Weavers of War Read Online Free PDF Page B

must.”
    A thousand denials leaped to mind, all of them lies. How different would she be from Fetnalla if she resorted to any of them?
    “He means to escape, my lord.”
    “Escape? How?”
    “He has mind-bending magic, mists and winds, and shaping power. It should be a fairly simple matter.”
    “Then why hasn’t he done so already?”
    “Because several days ago I informed him of my intention to follow him, and he fears a trap.”
    The duke expressed no surprise. His expression didn’t even change, save for a momentary closing of the eyes.
    “In other words, you meant to let him go, though surely his escape would strengthen the conspiracy.”
    “He can lead me to her, my lord.”
    “That hardly justifies it.”
    “We’d merely be exchanging one traitor for another. Pronjed might join them, but Fetnalla won’t.”
    His eyebrows went up. “You believe you can turn her from the renegades?”
    “I have to try. If that doesn’t work, I’ll find some other way to keep her from joining them. In any case, she won’t be fighting alongside her Weaver.”
    Tebeo frowned. “I hate to have to say this, Evanthya, but Fetnalla is dangerous, too. She used magic to kill Brall, and as you’ve often told me, yours are not the powers of a warrior. You’re still thinking of her as your love, but she’s your enemy now. You may not be strong enough to defeat her.”
    “I’m not without advantages of my own, my lord,” Evanthya said. “She may be formidable, but so am I, in my own way.” The minister was surprised at herself. Pride had always been Fetnalla’s failing.
    Tebeo smiled, as might an indulgent parent. “You needn’t try to convince me of your worth, First Minister. I saw you fight for this castle. I stood and did battle with my back to yours, and never did I fear that a killing blow would come from behind.”
    “Thank you, my lord.”
    “I fear losing you, not only because I value your counsel, but also because I count you as a friend.”
    “Then think for a moment as my friend, rather than as my duke. Do you honestly believe that I can simply remain here while Fetnalla fights beside the Weaver? After what she’s done, how can I not go after her?”
    He shook his head. “This wasn’t your fault, Evanthya. You couldn’t have known—”
    “But I should have! There’s no one in the world who knows her as I do. She was acting so strangely the last time we were together.” She brushed a tear from her cheek. “It should have been obvious.”
    “You ask too much of yourself.”
    “The person I love most in this world has revealed herself as a traitor and murderer. How can I not blame myself?”
    The duke winced, seeming to cast about for something to say.
    “You want to tell me that you can’t answer, that the duchess would never do anything of the sort. And of course you’re right. But until just a short time ago, I had no reason to think otherwise about Fetnalla.”
    The duke stood and walked back to his open window. “I can’t even begin to imagine what that must be like,” he said, gazing out at the castle ward. He said nothing for a long time, until Evanthya began to wonder if he was waiting for her to say more. At last, however, he faced her again. “If it were simply a matter of giving you leave to go, I’d do so in an instant, despite my fears for your safety. But you’re asking me to allow Pronjed to escape, and that I can’t do. We suspect him of the foulest crimes against the realm, and I fear he remains a threat to all of us.”
    “I can’t find her alone, my lord.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    “He’s going to escape whether I follow him or not! It’s simply a matter of how much damage he does to your castle and how many men he manages to maim and kill in the process!”
    “Don’t you believe I can stop him?”
    “Not if he’s determined to win his freedom, no.”
    Tebeo let out a short harsh laugh. “Evanthya, I command an entire army. He may be powerful, but he’s only