She scoffed. “Am I supposed to believe that? You’ve spent the last few minutes joking about the situation.”
“That was my attempt to be so charming that you would forget about being angry.” When she gave him an incredulous look, he winced. “Apparently, you are immune to my charms.”
I wish. She eyed him warily. “You lied to the queen, telling her that you’d captured me in battle months ago.”
“I needed to vouch for your character in order to save you from a night in the dungeon. I could have never convinced Freya that you were harmless if I’d admitted that I had just met you yesterday.”
That actually makes sense. She frowned. “But you still lied, and because of that, everyone thinks that we’re…”
He waited, but she seemed unable to finish the sentence. “Lovers,” he said gently and felt his pulse speed up when her cheeks blushed a pretty pink.
She waved a dismissive hand. “The truth remains that on more than one occasion, you have proven yourself a deceitful scoundrel—”
“Now I object. Scoundrel is a bit much.”
“Then you admit to being deceitful?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “And I apologize for it. If I were truly a scoundrel, I would feel no remorse.” He motioned for her to join him by the railing.
She wandered slowly toward him. “I’m not sure you truly are remorseful. But it hardly matters, since I have decided to remain with my sisters.”
“You’re reneging on our agreement?”
“Why shouldn’t I when I was coerced?” With a frown, she watched the shoreline as they floated down the river. “Besides, the problems here are not really my concern.”
“Shouldn’t you feel some sort of moral obligation to help me? After all, you’re a healer—”
“I have no medicine with me.”
“The physician at Draven Castle should have some.”
She winced. “Given the condition of your queen, I don’t think you should trust that physician or any of his concoctions.”
Silas nodded. “An excellent point. I have an army physician who is trustworthy. I’ll send for her.”
Gwennore looked away as she gripped the railing. “Then you don’t need me. That other woman can help you.”
Was she jealous? “Annika doesn’t have the gift that you have. And I don’t think she’s as discerning as you are. You were very quick to figure out my deception.”
She snorted. “You’re complimenting me on that?”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to get you to stay. I need you.”
Scoundrel. “You could probably figure out who’s poisoning the queen without me.”
He sighed. “We’re dealing with more than the queen’s madness. She’s had no surviving children.”
“Is there no heir to the throne?”
He shrugged. “There is one. But you’re not understanding how devastating our problems are.” He lowered his voice. “Unfortunately, those problems are state secrets that I dare not reveal. That is why I resorted to trickery. I can’t tell you how bad it really is unless you agree to stay so we can fix everything.”
A glint of alarm flickered in her eyes. “Then don’t tell me. There’s no guarantee I can fix anything.”
“I know that, but the problems are health-related, so your gift could be exactly what I need.” He leaned closer. “I will tell you this much. I did plan to return Eviana today, no matter what. The last thing I want is war with Eberon or Tourin. I don’t want war with Woodwyn, either, but I haven’t convinced the king to end it yet.”
Her eyes narrowed as she studied him closely. “You’re a general who doesn’t want war?”
“I want peace and prosperity. Gwennore, I’m trying to save my people. Please help me.”
She shook her head. “I belong with my family.”
“Then consider me family.”
She scoffed.
“I’m serious.” This was his last card to play, so he had to hope it worked. “Sorcha is my sister.”
Gwennore’s mouth dropped open. “What?”
“I have a brother eight years older than me. There was another brother and a sister between us, but they both died, and my mother thought it was because of the curse. When Sorcha was born, Mother feared for her life, so she sent her to the Isle of Moon, where she would be safe. I haven’t seen her since she was about six weeks old.”
Gwennore bit her lip. He doesn’t look like Sorcha.
“She took after our mother, while I look more like my father. She had the biggest green eyes and the softest red hair. Could scream loud enough that the whole castle could hear her.” Silas smiled. “I’m hoping to see her today.”
“You probably will.”
“Gwennore—”
She lifted a hand to stop him. “I believe you’re sincere, but I want to go back to my sisters. I’m sorry.” She bowed her head, then strode toward the pallet where Eviana was sleeping.
Dammit. Silas gripped the railing. He wouldn’t give up on Gwennore. And even if he was forced to work without her, he wouldn’t give up. His brother was in trouble. And his country was dying.
* * *
Gwennore settled on the pallet next to Eviana. Exhausted both physically and emotionally, she stretched out beside the little girl and closed her eyes against the bright sun overhead. But the image of General Dravenko still appeared in her mind, and his expression of despair and disappointment needled her already frazzled nerves.
Why should she care if she had disappointed him? He was the one who had deceived her.
But he was desperate. It was obvious just by looking at his eyes. Something was terribly wrong in Norveshka, and his secrecy made her even more curious. Blast him.
It’s not your problem, she argued with herself.
Or was it? Growing up at the convent, she’d heard over and over that there had to be a reason why she and her sisters were Embraced. According to Mother Ginessa, whenever the two moon goddesses, Luna and Lessa, aligned in the night sky, it was so they could bless certain children with special powers, and those gifts were supposed to be used to make the world a better place. This was a chance for her to do that.
But Brody was right that it could be dangerous. And she hadn’t forgotten Nissa’s warning
