From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [95]
Whenever we’re apart.
Though I’m nothing to you, I love you.
How can I make it known that I love you?
She gazed down, blinking as if something was in her eyes, then climbed down a step. “I know that song.”
“Yes,” Achan said. “We learned it in Berland.”
She climbed down another step. “I have never been to Berland.”
He held out a hand. “Oh, but you have.” He gripped her hand and helped her down to the grass. “A young woman named Yumikak sang this song to us.” He waggled his eyebrows. “She even danced with you.”
“There is nothing strange about women dancing together. I dance with my cousins all the time.”
He threaded his fingers in hers. “I suppose not. But this was strange, for you were pretending to be a boy.”
Sparrow’s eyes narrowed again, and she pulled out of his hold. “Of all the— Why would I do such a thing?”
“To protect yourself. To keep from becoming someone’s mistress.”
She gasped. “How dare you insinuate—”
Achan grabbed her shoulders and kissed her. Her energy poured into him, fresh and pure like water, quenching his thirst. She squirmed free and slapped him. It did not hurt, but the force caused him to sail sideways a few steps.
Then she squeaked, and her lips pursed as if she were blowing on something hot. “I have struck you before.”
Achan grinned and glided back to her. “Aye, you have.”
“Why?”
“Because I’ve kissed you before.”
She folded her arms. “Then you deserved it both times.”
Achan shrugged. “If you say so.”
She glanced back at the gates. “If I am not to enter Shamayim this day, what shall I do, Master Cham? For I can no longer bear wandering Er’Rets like a zephyr.”
“Go back to your body. Do you know where it is?”
“In a cabin in the Sideros Forest, for that is where Master Poe said his father’s cabin was.”
“Harnu? Why would he take your body?”
“Lord Nathak put my body in a casket. But before he left, Master Poe and Gren replaced my body with potatoes. It was all very exciting to watch. Master Poe suggested we stay in his father’s cabin until I wake. He was worried Lord Nathak would search Sitna once he found me gone.”
“I’m sure he was right.” Though Achan hated to concede anything to Harnu Poe. “How did you come to be in Sitna in the first place?”
“I do not remember, but from what Gren says, she and I were going to Armonguard.”
“What? Sparrow, Armonguard is no place for you. And how could you allow Gren to come with you?”
“I beg your pardon? You think I have some control over what Gren does? She is not my maid.”
“Your maid? What are you talking about? I can’t keep chasing after all you women. If you would stay put—stay where you’re supposed to be—”
“And where might that be, in your humble opinion?”
Achan narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know. You never told me where you lived.”
Sparrow propped her hands on her hips. “You claim to love me yet know not where I live? This I cannot fathom.”
“Just… never mind.” Achan seethed. The audacity of Sparrow to take Gren from Carmine. He simply could not comprehend what she had been thinking, nor could he—
SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT.
The heat of Arman’s voice knocked Achan senseless. Sparrow had turned her back to him, arms folded, gazing through the bars to Shamayim. He had no idea why she had made the choices she had, but his anger would not change them. He closed his eyes.
Arman, forgive my temper. Nothing matters but reuniting Sparrow with her body. Please, show me the way to this cabin. Help me to—
Sparrow squealed.
Achan opened his eyes to find the speckled hawk flapping overhead. Achan held out his hand. “The bird will take us to your body.”
Sparrow gripped his hand. The great speckled hawk lifted them by the backs of their clothes, Sparrow in one foot, Achan in the other. They twisted this way and that, so Achan put his arm around Sparrow’s waist to keep her steady. The bird flew away from the Pearly Gate, soared over the meadow, through the forest, and into the clouds.
“It moves quickly, does it not?” Sparrow said.
The clouds were already greying. “Aye, it does.”
“Can you really put me back together?