Free Guardian of Honor by Robin D. Owens Page B

eyes. "I'm not joking. Listen to
your last words. You want to help, to matter, to make things better."
    Letting his eyelids lower, Bastien fingered the edge of his hat.
"I think you take life too seriously and want me to, also. I'm willing to
help my brother."
    "And Lladrana?"
    "The Marshalls believe they are Lladrana."
    Luthan opened his eyes. "They are doing the best they
can."
    Bastien snorted and lifted his mug to drink again, let the smooth
buttery taste of goldenale slip down his gullet. He licked his lips. "The
Marshalls follow old ways. What's worse—they keep those old ways and old spells
from the rest of us, so we don't know what they are
doing, why, or what to expect. Most damning of all, they hid the knowledge that
our boundaries were failing from us until we were invaded by the greater
horrors."
    "Perhaps they thought they could find a remedy without
involving us."
    "That's your supposition. Meanwhile Chevalier lives
were lost," Bastien said. Including his childhood friend....
    "They say the Exotique will solve the puzzle of restoring the
fenceposts and boundaries. As in olden days, they Summoned one, and Tested
her."
    "Did you actually see her?" Bastien lifted a brow.
    "I saw a forming of her."
    His brother's voice held an odd note. Ever fascinated with
something new, Bastien scooted a little closer. "You did? Where? And what
did she look like?"
    "During the Marshalls' Council this morning. She looks—odd. Exotique."
    "Hmm." Bastien eyed his brother. "What of you?
There's something different about you. You didn't Pair with her, did you?"
    This time Luthan choked. "Merde, no!" His mouth
twisted. "Mind you, I was invited. The Marshalls were displeased that no
Chevaliers showed up." His eyebrow mimicked Bastien's.
    They grinned at each other.
    "It's the jerir. I took a plunge."
    Bastien's mug halted midair. "All of you?"
    "And not just a quick dip. You know the size of the Temple
pool—a nice dive and glide across to the other side to stagger out." He
shuddered again.
    Drinking deeply, Bastien finished his ale. He'd never seen his brother
so twitchy, not Luthan the Calm. "Better you than me."
    "No, better both of us." Luthan's fingers curled around
Bastien's wrist. "Bastien, the stories are true. The jerir makes a
difference in a person, an obvious difference. I could
tell at a glance those who'd bathed and those who hadn't. Everyone can see the
change, and I'd wager every Marshall in the Castle will be in that pool before
long. It's an advantage they can't pass up, and neither can you."
    "Ha, as if they'd let my little toe into a sacred jerir
protection pool." Bastien withdrew his arm from Luthan's grip. An odd
vibrancy to Luthan's fingers had set every silver hair on his nape rising. He
waved to order two more ales.
    Luthan's eyes blazed. "That's just it, Bastien. Word's gone
out." His teeth gleamed in a grin that seemed to mock. "They're
breaking tradition. Anyone who wishes to can immerse themselves in the pool for
the next month."
    "Must be desperate." With a smile, Bastien handed a
couple of pegtees to Dodu to pay for the drinks.
    Shoving his empty glass aside, Luthan took a swig from the new
one. "It's a grand gesture, and a smart one. They'll find out who's the
toughest, they'll get better Chevaliers and soldiers from this move, and
they'll challenge the Chevaliers—the dissenters who don't think much of them,
like you—to match them."
    The ale turned sour in Bastien's mouth. A feeling deep in his gut
told him he'd be swimming in jerir. Rot.
    Luthan tapped an elegant forefinger on the wooden table. "Not
only the Chevaliers. I'd bet there will be some guild-folk who'll have to bathe
or swallow their pride." He spread his hands. "We all win."
    "Huh." Bastien took a rag from his breeches pocket and
wiped his mouth. "Huh," he said again, not at his most brilliant. He
examined his brother again. "You don't look like the stuff has helped
you."
    "Not yet. I had some bruises from sword practice
yesterday." He