Page 11 (1/2)

Zoltan winced He would have to go "I’ll be there in a fewup

Neona eyed the phone curiously "You were able to talk to someone far away?"

Had she never seen a phone? "Yes" He dropped the phone into his pocket "I’o"

She nodded and stepped back "It’s for the best I shouldn’t see--"

"Don’t say that" He touched her shoulder "I will return toarded hi the strea, loser The cat trotted after her

I in her, cat You can count on it Zoltan watched her for a minute, then stepped behind some trees to teleport home

Neona returned to the rock here the stream from Beyul-La jetted out in a waterfall The rope ladder was there, but she realized she couldn’t go home, not when she was still dressed in her finest clothes With a sigh, she started back to Frederic’s cabin, where she’d left her hunting clothes

As she walked, she scanned the forest Where had Zoltan gone to? The village? It was about fifteenbut a footpath to show the way Did he have a horse tethered in the next valley?

She shook her head There was no point in thinking about hi in his arot all reason Her heart swelled with such yearning that she could not hold hih With an ache in her heart, she realized it had happened She was falling for him She wanted him

But how could she ever have hiaze wander about the room There was the embroidered banner he’d adold box of chocolates he’d brought

The tea had steeped too long, but she needed a strong drink She drank as she tidied up the cabin, putting out the fire and hiding the gold box under some blankets in the wooden chest She rinsed out the teapot and cup in the streaed into her brown and green linen tunic and pants She stashed her good clothes in her bag and swung it onto her back along with her quiver of arrows

She grabbed her bow and headed back to the rock wall Zhan joined her on the way

She patted his head "Zoltan had to leave It’s for the best, I suppose I should be grateful it didn’t go any further" She could have loved hi off the relationship noas the only way to save herself from heartache Then why did she feel so miserably sad and lonely?

While Zhan scae to another, she climbed the rope ladder At the top of the wall, she pulled the ladder up And the tears began With each tug, she was sentencing herself to a long life of loneliness There was no place for a ht, but she would not be there Better to live lonely than risk shattering her heart

She dropped the end of the ladder on the ground It was done

"Hoas the hunting?" a voice asked behind her

The queen Neona quickly wiped her face "No luck tonight I’ll try again at dawn" She took a deep breath and faced her mother "You’re welcome to join us if you like"

"I’ll be busy in the cave to Neona "Did you see anyone in our territory?"

Her sto valley "The owl landed on my sill and told me there was an intruder"

Neona sed hard Had herabout in her finest clothes?

"We ilant," Ni of a new cycle"

"I understand," Neona murmured

"I fear Lord Liao will continue to search for our valley He hter "If any man discovers our valley or our secrets, he must be executed"

Neona nodded "Yes"

Her mother arched a brow "The correct response is ‘yes, your lected to use my title for the past teeks?"

Neona tas on my mind"

"The death of your sister" Ni That is why I have not reprimanded you for the lack of respect"

Neona scoffed "And you are not hurting? Minerva was stabbed to death right in front of us!"

"We all risk death e engage in battle You know that Now let us return to our homes" Nima started down the path to the base of the valley

Neona’s hands fisted How dare her mother disiven away her baby!"

Ni into slits "That was seven years ago What is done is done"

"It was never done for Minerva" Neona walked toward her mother "She never recovered If we had kept her baby, she would have fought harder She would still be alive!"

Nier "Do not make such ridiculous claims Besides, there was no way her son could remain Men are not allowed here"

"He was a baby! What harrow to be avalley "You let Frederic live close by"

"And he was never allowed into this valley" Nihters with Calliope and still abandoned her I should have killed hione over ith his wife and daughters"

"Drop the sarcasm," Nima hissed "We all know the rules and e have the, but I will tolerate it this one tiood of you, Neona bit back the words Her anger grew as she watched her mother turn her back and walk away "What happened to o too far I told you never to speak of him"

Neona approached her "Did you kill him?"

Her mother turned to face her "Hypocrisy does not suit you We are warriors" She stepped closer "How many men have you killed, Neona?"

"In the heat of battle, it is self-defense We must kill in order to survive"

Nima’s mouth twisted with a wry sht back?"