Blood Revenge

Chapter 6

When we left Banaila, we wereaccompanied by Weston. At first, he kept to himself, watching us alland learning our ins and outs. His silent vigil reminded me of whenReif had first joined us.

It was Stephanie who insisted onpoking him so much that he broke out of his shell. She wasincessantly asking him questions one morning while we broke down campand I could tell by the look on his face, he was ready to snap.Finally, he spun to face her and yelled, "Confounded child! Don'ye e'er stop blabbering?!"

His gaze flicked to mine when herealized what he'd done. I pretended to glare at him until my gazecaught Daeron and he was turning red so fast with the need to laugh,I thought he might burst. My suppressed mirth exploded and I laughed."Leave the poor man be, Stephee." I scolded between howls oflaughter. "You'll drive him mad!"

"I'm sorry, countess, I didnamean ter raise me voice to the lass." He cringed.

"First off, Weston, my name isAna. Second, she deserved it," I said trying to make him part ofour group.

He glanced from me to Steph andshe shrugged. "I'm annoying. I know it."

Finally after a few more unsuremoments, he broke into a smile and said, "My Vally wasna kidding.Ye really are quite a bunch."

"So West, how's about we spartogether tonight?" Steph asked. "It'll be fun. You can show mehow to wield a broadsword," she continued as he first rolled hiseyes with a smile and then went back to breaking down his tent andblocking out her chatter.

After that, West was one of ours.I could see why Val loved him. I also learned that Val was a closetrule breaker. West would tell Steph stories about his and Val'slittle adventures. It made me smile to know Val had found a way to behappy, even if no one else could know.

When we arrived in Coranthine,Beri arranged our travel plans while the rest of us waited at theGriffon's Wings inn. When she returned, we had dinner and wentstraight to bed. Our ship was departing early in the morning.

Before I could even finishremoving all of my knives from their sheaths, there was a knock on mydoor. I stood cautiously and tiptoed over, knife in hand to see whoit was. On my third breath, I swung the door open and pointed theknife. The knocker's hands flew up in a submissive, I'mnot armed, gesture andhe said, "Ana, it's me."

I frowned. "Zane? What are youdoing here?" Reif's acting regent sighed in relief when I loweredmy arm.

"Reif sent me ahead to speak toyou. We may have news," he said.

I turned, grabbed my weapons backup and pulled the door closed behind me as I joined him in thehallway. "I'll gather the others. Find us a quiet table in thecommons."

"Of course." He bowed, fiston chest and headed downstairs with lightening speed.

I gathered my people and met Zanedownstairs. "Ana says you have news?" Daeron didn't waste anytime.

"Where is my father?" Stephdemanded.

"Let him speak," I commandedsilence. Everyone fell quiet. "Please, Zane, what news?"

"A few days ago, Cyrus reporteda sighting of a vampire who went rogue a little over a year ago. Hewatched them for three days, just before your husband wentmissing," Zane explained.

I knew Cyrus was given land nearMalourne, so I asked, "Them?"

"Vard, our rogue, was notalone. He traveled with a mage and an elven woman. Cyrus says themage looked as any average human. The woman had sandy hair, a palecomplexion and wide eyes," Zane described.

I frowned. "Lúthiel?" Iwhispered thoughtfully.

"Commander?" Beri asked,noticing my sudden rigidity.