loved truly valued the role she played. And she would continue playing it, working with them, whatever they needed of her. She was a hero . . . to those who mattered.

In speaking to the emperor, she'd also learned the fate of Simeon, the young scholar who'd tried to woo her and then later betrayed them all, accusing Tyrus of cowardice on the battlefield. Simeon had been taken from the city "for his own safety," and then interrogated at a hidden location. Interrogated under torture, she presumed, though she tried not to think of that. He had, in the end, confessed to his lies. Now he was being held prisoner, while the emperor waited to see if he'd need him to provide a public statement.

She'd also asked after the court Keeper and Seeker, Thea and Ellyn. They'd been out in the empire, sent by Emperor Tatsu to investigate reports of increased spirit activity, and had returned two nights ago, now resting their aged bones. That was all well and fine, but Ashyn had a hard time forgetting that they'd not lifted a finger earlier to help the girls who were supposed to be under their tutelage.

While she'd been in conference with the emperor, Ronan had been home with his siblings. He'd returned as soon as he knew Jorn and Aidra were well. Or he'd attempted to. There'd been some confusion at the palace gates, over the boy in the mended breeches and filthy shoes and dusty hair, demanding to speak to Prince Tyrus. It seemed Ashyn wasn't the only one overlooked. At least people noticed her. Ronan had entered the city without even that, all eyes on the prince and the Keeper and the Seeker and the Kitsune boy and the Okamis.

The guards at the gate had mocked him at first and then threatened him with the dungeons if he persisted in his charade. So Ronan had left. Then, when their interview with Emperor Tatsu ended, the four of them had gone to the gates, to see if anyone had spotted Ronan. That had been rather awkward.

Ronan had been recovered, and they'd all dined together. Then Ronan had been summoned to speak to the emperor. Now, with the children asleep, Ashyn was in her quarters with Tova, pretending to read a book while anxiously awaiting news of Ronan's meeting.

She'd finished the slim book--without processing a single word of it--when there came a rap at the door. A tentative rap, almost as if whoever was there hoped she'd not answer. It wasn't Ronan then.

She considered not answering. Several of the court ladies had stopped by earlier, leaving notes that said they hoped to take tea with the Keeper and Seeker. Moria had snorted that their true hope had been that they'd find Tyrus and Gavril there, and could take tea with all of them and regale the other court ladies with gossip.

Ashyn had no desire to entertain court ladies. And certainly no desire to suffer through a late-night visit with those who secretly hoped someone more interesting would stop by. So she ignored the knock. But when it came again, Tova moved to paw at her feet, whining and looking at her questioningly.

"Yes, it is my duty to answer," she said. "But I have decided there is more to life than obedience. I avoided death at the hands of a mad dragon-cult leader. I will not perish of dishonor if I fail to answer a door."

Tova growled.

Ashyn sighed. "All right. I will look. But if it is a social call, I will pretend I didn't hear the knock and trust the goddess will not smite me for my impudence."

As she approached, another knock came, equally light, then a voice, whispering "Ash?"

Ashyn hurried over and opened the door to see Ronan standing there, wearing no cloak. No weapons either. He hadn't brought them into the palace grounds, of course--that was a crime. But she had hoped when he left his meeting with the emperor, he would be wearing the twin blades, rightfully, his caste returned to him.

He had his arms crossed, as if against the chill night air, and the first words that came to her lips were, somewhat ridiculously, "Where's your cloak?"

He shrugged, and when he turned to her, all her hopes for him plummeted like stones in her stomach.

"Wh-what happened?" she said. "Surely the emperor--"

"Walk with me, Ash."

She shook her head and stepped back. "Come inside."

"It isn't proper."