Free Betrayal's Price (In Deception's Shadow Book 1) by Lisa Blackwood

Vinarah’s brew. The sooner you recover, the sooner
we can leave.” She handed him one of the tall, stone goblets and turned towards
Ashayna.
    Ashayna
interrupted whatever Kandarra would have said. “How long have I been asleep?”
    “Two days. Just
long enough for tensions to ease a little and for Elder Cymael to draw up a
peace treaty between our peoples,” Kandarra said, then added in a dry tone, “I
supposed it helped that King Ryanth ordered his army to disperse back to their
home territories.”
    “I’ve missed
all that? You let me sleep two entire days?”
    Kandarra
ignored Ashayna’s concerned statement. “We’ll leave by mid-day.” She studied
their expressions. “You look terrible. Both of you need a good meal and more
rest.”
    “Where’s my
father?” A scowl darkened Ashayna’s features.
    “He’s well.
Actually, he’s been here when the negotiations allowed.”
    “He’s free
then?”
    “Of course. We’d
not dishonor the tradition of the duel.” A mischievous expression spread across
his sister’s face. “However, those guards are eyeing each other with a great
deal of distrust again, so no more war games, you two. And brother, keep your
hands to yourself.”
    Ashayna made an
unintelligible sound and drew a deep breath to speak, but Kandarra held up a
hand for silence. After handing Ashayna a goblet of herb-infused drink,
Kandarra left at a brisk walk, dodging the next volley of questions.
    Ashayna
transferred her glare from Kandarra’s retreating form back to him. Sorntar
hastily sipped at his goblet with the hope she’d find something else of
interest to glower at. She continued to eye her drink with suspicion long after
she watched him sip his.
    New energy
flooded his weary body. The slow return of strength to his limbs a welcome
sensation. Had the brew possessed such ability, there would be no need for
healers. No, this new strength came from elsewhere. Summoning his mental
shields, he watched his future bondmate over his goblet’s rim. It seemed nature
had given her instinctual knowledge to share energy with another. By her
guarded look, Sorntar doubted she did it knowingly. He decided not to enlighten
her just yet.
    “How do you
feel?” Ashayna asked after she had emptied her goblet in a few quick swallows.
She awaited his response with a stillness that spoke of great discipline.
Behind her stout mental walls he sensed a great number of questions looming. He
wasn’t sure he could hold his silence so long if their positions were reversed.
    “Much better,
thank you.” To prove the truth of his words, he stood and walked around,
stretching and loosening stiff flight muscles and aching joints.
    He caught her
staring. When she realized he’d noticed, her cheeks took on a pinkish hue,
which she hurriedly tried to hide by turning to straighten the camp bed. A
smile tugged at his lips. He wouldn’t have labeled her as shy.
    Curiosity
reared up within him. He knew so little about humans. Maybe with her help he
could learn at least enough to avoid a war with them.
    “This is quite
a mess, isn’t it?” Ashayna glanced at him over her shoulder. “Yet, your people
seek peace?”
    “Yes, and it’s
good my mother has sent Elder Cymael. She’s a councilor, her specialty is
fixing up other peoples’ mistakes.” Sorntar replied. “Honestly, we never wished
to spill blood, but after the first failed attempt at negotiations with the acolytes
of the Revealing Light, we couldn’t allow your kind to advance unchecked.”
    “Too bad this
Cymael wasn’t there the first time our peoples met. Perhaps she could have
convinced the acolytes of the benefits of an alliance, and prevented all this.”
    “It wouldn’t
have helped. Once they learned of our magic…” Sorntar shrugged. “I doubt anyone
could have convinced them of our innocence.”
    “No, not
likely,” she replied. “There are many myths about magic, but I never paid it
much mind, thinking there was no truth to the rumors,