Bones of the Dragon - Margaret Weis [198]
Aylaen was suddenly furious at all of them. She tasted the cruel words she was about to say on her lips, and they were sweet. Speaking them would hurt both Skylan and Garn. Good. She wanted to hurt them, as they had hurt her. Aylaen snapped, like the wyrd in the hands of one of the three sisters. She doubled her fists and struck Skylan in the chest. She struck hard, beating the words into him.
“I do not love you!” she cried angrily. “I love Garn! I did this to be with him!”
Skylan went livid. She knew, as she looked at him, that this was what his corpse would look like. His hands, cold and lifeless, fell at his side. His eyes were the only living thing in him, and they burned.
“Oh, Skylan, I’m sorry!” Aylaen reached out, as though the words hung between them and she could snatch them back.
Skylan stared at her, and now even the flame in his eyes died. He was nothing but deadly pallor and awful shadow.
“Don’t look at me like that, Skylan!” Aylaen pleaded. “Please. I didn’t mean—”
“How long?” he asked, his lips barely moving.
Aylaen could only shake her head.
“How long?” Skylan cried savagely, and he raised his hand as though he would strike her. “How long have you loved him?”
Aylaen said softly, “All my life!”
“Get out!” Skylan said. “Get out of my sight! I never want to see you again! Or Garn, either!”
Aylaen covered her face with her hands and began to sob. “Skylan, we never meant to hurt you. You have to believe that—”
“Believe you?” Skylan said, and he gave a terrible laugh. “Get out before I kill you!”
Foam flecked his lips. He was shaking, shivering with rage. He heard Aylaen stumbling across the deck.
“When we make landfall,” said Skylan, not turning around, “you and Garn will take your things and leave this ship.”
Everyone on board ship had heard the altercation. Their raised voices, particularly Skylan’s, carried clearly. Garn was waiting for Aylaen. He helped her up out of the hold. The silence was awful. No one knew where to look or what to say.
The men moved away from them, gave the two room to pass. Aylaen sagged down onto a sea chest and lowered her face into her hands. Garn sat beside her, his arm around her shoulders. He avoided everyone, stared out across the leaden sea.
The dragonship was nearing the shore, and the men had work to do. Each went thankfully to his post, glad to be able to look somewhere else.
Skylan remained below in the darkness until he felt the motion of the ship slowing. His place was topside. He climbed the ladder, set foot on deck. Skylan cast one burning glance about the deck. His eyes warned every man to keep his distance.
Treia started to go to her sister, but Raegar stopped her. He whispered something to her, and she nodded and went over to speak to Skylan. He glowered at her, warning her to keep her mouth shut.
Treia paid no heed. “Aylaen must stay on board with me,” she said.
Skylan’s scowl darkened. He shook his head.
“You have no say in the matter,” Treia told him. “Aylaen is my acolyte. The Kai commanded me to train her. Therefore, she must remain on board.”
I have no say in the matter! Skylan’s fury rose from his gut, surging hot and bitter into his mouth, nearly choking him. He snarled something, which Treia took for consent. She went to speak to Aylaen, who shook her head and clung to Garn. Both Garn and Treia talked to her, and at length, her head drooping, Aylaen gave in.
“Come with me,” said Treia. “You should try to get some sleep.”
Aylaen stood up. She looked down at Garn, and suddenly, casting a defiant glance at everyone, she put her hands to his face and kissed him on the mouth. “I love you,” she said.
She refused her sister’s