Daughter of Ice and Fire

Twenty-Five

"Is this wise?"

"Are you questioning me?" the woman asked accusingly, staring into the bowl of water.

The man sighed heavily. "You know I would never question you, Kisari." The woman snorted but remained silent as he continued. "But this is the sixth day you've been scrying. And your mood has steadily gotten worse."

Kisari finally looked up, her eyes flashing. The man was once again struck by her beauty. Every man in the camp was aware of it, although none dared approach her. Her voice, usually soft and musical, could slash like a whip when she was angry. Which she had been for several days running now.

"I have not seen what I wish to know," she snapped, her full lips thinning.

The man sighed again. He knew what he had to say could very well send her into a rage. But he wasn't afraid of her temper. The two had grown up together and he had never shied away from telling her the truth, even if she turned her anger on him. She had a tendency to be very stubborn as well as extremely independent and he knew that even if she became angry at what he said, she counted on him to let her know if she was going too far. Like tonight.

"Trying to force the spirits to show you what they do not wish to will not end well, Kisari. You of all people should know that."

Kisari stuck a long nail into the water, dispelling the stillness, then let out a deep sigh as well. "I am aware of it, Vishenka. But what I search for is very important. Yet the spirits seem to delight in showing me things that seem to be of no consequence."

"Nothing is ever of no consequence. The spirits have their reasons for keeping what you desire hidden. More importantly, they expect you, as Ashtiman, to take heed of what they do show. If, after six days, you still do not find what you seek, it's obvious you never will."

"Maybe I'll try the cards," she mused, tapping her chin.

Vishenka grabbed her wrist and held it tightly. "Do not," he warned. "The cards should be used as a last resort. What you seek is not meant to be found and if you use the cards, the spirits will punish you."

"You do not know what I seek," she replied, jerking her hand away. "Therefore, you cannot know if the cards should be used or not."

"I have a pretty good idea."

Kisari glared, daring him to continue.

"You seek knowledge on the foreigner."

She tossed her head, setting the gold discs in her ears to jingling. "They are all foreigners."

"You know the one I mean. The one you cared for. Gauthier I believe is his name."

Her gaze returned to his, the emerald eyes hard. "And what if I do? I did not lie when I told him to seek the answers in Kaladhin. Just as I have not lied to you about what's at stake."

"Of that, I'm sure. But his journey is his to take. Spying on him simply because you miss him is a waste of your skills. The spirits are not going to be happy about you using your gift to keep an eye on a man you've lost your heart to. Somehow, I don't think they'll find pining for him that important."

"I'm not pining," she declared. But the words rang hollow, and she had trouble meeting Vishenka's eyes.

"Kisari, you need to let go. Gauthier is not only not one of us, but he's also the Captain of the Prince's guard. As such, he is sworn to both the Prince and the King. More importantly, since he's a foreigner, you would not be allowed to marry him, especially since you are Ashtiman. Even if you found a way, his loyalty to the King would prevent him from marrying you."