Chapter Twenty

Leyrn

As the guards dragged Cailin away I couldn't help but be a little upset. "What right do you have to order my troops around like that?" I demanded, my hands flying to my hips.

"The right to protect my people from the wrongs that you have helped occur." Varien spat.

"Your authority was taken away the moment we discovered Silence for who she really is. How dare you act against your own family! It was bad enough when you accused my sister and I of contriving some sort of plot against Trevallyn, but to learn that you had been conspiring yourself... that is unforgivable." Tsadran snarled, "I have been given temporary control over your troops until your brother returns from whatever mission you have sent him on. At which point Braith shall be questioned and his involvement will be assessed."

"What!" I screamed, "Varien if you have any sense at all you will not give him such authority!" How could he possibly think giving Tsadran control over the troops was a good idea?

"Guards." Varien sighed, and before I could even realize what was going on I felt the hands of two of my troops around my arms.

Looking around I couldn't even speak, the enthused look on Tsadran's face took all my words away. "Take her to her room, she is not to leave. I want someone stationed there at all times." he ordered.

As they began to take me away Cara cried, "It's alright Cara. What is going on Varien?"

"You are officially under house arrest Leyrn. Don't resist." Varien paused, looking at me with disappointment. I could see the sadness in his eyes. "Take her away."

I let my men drag me away toward my room, they put up a front until we were a decent distance away from the hall, at which point they loosened their grip yet continued to lead me. None of us said a word. There was no point. I went into my room without putting up a fight; no reason to make their jobs harder than they already were.

I sat quietly, too frustrated to do anything else.

What could Varien have been thinking? There was no logical explanation for what had just occurred other than upset. Varien had let his emotions get in the way of his rational judgement—not that he had ever been known to be rational. Politics were always more important to him than feelings. He was such an idiot.

I watched the sunset through my window. I wasn't really surprised that no one had stopped by yet, but if I knew Varien he would be by soon. He didn't even bother to knock when he entered my room not even 5 minutes later.

"What?" I asked, hurt that my own brother had put me under house arrest, or more accurately the power hungry Tsadran had convinced my brother to put me there.

"You knew." Straight to the point then, just as always.

"Knew what?" I asked, "Knew that Silence was Cailin?"

"Yes."

"Yes, I did know. But for about 10 minutes, and now here I am." I waved my hands around a little, getting to my feet and going to sit in my window.

"What?" Varien asked, knowing that I had something to say but wouldn't unless I was prompted.

"I'm so glad you gave me the chance to tell you about her-"

He scoffed, interrupting me, "We both know that you never would have told me that... I mean you knew that she was from Wyldt. How long did you know?"

"Oh come on Varien we all had a sneaking suspicion. The eyes were a dead giveaway." I rolled my own but knowing that he was not amused I continued, "Since the night father passed. When Tsadran had Wyldt's treasures brought in.

"There is no way that she had anything to do with father's death Varien, I was with her not long before the diner, she wouldn't have had a chance to poison him. Shae obviously planted anything she found in her room." I tried to reason with him, it wasn't working.

"That does not change who she is. She lied to us." Varien glared at the floor harshly.

I examined my brother for a moment when it became clear to me. He had feelings for Silence, and now that she was Cailin he didn't know what to think. "You mean she lied to you. She fooled you and that hurt your ego, and now you're allowing petty upset to back up false logic. You are taking Tsadran's word over hers—over mine! How dare you act against your people in such a way. I'm not the one that has been privy to conspiracy Varien, you are!"

I suppose I had hit a nerve because Varien refused to look at me or acknowledge that I was right. When he could think of nothing else to say he headed toward the door, making to leave. "Varien I just hope that when Braith returns from Celvian you at least give him a chance to explain since it seems I will not be getting one." I wasn't going to tell him any more than that.

As far as I knew Kell was still safe, Kendrick would remain loyal to me, as would the few others that I had trusted with the secret of his presence here. I would likely need their help in the long run.

"I will be marrying Shae as soon as possible. Goodnight Leyrn." he said quietly as he left my room, leaving me a little stunned.

Yes I was definitely going to need all the help that I could get. I just hoped that Braith would get home before Varien decided to make any more stupid decisions.