Promising Light by Emily Ann Ward Page B

Grace
asked.
    “I don’t know,” Vin said, resting
his arms on his knees.
    “What about Lisbeth?”
    Vin shrugged. “I’m sorry, I don’t
know. They only asked me to watch you until Myra
returned.”
    She was hesitant to make
conversation, but she couldn’t deny she was curious about these
people. “So, the two of you are married?”
    “Yes,” Amina said,
smiling.
    They looked like an older couple,
at least five years older than her, maybe even ten. “How long have
you been married?”
    “Four years.”
    Grace glanced around their tent for
signs of children. “Do you have any children?”
    Amina’s face fell, and she looked
at Vin, her mouth falling open. “She doesn’t know?”
    Vin shook his head. “No, they were
waiting for Lisbeth.”
    “Does she even know why she’s
here?”
    “No, they’re—”
    Amina let out an exasperated
breath. “But she must know how important she is.”
    “Amina, they told us to stay quiet
about it,” Vin said, his voice firm.
    She fell silent. She looked at
Grace for a moment, then turned to stare at the fire
pit.
    “What do you mean how important I
am?” Grace asked.
    Vin met her eyes. “Please, Lady
Grace, Adrian asked us to let him tell you.”
    Grace put her plate down with a
clatter. “I have to… relieve myself.”
    After glancing at Vin, Amina stood
up and said, “Come, I’ll take you.”
    Grace followed her to the edge of
the clearing and beyond. The camp was still visible behind them.
The sounds slowly faded as they went further and further into the
trees. “How was the camp invisible earlier?” Grace
asked.
    “It’s a cloaking enchantment from
the Cosa family,” Amina said. She stayed close to Grace, matching
each of her steps so she was never out of arm’s reach. Grace tried
to get her bearings, glancing back at the village and trying to
discern which way they’d come from.
    “The Cosa family?”
    “Yes.” Amina paused. “Dar didn’t
tell you about them?”
    “No,” Grace said, “he didn’t tell
me anything about magic or shape changers. He left Renaul so I
wouldn’t find out.”
    “I can understand that, after…
well, we are the Avialie family, and there are five other magical
families, including the Cosas.”
    “How did they make the camp
invisible?”
    “It’s magic in their blood. They
hide and reveal things using their language. I don’t know how it
works. It’d be like trying to explain shape changing. It’s just a
part of us.” Amina gently took Grace’s arm. “This is good.” She
motioned to a wide tree that had vines twisting around the
trunk.
    Grace stepped on the other side of
the tree, out of sight. “How did Vin get those scars?”
    “In a battle ten years ago,” Amina
said.
    Grace was almost sure they’d come
from her left. She had no idea how far she’d get before they
captured her again, but she had to try. They had to know she
wouldn’t accept this. Maybe they’d tell her why they’d kidnapped
her in the first place. Grace glanced at Amina around the tree; she
was crouching down, picking at the leaves on a nearby
plant.
    Grace picked up her skirt and ran
to the left as quickly as she could. She heard Amina yell out
behind her, but didn’t look back. She moved her legs as fast as
they’d go, avoiding fallen logs and twisted vines. Her hair and
dress kept catching on stray branches, but none of it was enough to
slow her down.
    She saw a group of people ahead.
She nearly cried out for them until she recognized Adrian and the
rider. Amina behind, Adrian in front of her. Shouts filled the air
once they saw her. Panting, she turned to run away from both of
them.
    Someone caught up to her and got a
handful of her dress. She lost her balance and fell hard on the
ground. She scrambled away from him, trying to get to her feet, but
another man reached out for her. Screaming, she fought until the
men had each of her arms firm in their grips. The others surrounded
her, including Adrian, Myra, and an older woman.