The Reunion of Loved Ones

36. Confession

"Tell me I'm dreaming," muttered Lana, her mouth hanging open in pure astonishment. Despite the familiar face in front of her, she didn't lower her bow. On the contrary, she drew the string even tighter. If there was one person who wanted to stand in the way of their happiness, it was her: Sheila Ridel. The girl who wanted to take personal revenge on the murderers of her father. Their fellow villager who had left Ivana paralyzed and invisible in an alley to die. The villager who had challenged Dana to a fight to the death. She was the masked rider?

Lana shook her head. It was both logical and not at the same time. Of course, Sheila would have plenty of time after their banishment and would likely blame the triplets for it. Another reason to hate them and seek revenge. What Lana didn't understand was that Sheila had had two opportunities to avenge herself and hadn't taken them. What was she waiting for? Did she have to wait for Arko until he had made them suffer enough? Or did Sheila have other plans for them?

But Lana wondered even more how Sheila had triggered such a memory of Agnes, while now, as they glared at each other with hatred and resentment, Lana couldn't understand how she had ever compared that arrogant head to Agnes' angelic face. Moreover, Sheila had reacted to Agnes' name. It was certain that Sheila knew Arko, but how had she come to know Agnes? Sheila's voice had almost sounded protective when she demanded from Lana how she knew Agnes.

Sheila looked at each sister long and sneeringly, but then she said indifferently, "Well, it seems the cat's out of the bag now. Hello girls, did you miss me?"

"What are you doing here?" snarled Lana at their fellow villager. "What do you want from us?"

Sheila smirked mockingly. "I could ask you the same. What are you doing so far from home? Trying to kill Prince Arko now? Success has really gone to your head, hasn't it?"

"What we are doing here is none of your business," said Dana curtly, and she threateningly placed her sword at Sheila's neck. "Did Arko send you after us to get rid of us now that he's off to burn Sutarebil to the ground?"

Sheila laughed joylessly. "Prince Arko knows nothing of my current plans." Lana snorted. At least she didn't deny having contact with the crown prince. That was one thing. But she couldn't believe the bastard Sheila hadn't instructed her to follow them closely.

"Yeah, right," said Ivana sarcastically. "Then why were you following us? What did you need in Silvaporta to start with?"

"I am here of my own accord," said Sheila lazily, and she pushed Dana's sword away with her own blade. "I was following you, because I needed the elf you had visiting you in Sutarebil."

"What on earth did you need with Seithre?" asked Lana, and she drew her bow to the fullest. Sheila's story didn't add up. If Sheila needed Seithre, what was she doing here in the far north? She had taken her from Silvaporta on the night Lana was bitten. Moreover, that in itself was strange, because she could have just waited until Seithre had drunk Lana's last drop of blood. Then Sheila would have immediately been rid of one of the three sisters. Instead, she had knocked out Seithre and taken her away.

Sheila snorted. "That monstrosity has a name?"

Lana's eyes flared. "How dare you speak ill of her! If you let any more disparaging words pass your lips, I'll let this arrow fly through your neck!"

Sheila smirked mockingly. "Calm down, little hothead. We don't want you to transform prematurely just because you're too angry. If my calculations are correct, the seconds are ticking away for you, aren't they?" The butcher's daughter took advantage of their discomfort and agitation and demonstratively dropped her sword. "Now that I'm unarmed, maybe you want to hear my story?"

"No," said Ivana before Lana could answer. "We don't have time for nonsense. So you've been watching us? We already knew that. It feels like you're trying to distract us from our goal here. Is that what Arko has instructed you? Keep them busy until it's too late?"