Chapter Eleven
'They're going to kill me….' was the only thought repeatedly running through Audra's mind. She tried rather desperately to think of an excuse, a reason, anything at all to explain why she was there. Audra came up blank. They were still looking down at her, although Thom had shifted until he was behind her. This unfortunately cut off Audra's only escape route.
Thom, keeping one eye on Audra, pulled the door shut and locked it. His twin, apparently unwilling to draw any outsider's attention, lost the precarious grip on her temper the instant he did so. Her violet eyes positively radiated danger.
"How dare you! How dare you eavesdrop on a conversation that could decide the fate of a kingdom. If I ever hear of you telling any of this to anyone, I'll gut you myself. I'll—"
The Rogue interrupted the squire. Eyes and voice hard, he said, "Let the youngling stand up, Alan. Then she can explain what she thought she was doing." His tone brooked no argument.
Audra meekly rose to her feet. She could feel Thom's disapproval, but ignored it. Letting a cocky grin sweep across her face, she performed a mock bow. Alanna bristled. Thom circled around and came back into eyesight, a ferocious scowl evident in the firelight. George Cooper regarded her levelly, his arms crossed over his chest.
"There's no need for introductions," Audra began bluntly. "Alanna of Trebond and George Cooper, King of the Thieves, welcome. Pleased to meet you, and so on." She paused and took a deep breath. Alanna had a look of shock and outrage on her face. George merely looked curious. Thom had the tiniest of smiles on his lips, but simply sat back down at the table to see how Audra would handle it. There would be no help from him.
"Forgive my rudeness at doing my best to—overhear your conversation. It's only that your smiling friend is known to me as well, and I wished to hear how he was getting on." Audra let her tone change to nonchalant as she said this last bit, and watched Alanna's anger redirect itself at Thom.
"You told her?" were the first words the lady-knight-in-training managed to get out. She was doing an admirable job at restraining herself from chopping both Thom and Audra into small pieces.
Thom's voice was amiable as he said, "I trust Audra as much as I trust you. And my trust, sister dear, is very rarely given to anyone."
The siblings took off in a battle that involved an infuriated Alanna and a beginning to become irritated Thom. Audra drew her attention away from the two, and focused instead on the Rogue. His thoughts weren't easy to read anymore, now they flitted quickly from one idea to the next. Audra was shocked at the burst of pure, undiluted love he felt for Alanna. She knew, in that instant, that Alanna would one day marry George.
"Ahem." Audra cleared her throat. When she had everyone's attention, she continued, "I would appreciate it, Alanna, if you acted as if you had never seen me before when I get to court in another month. I've already heard everything you have to say, and Thom trusts me to keep my mouth shut. And you can be sure I will, because I value my life and my magic lessons. If Duke Roger were to find out the extent of my Gift, he would either try to use me or eliminate me. Neither prospect appeals to me much, so if I can trust you to keep your mouths shut, I'm going to bed."
"Just a minute." The Rogue's voice snapped out dangerously, like a whip. "You say you've already heard all we have to say. How is that?"
Audra gulped. 'He's quick. I'd appreciate his wits more if he were on my side in this argument, but one can't have everything, I suppose.' "Well, George, I took down Thom's listening spells and put up my own, this time making it so I was inside the boundary." 'Please be satisfied with that, don't make me explain the mind reading…'
He nodded, looking thoughtful. Audra barely resisted the urge to probe his mind again, she was tiring herself out. Thom fiddled with a tea cup and then remarked, "We're all tired. Let's end the conversation now. Alanna, I'll be at the palace when you get your shield." He pushed back his chair and stood up. "Audra, wait a few moments, please. I'd like to have a small talk with you." Alanna and George left, and Audra studied the crumbs on the table so she wouldn't have to meet Thom's eyes and find out that she'd disappointed him, betrayed his trust. Finally, she used a small part of her Gift to reach into his mind. There was disapproval, yes, but also concern, and pride?
Audra couldn't bring herself to glance up. 'Coward. Baby. He's your friend, the least you can do is look him in the eye and admit you were wrong to do what you did.'
One long, cold finger hooked under her chin and forced her head up. Audra let her eyes wander the room, not studying the man who was right in front of her.
"Look at me, Audra." Thom's voice was deadly soft. Reluctantly, she focused her eyes on his chest. "At me, Audra, not my robe." Audra flinched and met his gaze as firmly as she could.
"I'm glad to see you can get around my spells without my noticing it," he remarked acidly. "I would have told you anything you needed to know that was discussed tonight. So let me ask, why?"
"Because."
" 'Because' why, Audra?" A sarcastic edge was beginning to creep into his voice.
Audra remained silent, than stated, "Because you didn't trust me enough to tell me who would be coming. You weren't even going to tell your sister I existed. If she hadn't noticed my magic, she'd be ignorant of me now. Are you ashamed of me?"
He seemed shocked at the very suggestion. "Of course not! I figured it would be safer for everyone involved if Alanna didn't have more knowledge then necessary when she went back to the palace." He released her chin.
"Oh."
Thom smiled and tucked some of Audra's hair behind one ear. "Get some sleep."
Audra could have danced a waltz, she was so happy. Thom did trust her!
It occurred to Audra as she slipped beneath the covers that Thom rarely showed anyone this soft caring side of him. The only people it was ever directed at were Alanna and herself.