Duty (Book 2) Read Free Page A

little Fenna ate and how the girlish exuberance that had always been a part of her nature had died.
    When the meal was over, the Chalaine commanded the protesting Fenna to sleep in her bed.
    “I will watch over Gen in your absence,” she promised. “And take heart. He is strong. He will win the struggle against the poison, I am sure.”
    Fenna nodded and closed her eyes. The Chalaine stayed by her side until her face slackened and her breath slowed. Quietly, she donned her veil and stepped outside. For all her assurances to her handmaiden, she feared more and more for Gen’s life.
     

Chapter 25 - A Way Out of Darkness

    With Jaron in tow the Chalaine returned to the room where Gen and Ethris rested. She peeked through the crack in the door, finding that her mother still sat at Ge n’ s side, absentmindedly tracing the pronounced muscles on his arm and humming sadly to herself. The acolytes, having done what they could, had gone to meditate and pray. The Chalaine ordered Jaron to stay with Cadaen outside the door.
    “Mother?” she said quietly, door creaking as she pushed it open. Mirelle startled, turning toward her daughter, embarrassment rising on her face. “How does he fare?” the Chalaine asked, navigating away from the awkward moment.
    “No better,” Mirelle replied, turning back to Gen, face drawn. “Ethris improves with each passing hour. Gen, if anything, gets worse.”
    The Chalaine felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach. She joined her mother at Gen’s bedside, taking her hand. “Are you all right, mother?”
    Mirelle managed a weak smile. “No, I don’t think I am. If the truth be known, I’ve been quite taken by this young man.”
    “Mother!”
    “Hush, child. I know my place. But you cannot blame me—you of all people—for loving him. For hours I sat in front of the Walls, peering out at the street watching lovers go by hand in hand. And there I was, year after year, hoping that the Ha’Ulrich could be found and I be wedded to the greatest, most noble man to walk Ki’Hal.
    “Instead, my seventeenth year comes, and after a brief, horrible week with some lucky, beautiful man whose name I was not permitted to know, I was left to live the rest of my life forbidden to love until the return of Eldaloth. It was only your birth and raising you that gave me the sense that I was the First Mother and not a cow.”
    The Chalaine nodded. “I feel my life will be little different, save I shall know the name of the bull.”
    “I know, and I worry about you every day. I hid the truth of Chertanne’s character from you for as long as I could to at least permit you pleasant dreams. You may not thank me for it, but I couldn’t bear to see your hopes dashed so young. Your veil keeps others from seeing your sorrow, but I am your mother and nothing is hidden from me.”
    The Chalaine squeezed her mother’s hand, finding her tenderly regarding Gen’s face. “When did you know you loved him, mother? How did you know?”
    Mirelle smiled. “I knew when I saw him step to the dais after ordering Chertanne to let you go. I trembled, and not from fear. We have no kings in Rhugoth, but if you ever wonder what one is like, then remember him on that night, brave, powerful, commanding—a judge of all. You have no idea of the agony I felt as I watched Chertanne force you toward the door, and I doubt you could understand the thrill of seeing you freed and watching Gen, calm as a summer’s morning, behead that monster and return to stand with the rest of the dumbstruck apprentices—bleeding all over the place—as if nothing had happened!”
    Mother and daughter shared a quiet laugh.
    “Yes,” the Chalaine continued in a lighthearted tone. “He seems so intent on not being noticed or showing even the tiniest bit of emotion. He hasn’t done very well at the not-being-noticed part. His emotions, however, he hides well.”
    “That is annoying, isn’t it? I took him to my apartments directly after