Completion of the Whisper

Chapter Fifteen.

"The sword is closer, than I might think? What do you mean?"

Rayila glanced at Nyshard with a concerned look "The next Council meeting..."

"Hym Laarn", Nyshard murmured.

"Yes", she nodded "Aaran. I know he took the sword in the battle after Gravyn fell."
"Aaran", I looked at Nyshard. His brows were drawn together and his lips pressed to a thin line. He turned to Rayila once again "Are you absolutely sure?"

"He had it. I am sure. And I think he still has it; you know how much he likes... rare weapons."

I took a deep, shaky breath and looked at Nyshard, who wore a serious expression "We've been there for the Council meeting. Did you... sense anything like the sword in Aaran's castle?"
"No, of course not. I didn't sense anything like it back then. Either it's not there anymore, or he hid it well, with various shields probably."

I nodded and glanced at the Lady of Ralanmar again "Thank you for telling me."
"Rayila should thank Slad you're still alive", Nyshard hissed darkly, but I cut in "It's not her fault that I got hurt."
"She sent you there."

"For an information I now received", I said and faced Rayila "Thank you for telling me."

She nodded "Tell me if there's anything I can help with. You have our allegiance, Adriyele Mellai Sybnal de Rylbnan. None of us wants a war again, but if there's no other way, be sure that the Principality of Ralanmar is by your side. You've proven your worth."
"I don't think so, but thank you, nevertheless."
Rayila nodded in Nyshard's direction "Stay as long as you want." He didn't reply and didn't move until Rayila left the room, but not before she turned around and said "And Adriyele? There's something in the castle you might want to read someday. Come and visit us, when you like to."

She left, and Nyshard turned towards me, his face in a deep frown "How are you?"

"Fine."

"That's a lie", he stated, his eyebrow raised.
I took a deep breath and sank back into my cushions. "What do you want to hear, Nysh? That I'm exhausted? That I was scared as hell that I would never get out of there? That I had the feeling I'd failed miserably?"
"You didn't fail."
"If it hadn't been for Savo, I would have."

"She didn't protect you like she-..."
"Because she couldn't! Nyshard, the forest didn't allow her to protect me, it sent her somewhere else, it parted our ways. She had no chance to prevent this, to protect me", my voice was loud, louder than I had originally planned to be. "So, please. Rayila told me, that you let Savo made a vow to protect me. If you have made a vow to her, too, then please keep it. This wasn't her fault."
"I vowed to give her the opportunity and resources to go."

"To... go?"
"To leave Ralanmar and to go elsewhere."
I gaped at him. This wasn't, what I had expected.

"So", he took my hand in his, and even as I wanted to pull it back, he held it tightly and looked at my binding mark "Care to tell me the truth of what happened? And about how you feel?"

I swallowed and bit back any response, instead, I averted my eyes.

"Adriyele", he sighed after a long moment, and his other hand reached out for my chin to make me face him again "I need your honesty. I need you to trust me and tell me what happened. And what the stone is about."
I shook my head and whispered "The stone expresses just whatever I feel for you."
"Whatever...?", he repeated and let go of my chin.

"All of it... just... all. Keep it. Keep the stone, please."

The stone. My love.

Keep the stone, because no one else will ever get it.