Salene's Secrets Read Online Free PDF Page A

squeeze, indicating his support.  “I think she’s severed their bond.”
    “Why do you think that?” Garen asked, shocked.
    “I don’t know, Ata ,” she replied.  “She hasn’t said or done anything other than what I’ve told you, but that’s what I think.”
    “I agree with you, Rayne,” Lariah said, then shook her head.  “It’s the only explanation that fits even though it doesn’t make much sense.  I don’t believe for a single moment that Salene would sever her relationship or even separate herself from the Gryphons the way she has just because they won’t take her into battle with them.  She has no more interest in battle than I do.” 
    “I agree, Sharali ,” Garen said.  “Not even Tani would go so far and she’s a born warrior.  Salene has no combat skills and has never shown an interest in developing any beyond basic self-defense.”
    “What about the Gryphons?” Val asked.  “How do they act around her?”
    “I’ve seen very little of them, and when I have seen them, Salene wasn’t present.  They appear to be sad, but they’re just as closed mouthed as Salene.  They spent most of the past few days in their stateroom, and she in hers.”
    “What of the scar on her face?” Lariah asked.  “How did she come to have that?”
    “The Doftles did it,” Rayne said.  “They were trying to force her to shift, just as they’d done to me.  She refused to go into a healing tank when we got her on the Armadura because without her, we wouldn’t have been able to track the Gryphons.”
    “She cannot be faulted for her bravery,” Lariah said.
    “Salene has always, and will always, sacrifice for those she cares for, regardless of the consequences to herself,” Garen agreed.  He turned to his new sons in law.  “What do you think, Landor?”
    “I think that, like Rayne, Salene has been through one traumatic event too many,” Landor replied.  “As we discussed in our vids with you, Rayne’s response to the trauma she endured was to block all physical pain.  I suspect that Salene has done something similar by blocking her emotional pain.”
    “Please do not be offended, Landor Bearen-Hiru, when I say that I hope you’re wrong,” Trey said.
    “I assure you, Highness, I’m not offended.  I too hope that I’m wrong.”
    “As Landor knows,” Rayne said, glancing up at him with a quick smile, “I don’t agree that Salene has blocked her emotions.  I think she’s hiding from them, but they’re still there.  Sometimes I can actually feel how hard it is for her to act as though she feels nothing, but you’d never know it by looking at her.”
    “What do you think about having Jareth examine her?” Garen asked Rayne.
    “I don’t know if there’s anything he can do, but I don’t see any harm in it.” 
    “My hope is that he’ll be able to guide us in what we should, and should not do,” Garen explained.  “We don’t want to make a bad situation worse in an effort to help her.”
    “You’re right, Ata , that’s a good idea.”
    “Now, to happier tidings,” Lariah said, setting aside her concerns for her eldest daughter for the moment.  “Congratulations to all of you on your linking.”
    “Thank you, Mom,” Rayne said, beaming as she looked up at Landor again, then to Con and Ari.  “There’s one bit of news that we wanted to share with you in person, though.”
    “Yes?” Lariah asked, tensing for a moment in preparation for more bad news.  Then the light in Rayne’s eyes registered and she smiled.  “Grandchildren,” she said softly.
    Rayne nodded as Garen, Trey, and Val all stared in surprise.  “Daughters,” Rayne said to the question in her mother’s eyes. 
    Lariah clapped her hands together with joy as she leapt to her feet and hurried around the table to hug her daughter.  “I’m so happy for you,” she said, tears making her eyes a deeper, brighter green.  “I know this will sound selfish, but I’m especially excited