Free Riddle of Fate by Tania Johansson Page B

trust.
     
    ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
     
    She knocked again, a little louder this time. Finally, there was movement inside. Shuffling footsteps approached. The door flew open and Brier stood with a scowl darkening his face. It dissolved when he saw her and he pulled her into a hug.
    She laughed and patted him on the back. “Brier, I think you are about to squeeze all the air from my lungs.”
    “Sorry,” he chuckled. “I’ve been so worried. I thought you’d left town and then I heard that someone from the library was killed and that you’d disappeared. I thought that –” he shook his head. “Never mind now. Come in.”
    He led her inside. His house was always immaculate, nothing out of place. So much so, that at first it had been a bit unsettling. It almost seemed as though he didn’t really live there.
    “Sit,” Brier said, “I’ll get you some tea.”
    “Oh, you don’t have to, it’s late.”
    He chuckled. “Actually, it’s early and it’s not a bother.”
    She sat down with a smile. Why hadn’t she come straight to him? She relaxed as she listened to him bustle around in the kitchen.
    He handed her a steaming cup. “I’m sorry,” he said as he sat down opposite her. “For the way I left things with you.”
    She waved the apology away. “I’m sorry too. It’s in the past.”
    “Now, tell me what happened and where you’ve been.”
    “As you know, I was planning to meet Merrit to leave town together.” Brier’s eyes narrowed at her words, but he held his tongue. “I thought it would be safer – for you – if I left. I was afraid of what the Company might do. Anyway, he never arrived at the agreed place, so I went back home.” She paused. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to tell him of Derrin. He wouldn’t understand that it was innocent.
    “I heard that the lawmen went to your house and you weren’t there. Where were you?”
    “I thought they might come looking for me. I got scared, so I went to an inn and stayed there the whole day.” Guilt nibbled at her conscience, but she pushed it aside. They were necessary white lies. She couldn’t quite shift the prickle of shame, though.
    “And that’s it?”
    “Yes.” She forced herself to look him in the eye.
    “What made you come to me in the middle of the night? Why didn’t you just come to me straight away?”
    “I didn’t want to get you involved, but then I got scared. I’m sorry for dragging you into this.”
    He walked over to her and cupped her face in his hands. “You have nothing to apologise for. We will get everything straightened out. Don’t worry. Come,” he said, pulling her up by her hands, “you need to get some sleep. Everything will look better in the morning.”
    A pang of guilt twisted her stomach, yet didn’t convince her to tell him of Derrin. She hadn’t lied to him. Just omitted some details.
     
    ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
     
    Khaya woke from the sound of the front door closing. The bed was cold next to her. How long had he been up already? She pulled her clothes on and ran her fingers through her hair. A quiet conversation carried to her from the sitting room.
    She stood at the bedroom door, listening. She couldn’t make out what they were saying. Composing herself, she pushed the door open and walked down the hall to the sitting room. The conversation halted just before she reached it.
    Brier was sitting alone. She looked around the room and to the kitchen, confused. “Were you talking with someone?”
    “No,” he said, his face perplexed. “Why? Did you think that I was?”
    “I thought I heard voices.”
    “You must have imagined it. Sit, I’ll get some breakfast for us.”
    “Thank you,” she said faintly. Could she have imagined it? And the door closing that had woken her up, had she imagined that as well? Another thought occurred to her and it made her throat go dry. Has it happened? she wondered. Am I crazy?
    He was soon back with fresh bread, thick slices of cheese and some dried fruit.