PROMISE

CHAPTER 10

Everything about the man was dark and hard, as though decades of leading and warring had leeched any softness from his body. His jaw was a fist, all right angles and wide planes, the weatherbeaten skin thick with dark stubble sprawling from his throat to an inch below his coal colored eyes. Light armor bound him from shoulder to knee, the worn leather faded with use and age. Mountainous shoulders blotted the light from the room behind him, and his height stretched from floor to ceiling. Behind him, Hain could see Sam, his cousin's face a miserable mask of apology.

"Uncle." Hain tried to swallow into the dusty gulch that had formed in his throat. "What are you doing here?"

The Regent stepped into the hall, the wrinkled trenches at the corners of his eyes spidering deep into his cheeks. Hain realized he'd said exactly the wrong thing.

"I only meant that it's early. I assumed you'd been in the mass last night," Hain said, and he tried to smother any hint of disrespect from his voice. "I hadn't expected to see you here."

"I cannot say I had the same expectations of you." His uncle's baritone filled the space between them in blunted, clipped words. "Your name always seems to find its way into my ear when there's trouble about my haven."

"You mean what happened with the guard." Hain felt his face flush. "You have to know, we didn't instigate that fight."

"Tell that to the Bishop," his uncle said, clearly even more displeased. "He's the one who's called this damned Quorum to discuss what you three did to the guard. Apparently, he was one of the Bishop's favorite retainers."

Hain was taken aback by his uncle's words, but before Hain had a chance to ask anything, the Regent's black eyes had flicked to Lilith.

"I've heard something of your actions as well," he said, with only slightly less disdain. "I understand they were adequate."

Sam stepped into the hall after his father. His face practically glowed as he looked to Lilith.

"You would have been impressed if you could have seen her, Father. Lilith moved quicker than a Vrai when she disarmed that Empee."

"Very adequate then." The corners of the Regent's mouth twitched toward the ground. "I wonder though if you have been just as fast during your times alone with my son?"

Hain's stomach fell through the floor.

"Alone?" Lilith's voice trembled from her throat. "I don't know what you mean, my Lord."

"I'm sure you don't." The Regent's eyes bored into her. "And I'd advise you continue 'not knowing' what I mean, girl. My house has enough shame already from one bastard. It doesn't need a second brewing in your belly."

Lilith seemed to wither at this. "Yes, my Lord."

Hain saw his cousin wince at the rebuke, at the smallness of Lilith's voice, but Sam kept his tongue locked behind his teeth.

"I'm happy you understand," the Regent said, sounding if not pleased, at least less angry. "Now, I suppose you're here to rehash the heroic details of your street brawl. Or, I suppose in your case, Hain, your cowardice."

Hain's face burned, and he said nothing.

"That Empee was twice his height and built like a bull," Sam said from behind his father. "Hain did the right thing by letting Lilith and I take him on."

Hain felt as though he'd shrunk through the floor, wishing more than anything that his cousin would stop talking.

"My brother was built the same as this one, and he would never have stood by as his friends fought. But you're only half of him, aren't you? And a half tainted by heathenry at that." The Regent's eyes narrowed. "Speaking of the heathens, where have you been these last few days? A rumor found my ears this week. Something about you ranging in the Hoh."