Completion of the Whisper

Chapter Thirty-One.

Our travel back to Ilyria was swift and Nyshard teleported us right into his study. There, he let go of Brayhd, who instantly took a step to my side.

"Nyshard", he addressed his Lord, who was only looking at me, his lips pressed to a thin line, his jaw working with barely supressed anger. "Brayhd, I said: Leave."
Brayhd hesitate a moment, then he glanced down at me "Did Phylon hurt you?"

"I'm fine."

"That's not what he asked", Nyshard cut in, his voice low. Taking a deep breath, I locked eyes with him and answered, my voice clear "He threatened me with a dagger. I was able to defend myself with a knife I had still strapped at my thigh."

"Where?", Brayhd asked.

"Where?"
"Where did this happen?", he clarified.
"In my room."

"Impossible, I didn't feel anyone penetrating my shield, except the maid", Nyshard narrowed his eyes and for a moment I had the feeling, he didn't believe me.

"At first, Phylon told me you were occupied... otherwise... and that this was the reason you didn't notice it. But... I reached out for your shield, it was intact. It seems like he's able..." – "To enter shields unnoticed", Brayhd ended my sentence. Taking a deep breath, he turned to Nyshard "This will be a problem."

Nyshard was silent for several moments, then he nodded slowly "Yes."
"Why?", I asked, but Nyshard clenched his fists, walked into the direction of his table, smashed his fist down in a rage and threw some scrolls and maps to the ground. I flinched at his outburst, and was only able to rip my eyes away, when Brayhd answered my question "Nyshard's shields cannot protect you from Phylon."

"Yes, I know, but..."
"Adriyele", he said, "Phylon getting into your room... with all other Lords nearby..." – "He was trying to make a point", Nyshard's silent voice let both of us look into his direction. "Phylon... he must have been sure it would work or he wouldn't have risked it. Not with the other Lords nearby."

His fist hit the poor table again and he cursed vividly.
"I know, Nysh", Brayhd suddenly said.

"Don't talk with each other using the shard", I cut in, getting angry myself, "I'm right here, so talk with me."
"Like you talked with me?", Nyshard hissed and turned to me his aura seemingly rolling off him in waves. "Do you have the slightest idea which thoughts came into my mind when I hear Phylon's words? Do you have any idea about what Brayhd knows Phylon has been thinking? Has been feeling?"
"No, because you never tell me", my voice, too, had gotten louder. The next second, two things happened. Nyshard had crossed the distance, while Brayhd, also, had made a step in my direction, grabbing my arm and pulling me to the side. I surprised both of them by ripping my arm out of Brayhd's grip and by stepping around him, facing Nyshard again. "And you don't need to tell me. I think I know perfectly fine what Phylon wants since I've spent time in Assdirn Flenn. Don't forget I was there. He may have never touched me, but I saw that look in his eyes. He wanted to force me into a damned marriage, for Sladowran's sake. So don't act as if I'm some stupid woman."

"Adri", Nysh cut in, but I wasn't finished with him, "And I wanted to tell you of this incident once we got back. I know how you react to Phylon, but you cannot possibly think I'll tell you right away only for you to start a fight."

"Adriyele", Brahyd called me, his voice calm "Noone here thinks of you as a stupid woman. And all of us know that you've been lied to way too much, and that you more than anyone else deserve the truth."
I frowned.

Nyshard stepped closer, and caught my attention. He'd forced his aura back, but it still lingered.

"If you hadn't been able to defend yourself... then he could have taken you."
"Taken...?"
"Away from Hym Laarn. Back to Assdirn Flenn."
"But I'm of age now, he couldn't have kept me there-..."
Brayhd sighed "He could have."