The World Weavers Read Free Page B

into a meeting hall, and planned his escape in his head.
    â€œAll the important ­people are here, eh?” Ashraf said, settling in beside him. He gestured to the gathering. “Chosen on the right, warriors of the One in the center, and scholars from Kabandha on the left. The leaders of the South surround us. Are you not awed?”
    Kadar snorted. “Terribly impressed. But focused on making myself small so they don’t assign me any duties.”
    â€œYour friend Dani is trying to be small as well,” Ashraf said, gesturing to the far wall.
    â€œI think if he could turn invisible, he would,” Kadar said sympathetically. “He traveled all this way and his Chosen screams and threatens to kill him every time they meet. Poor Dani.”
    â€œPoor Ava,” Ashraf said.
    â€œYes, poor Ava,” Kadar said, looking down at his hands. This meeting was already reminding him of the many Forsaken meetings he’d attended with Farrah. Seeing Farrah’s sister, Ava, reminded him he wasn’t the only person who had lost Farrah, who had loved Farrah.
    â€œI failed her,” Ashraf said softly. “Farrah, that is, not Ava. I left her when I promised to see her ­people’s cause to the end. I loved her like a sister but I did not return to help her, and she thought I abandoned her. It is my fault she turned to the viceroy’s son.”
    Kadar was silent, wanting to blame Ashraf. But he wasn’t that unfair. Ashraf had known Farrah far longer than Kadar, had planned the Forsaken rebellion with her for years before Kadar had come along. He was hurting as well.
    â€œWhy did you leave?” Kadar asked.
    â€œI had family business in the South, so I took it as an opportunity to scout at Kabandha, to see if the ruins were in good enough shape to begin sending Forsaken there when you came back at summer’s end.”
    â€œAnd the warriors of the One never let you leave,” Kadar said.
    â€œYes—­the Kabandha warriors kept me there. And once Sulis arrived, it was clear I was meant to play a role in the prophecy, to be her Guardian. I could not go back after that.”
    Kadar glanced at Ashraf. Tears stood in the man’s eyes. “Farrah chose her path. She chose someone who would bring her fast results with a disastrous price. I believe you have been given a more dangerous and thankless task here. You have enough to worry about—­don’t take the blame for Farrah’s fate upon yourself. The One is redirecting your energy to something more worthy, not punishing you.”
    They were distracted by Master Anchee in the front of the room, calling the meeting to order.
    â€œLasha can’t keep her eyes off Master Anchee,” Kadar whispered to Ashraf.
    Ashraf laughed softly. “It’s a Guardian thing. You cannot keep away from your Chosen. Like moth to flame, we are drawn in.”
    â€œAnd here I thought it was because you were simple, the way you let Sulis abuse you and still follow her around.”
    Ashraf elbowed him in the ribs as Master Anchee introduced the Kabandha leader, Master Tull.
    â€œWe will need to coordinate between the Tigu nomads and our warriors of the One,” Master Tull said. “The Tigu fighters will winnow down the army Voras sends before they come anywhere near the Obsidian Temple. We will be recruiting guards from the towns around this area.”
    Ashraf nudged Kadar again and whispered, “Your grandmother keeps looking back at you.”
    Kadar deliberately did not look over at her. “I know. She wants me to go with the Tigus—­they need a farspeaker who can relay messages for them. My bags are already packed and I leave tomorrow to go to my daughter in Tsangia, or I would not have come to this meeting for fear of being volunteered.”
    A tattooed Tigu warrior stood up in front of the crowd, clad in an embroidered vest and loose, full trousers. He spoke rapidly in the Tigu tongue,