Chapter 10

Derak blinked. "Sam…of course you can. You can trust us."

"I understand. But can I trust you to keep my secrets until I want them to be revealed?" She'd had suspicions about his coming with her to meet Adria, especially after he'd told her he was ordered to. Still, some instinct had told her she could tell him. The same instinct that mistrusted what prompted his following. When they returned to Tamara's home, she would see if her instinct was correct.

"You have my word," he said. "I swear on…Mum's life!"

"Your mom's?!" exclaimed Sam, taking pity on his lame attempt at humor. "I don't think she'd appreciate that." She gave him a watery smile. "Thanks."

He nodded and glanced out the window. As if coming to some decision, he stood up and offered his hand. He said, "We'd better go…or I need to, at least. It's about three hours past midnight. Some prefer to bathe here at around four past."

Taking his hand and heaving herself up, Sam attempted a smirk. "And you know this how, exactly, Derak?"

"Well, you see," he began, winking, "back in my younger years there was a time when, believe it or not, Mum was one of those early risers. Ach, it was horrible when she cornered me or my brother and told us all the latest gossip." He grinned at her mock-annoyed expression. "Oh dear. Did you think I was going to say something else?" His face became the picture of innocence.

"Ass," she muttered, opening the door. She slipped out and tried to close it on Derak, but he was prepared and forced the door open again. Retreating, she took a deep breath. The cool night air felt so good after the hot and humid bathhouse.

"Get your mind out of the gutter."

"How can you start a conversation off like that and not expect me to get the wrong impression?"

"Since your mind seems to be in the gutter, are you saying you want to hear 'bad' stories?" Tamara's home was barely visible in the darkness as they approached the crest of the hill.

"No, thank you. I might have to return the favor."

"Ah. I see your point. Truce, then?"

"Mm…sure." They were silent the rest of the way.

At the door, Sam braced herself. At least she wasn't walking in alone. In more ways than one. Derak wasn't repulsed by her (didn't even have much of a reaction, in fact), and what's more, he would be on her side against Adria because he understood now. It took a weight off her shoulders she hadn't known existed.

He opened the door at her sharp nod, and they walked in. All the guys were still awake and seated around the table. A loud debate was going on between Gerrad, Evin, and Tïllin, but the quickly quieted down when Freyhd simultaneously directed their attention to the two arrivals by kicking them under the table and gesturing with his head. Annoyed expressions rapidly changed to worried (Tïllin), inquiring (Gerrad), or bored (Evin).

Tïllin leaped up. "Where in the gods' names have you two been? You've been gone for hours."

"After the meeting, I sorta lost it outside the Great Hall. He hauled me off to cool down before I did any major damage," Sam explained before Derak could get a word in.

"That explains the hand, then," said Freyhd, his strangely colored eyes flashing. "You okay?"

"Um, well, I think I broke a couple of bones. I'll probably be a bit bruised, too." She yawned widely, suddenly hit with a wave of exhaustion. "I guess I should go to bed." The test of faith. Now she just had to stay awake long enough to see if her gamble paid off.

She headed toward the hallway, but paused in the entrance. Turning back, she silently asked Derak again if he would say anything.

He shook his head slightly, giving her a look that plainly said, "Duh!"

One side of her mouth curved into a slight smile of acknowledgement and she went to her room.

- x – X – x -

"What was that about?" Evin asked when Derak and Tïllin sat down.

"She told me why she and Airda don't get along," Derak reluctantly said, ignoring the question. He hadn't been untruthful when he'd told Sam the he'd been ordered to follow her. Only, Evin wanted information and thought that Derak would be the best way to get it.

He had been right, and now Derak was in a bind.

"Well?" said Evin impatiently. "Let's hear it."

The response was out before Derak quite realized what he was saying. "No."

"Ex-excuse me?"

Gerrad, Freyhd, and Tïllin froze as the room became almost unbearably tense.

"You can't possibly understand." Derak was reminded of how Airda was really Adria, Sam's enemy. Evin was in too deep with Adria to ever see the situation from Sam's side with a clear head.

"I gave you an order," Evin reminded him.

Anger sparked in Derak's chest for Sam. Everything had been instigated by Adria and, unwittingly, Sam had obeyed her cruel orders. He could see how much she regretted 

following them. He didn't want that to happen to him. "Sometimes, it's best not to comply with an order that will do more harm than good."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Evin asked, sensing Derak's turmoil behind the words.

"Ask your fiancée," Derak snapped.

How could they have been so blind? The woman was a monster. Come to think about it, it was too convenient how what Lord Raimak needed the most was an heir, and a young woman claiming to be his sister's daughter shows up on his doorstep. She had been clever, integrating herself among the right people so closely and carefully. When Lord Raimak died and Adria took his place, Derak knew that whatever followed would be very bad for them all, but especially Sam.

"You will tell me," Evin snarled.

"Tell Airda that…that…it's too late. She had to chance to rule and she failed. She'll fail this time, too. Whatever she's planning. Now get out of this house."

Evin obeyed, his attractive face contorted in fury. He left without a protest only because a man was master in his own home; if he was told to leave, then he must do so and without complaint.

He was so furious, he didn't stop to think about the weight behind Derak's final message.

Inside the house, the guys were watching Derak in shock.

"You didn't have to do that," Sam said coming out from her hiding place in the shadowed hall.

Derak groaned, "I'm going to regret that conversation badly later."

"Take it from someone who knows: you did the right thing. It's good to see a gamble played off. I appreciate it."

Derak whirled to face her. "You knew about his order. How?"

"I know how she works. I expected her to coerce Evin on Reñid into doing something, but I didn't know what and I certainly didn't think Evin would use you as a way to gain info," explained Sam softly.

"But you took the risk of telling me anyway. Why?"

"Instinct. The same that told me what Adria's plan was. You don't live they way I did for twelve years and not get a good instinct for things like that." She analyzed the remaining three carefully. "I need people who are going to be with me unconditionally. Raimak's heir is more dangerous than you could possibly imagine. If you're in too deep, or too loyal to her and Evin, then I suggest you leave, at the very least this room, now." No one moved. "Do you understand what I'm saying?" she demanded loudly. "What this could entail? If you're here to hear me out, then it isn't good enough. This is a black and white situation here, people. You're either with her or with me! You can't have it both ways." Still no one moved.

Finally, the corners of her lips curved into a light smile. "Thank you. But now, I just wanna go to bed."

Some of you may want to know about the new page break. The one with X's just means I switched people's perspectives. The one with O's is a time difference.

R&R