'Was this the ambush that Jareth mentioned? How many Adorians were there in the second party?'
Michael grinned sheepishly. 'A little over a thousand. Give or take.'
'My, it's a wonder you made it out of there alive!'
He squeezed her arm, smiling in return. 'You don't know how relieved I am. The reason I asked where you were is because of some of the things that Garren disclosed to me on our journey here. I don't believe he had any reason to be dishonest with me when he said the humans who were slain were killed without his knowledge or consent. I also recall him saying that Sara was claimed by one of his other men. Aiden, I think.'
She pondered this for a moment before responding. She reached for her necklace, only to remember that it was no longer on its chain. She felt for it in her pocket and realized, sadly, that it was gone.
'Your necklace?' Michael asked.
'That amulet belonged to Mother.' She wanted to ask him about it being pulled, so oddly, from her neck, but thought better of it. 'Sara called out for Aiden, while we were in the city. He's the one who chased me into the woods.'
Michael recalled what else Garren had said. 'He was also apparently the only one capable of catching you. Nine dead?'
Ariana smirked. 'Did you doubt it? They may have the ability to selectively conceal themselves, but that doesn't aid them in their unwieldy choice of animals. Those horrible beasts are loud and awkward in their movements.' Her face fell then, her distress visible in the line of her mouth.
'What is it?'
'You didn't come for me alone.'
He shook his head. 'No, I didn't, but Ariana, there are things that I've failed to tell you.' He proceeded to tell her the truth about the day they'd found her in the old world.
'Oh, that. I should have told you — I've always been able to conjure a spinning ball of light at my whim.' Her face held enough gravity that for a moment, however brief, he thought she was being serious. Then, her smile gave her away. 'And you didn't think telling me something like that was important?'
'I've met many times with the council since your arrival, and the consensus is that you have powers that have yet to be harnessed. Father must have known. Whatever lives were lost in coming to your aid, they were given in service to Adoria. Whatever this is between you and Garren is not chance, but fate.'
'Don't be mistaken, I still regard him as who he is. But I'm wise enough to see that there are greater things at work than what's readily apparent. He's saved your life now on two occasions. He was well aware of whose sister you are when he met you again in Eidolon.'
She looked confused. 'How is that possible?'
'When I took Micah back to his realm, I sent him with a message that warned Garren to leave you alone. I still believed him to be the source of your injuries from the dream.'
'Michael, I didn't intend for any of this to happen. All I could think about was Sara and — '
'When Garren wakes, I'll speak with him, see what he can tell us about the humans. Find out what chances we have of saving her.'
'Thank you.' Ariana reached over to his sleeve again, shifting it slightly to expose the wound. 'You're still bleeding.'
He turned his arm to look at it. It really wasn't his arm that was painful; it was his leg, which had started to throb. 'Yes and you need rest. I will walk you up to your room.' He rose from the bed, holding out his hand to help her to her feet.
'Garren still believes me to be dead doesn't he?'
Michael nodded. He supposed so. From what he saw, Garren had fallen out just prior to Ariana coming to.
'Don't tell him then, that I am alive. I wish to tell him myself.'
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
It was nearing afternoon. Ariana had slept most of the remainder of the dark hours and well into the daylight. She awoke to find Jareth by her side. He was battle-worn, with a broken arm and what he'd said he assumed to be several wounded ribs.
'I seem to recall you saying once that Michael wouldn't allow you in here no matter what hour of the day it was.'
'I wasn't going to rest until I saw for my own eyes that you were all right. I think he'll allow me this transgression.'
She propped herself up against the headboard. 'I'm fine Jareth. Please go and rest. We can talk about all of this later.'
He looked hesitant to leave. 'Please assure me that you aren't naive. Don't put your hopes on Garren. I say this not only out of my own interest, but also for your sake. I don't want to see your heart broken when it's decided that he'll be put to death. And he will be.'
She reached out, taking his free hand in hers. 'You risked much, riding into Eidolon. You've been a much- needed friend and confidant. Thank you for that.' She could see the disappointment in his eyes as she said the words. She was still too unsure of how she felt about Garren to respond any other way. 'I'll be prudent. I promise.'
He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it before leaving her.
She rose to change clothes and saw Koen sound asleep in Kaitlyn's doorway. She hadn't seen the girl since before she left. Peering in, she found the room empty. Ariana considered leaving Koen to his dreams, but the sight of him made her heart ache and so she bent down and pulled him like an oversized rag doll into her arms. He'd been sleeping harder than usual and it took him a moment to wake up fully and responded to her affection.
'I suppose I owe you an apology too.' She scratched him under his chin, laughing as he tilted his head back so she could better reach him. 'Sara was there Koen. I saw her. She's alive.'
Koen nudged her neck with his nose. If she didn't know better she'd think he'd actually understood what she'd just said and was giving his approval.
'I'm not giving up on her, don't worry. For now though, I have some questions that I'd like answered.' She stood up. 'And I'm not giving Garren a choice in the matter.'
She chose a cream-colored gown, with a midnight blue velvet cloak to change into. The dress had white crystals sewn into the bodice, around the hem at the bottom, and on the sleeves. It would serve just fine for how she intended to greet Garren.
Once she was outside of his cell, she gestured for the guard to open the door. He carefully pulled a single silver key from his pocket and slipped it into the lock.
As the heavy wooden door opened, Ariana could see Garren curled into a ball on top of the small bed that was in the far corner. He hadn't touched the food that had been brought to him, but she could see that he'd had his wounds tended to. There were several cuts on his face, and a bandage was wrapped around his lower right calf. His boots were heaped in a pile on the floor, along with his breastplate and the rest of his armor.
She closed the door behind her as she walked into the cell. The temperature was comfortable to her, but Garren shivered as he lay sleeping. She moved into the shadows, standing just beyond the light that shone from the window.
'Garren,' she whispered. He stirred at the sound of her voice. 'Uskori mathro lestre ave nouromai.' Her voice carried in the cell like the haunting echo of a ghost. He opened his eyes.
She stepped out of the darkness, the crystals on her gown shimmering as she'd intended, and continued to speak to him in Adorian. 'Istho exist aeloro ghant.'
He struggled to sit up and face her. Once he did, he lowered his gaze to the floor. He stayed quiet, making no move to address her.
'My blood is on your hands.'
